The Ever-Changing Gift Guide
You've got a traveler in your life, who also happens to be an artist, who loves to cook - or at least eat well - who may or may not be way more tech savvy than you. What do you get that special someone for their [ insert special occasion here ]?
The economy may be insane, but there are ways to show your appreciation to your special someone without spending a lot of money. You may be surprised at how little it takes to put a smile on someone's face. Here are some of our gift ideas, in a number of different price ranges, for the artist, writer, photographer, foodie and/or traveler in your life ...
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Gift Cards and Certificates
If your gift receivee knows how to shop on the internet, there are a few places where gift cards or certificates make sense! Some send actual gift cards via snail-mail, some give a code via email.
Give the gift of music with iTunes gift certificates
AllPosters.com
Gift Certificates
Free Shipping on Gift Certificates from SpaFinder
Art Supplies
Our Featured Art Gifts: The Italian Journal and the Artist Portfolo from Aspinal
Amalfi Journal
: This beautiful Amalfi half leather bound large journal has a beautiful Venice carnival fabriano design on the cover and contrasting tan leather spine and corners. Inside are 120 pages of Amalfi paper which is probably the most famous handmade paper in the world, made in the small town of Amalfi in Southern Italy - it is luxurious, tactile and of the highest quality. The pages are deckled and the thick handmade sheets are unlined and suitable for sketching. These beautiful objects are rare individual pieces made Aspinal for those who only want the absolute best writing or sketching paper and books. Complete with woven ribbon page marker.
Product Dimensions: 10.25" (H) x 7.5" (W) Price: $99.50
Turner Art Portfolio
: Perhaps the ultimate in sophisticated portfolios, our classic A3 Turner Portfolio simply oozes elegance and class. Handmade in beautiful Black & Ivory English Bridle Leather and lined in silk with Aspinal's signature contrasting red soft suede, this A3 Turner portfolio features a Swiss made 1.5 inch gold ring mechanism and a Swiss made gold or silver zip. There is an outside pocket to carry documents as well as an elegant inside full length pocket. This is a portfolio of ultimate luxury but worth every penny. Unfortunately they are unable to personalise this item.
Product Dimensions: 19.5" (H) x 14" (W) Price: $399.00
For online shopping there is only one place to buy art supplies and that place is Dick Blick Art Materials
. They've got a whole list of gift ideas for under $50 and you can find just about any art supply item that you can think of in their online catalogue. But really, there is one item, and I really mean this, only one item to buy if you are flumoxed for a gift that will make an artist happy. That is a black hardbound sketchbook by Canson or Cachet. Remember - a sketchbook is better than a journal and blank pages (no lines) are mandatory. And if you are really in a bind, consider a Blick Gift Certificate!
The Kindle
Books and Films
And speaking of titles, if your friend already has a Kindle, get them an Amazon.com Gift Card
Or, if you know which 'real' book you are going to buy, check out pricing at Barnes & Noble.
There is an exhaustive film/dvd list in our main amazon store - films to inspire travel and creativity. You'll also find travel guide books, which make wonderful, and useful, gifts.
Photography Gear
What more needs to be said? I'm still recommending The Flip this holiday season! The Flip pocket-sized camcorder has a flat back panel with touch-sensitive buttons, a 1.5-inch color LCD screen and a 2 GB of on-board flash memory which records up to 60 minutes of video. It also has 2x digital zoom, an Internal Lithium-ion battery that recharges when built-in USB arm is connected to a computer and connects to TV for instant viewing. The built-in software lets you easily edit video files and upload them to video sharing sites. It's great for travelers - compact and easy to use!
Canon Cameras
Find a wide assortment of Canon cameras in any of our amazon linked stores. I've always found the best prices for cameras on amazon. I've been a Canon grrl for over thirty years now and recommend them highly.
An old-school toy camera to some, to others a cult favorite with a fanatical global following, the Holga
If you have a digital photographer in your life and they are fairly serious about it, nothing could be appreciated more than Compact Flash Cards
If you are really familiar with your friend's gear, you might check to see how many Camera Batteries
Adobe products are always a good choice if your photographer is software challenged. Photographers can spend less time in front of the computer and more time behind the lens, with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
. Current Sale: 30% off Lightroom 2, along with a full or upgrade version of Photoshop CS4. Ends November 30, 2009.
Magazines
There is one magazine that all photographers would love to have in their mailbox. "Since 1952, Aperture has been showcasing the finest in creative photography from acclaimed masters to new talent. And every issue is made to last – with the highest quality printing and reproduction, the best paper, and a refreshing attention to detail in typography and design." Aperture also has a lot of great photography book gift suggestions.
I love Bomb Magazine! Interviews with artists by artists. It covers new art, writing, theater and film as well as publishes contemporary fiction and original artwork.
Art Posters
If you have a college student on a budget, or younger student at home, there is no reason they can't have great art on their walls to inspire them while they study. Inspire them with posters of the great masters, or travel images from around the world at art.com or allposters.com. Sizes and prices to fit every budget.
Luggage, Bags and Maps
Buying someone a bag or luggage is a bit iffy unless you know exactly what someone wants. I know I'm really particular about my bags. So I won't even begin to suggest any one particular item for a gift.
But if you do know what your person wants, then you just might find luggage or a new carryon at eBags.com. They've got luggage, handbags, backpacks, and more.
There is also Luggage Online for all your travel needs. They have a huge selection of wheeled and carryon luggage, backpacks, duffels and travel accessories. They also have a holiday gift center where you can get a few ideas! Try using coupon code LSGEN3 for an extra 10% off your order.
At Tumi Flow
you can purchase beautiful luggage and gift cards. Tumi carries higher end accessories
like beautiful wallets and belts for men and women. Perfect gifts for the sophisticated traveler.
You can get free shipping on all orders over $100, on luggage and travelgoods on WorldTraveler.com!
At Maps.com - The World's Largest Maps Store - you can find topos and road maps, travel maps and wall maps, globes and games. Any of these make perfect gifts for the world traveler, or the kid who wants to travel the world.
Clothing
My favorite piece of clothing to take with me, no matter what climate I am heading into, is an Indonesian Batik Sarong
I think they make great gifts for both men and women, but women probably appreciate them more :)
Use as a head covering or knotted around the neck, tie them on bag handles, use them as belts in coordinating colours. A beautiful silk scarf can accent any look and is most versatile in a maxi square. Always a welcome addition to every woman's wardrobe. Comes beautifully gift wrapped and boxed in Aspinal exquisite signature presentation. Product Dimensions: 90cm x 90cm Price: $80.00
For The Chef In Your Life
One of our favorite topics here on artist-at-large.com is cooking and food. Making it, eating it, sharing it with friends and then writing about it.
If you are any kind of foodie or home chef then you know it's really hard to walk into a Sur La Table store and not spend a few hours just looking at kitchen gadgets, table ware, and their wonderful collection of kitchen knives. Just about anything in the store would make a great gift for your friend or relative who loves to cook!
Adagio.com
At Adagio.com you can get many types of gourmet teas, like the chock full of anti-oxidant gourmet white teas, gift certificates, and imaginative teaware
.
Because I've always been fascinated by French culture and the food of the country is a large part of that culture, I've got two recommendations for wonderful French foodie things:
This site offers not only a lot of information in their Cheese Library on the many different types of French cheeses, and the food and wines they pair well with, they also offer individual cheeses (order of 4 minimum), cheese boards, and gift certificates! A gift of French cheese is a must for any francophile in your circle.
RICHART
Michel Richart is dedicated to producing fine chocolates for chocolate lovers around the world. RICHART gourmet French chocolate collections combine the finest chocolate and best ingredients the world has to offer in beautifully presented specialty gift chocolate boxes called ballotins. An unforgettable chocolate experience, RICHART's luxurious French chocolates are as beautiful as they are delicious and will please any palette.
RICHART specializes in luxury chocolate gifts including handcrafted gourmet chocolates that start at $33.00
And of course, no one should go to a party or dinner without a bottle of wine in hand. It's is always appreciated at your host's table!
At Wine.com
I found gifts Under $40
and I have my eye on the Tour de France Wine Gift Pack because French wine, and especally a Côte Du Rhone, is my drink of choice that I like to share with friends. And for the wine perfectionist, they also carry Riedel Glassware
- stemless is really cool and doesn't break as often if the glass gets tipped over - and many creative gift packages.
Make A Donation In Your Friend's Name - Or Your Own!
Make a difference in someone's life.
One of my favorite international aid organizations has nothing to do with art. But it does have to do with world cultures. Every year I try and work the organization Heifer International into my holiday shopping list. The organization uses the donations it receives to purchase a gift of an animal or crop for a family so that they can become self sufficient. Check out their web site to see how it works.
We hope that you don't go too crazy in trying to figure out what to get your peeps!
Kimberly Kradel
Publisher and Editor
artist-at-large.com
Send in your comments on the site. We'd love to hear them!
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artist-at-large.com is about art, culture and travel. Good for both the trip researcher and armchair traveler, you will find travel stories, travel information, quirky survey questions, photos of the day, and listings for exhibitions and open studios and events in each region on the site. The stories and information presented on the site are written in a way that are meant to be valuable over a long period of time, like an art or travel magazine or guidebook that you keep by your desk and flip through when you need information, or just want to daydream. The site also fosters online art education in its ArtStudio and promotes artists from around the world in The Artist Directory.
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