Welcome to our first-ever holiday gift guide. We handpicked our favorite gifts in the spirit of celebrating good design, making the world a better place and sharing some frivolousness and fun.
Use our gift categories to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list, from your artsy co-worker to your indulgent aunt.
Happy holidays,
Your friends at MiresBall
Etsy
For design-related products, there is nothing better than Etsy—a website where artists, photographers and designers sell wonderful custom pieces. LeAnn (winner of Project Runway) has a store on this site (not surprisingly… she’s not accepting any new orders!)
Top picks:
www.belleandboo.etsy.com – absolutely charming artwork
www.yellena.etsy.com – bizarre and beautiful artwork
www.bluemermaid.etsy.com – dreamy/beautiful photographic prints signed by the artist
English Toffee
The BEST English Toffee you’ve ever had is from Enstrom Candies—everyone in my home LOVES getting this as a gift!
$55 – $95. Available at www.enstrom.com
Plant-Me Pets
Super cool toys that you plant and watch grow! Kids can play with the toy, and when they’re growing tired of it, you can plant it together for a yummy harvest of fruits or veggies.
$20. Available at www.perpetualkid.com
I Am Not A Paper Cup
This is a very clever (and eco-friendly) spin on the classic paper coffee cup. It boasts a little more attitude than a typical mug, and with its double-walled porcelain design, it keeps your beverage hot without burning your hands.
$20. Available at www.momastore.org
Planet Earth – The Complete BBC Series DVD Set
A gorgeous and informative look at our planet—and the creatures that inhabit it. Appreciate the earth in all its splendor this holiday season!
$59.99. Available at www.amazon.com
Moleskin Journals
It only takes 10 minutes a day to explore your life through your own words and/or pictures. These timeless little journals have been used by artists and writers like Matisse, Picasso and Hemingway. It’s a great gift, and for $10, it’s a great value.
I save these journals and go back to them again and again for forgotten ideas and insights. And I’d like to think my kids (and my kids’ kids) will get a kick out of looking through these to get a glimpse inside my mind.
$10. Available at www.moleskines.com
Vintage Concert Tickets
Smaller versions of concert posters from 1960’s San Francisco take you to another time and place.
Back in the day, Bill Graham Presents printed their own concert tickets, based on the now-famous promotional posters for the show. Patrons purchased tickets at the box office each night and then handed them right back at the door, leaving a treasure trove of mint condition slips of miniature art.
$32 – $79. Available at www.wolfgangsvault.com
Nazbatag Bunny
“The Internet-connected bunny.” The Nazbatag bunny can sing your iPod songs, recite emails and text messages, and with new applications added all the time, the future possibilities are almost endless. All that, and he’s irresistibly adorable and entertaining.
$99 – $199. Available at www.ztore.net
What It Is! Funk CD Set
This is the quintessential box set for the funk aficionado, or a newcomer to the genre. On 4 discs, these 64 funky tracks are sure to set the mood and get your head bobbin’. Every song is better than the last from Curtis Mayfield to Aretha Franklin and everything in between.
$43.49. Available at www.amazon.com
The Wall Street Journal or The New York Times Online
The gift of keeping up on everything you need to know. News, entertainment, insight and the pulse of the world delivered to your desktop. And, you don’t need to recycle it daily from your doorstep.
I still love reading the newspaper or at least skimming it. Besides staying up with the world of business and world affairs, it’s great to hear about tech gadgets from Walt Mossberg or get the lowdown on the latest movies from A.O. Scott.
New York Times: Register at www.nytimes.com
Wall Street Journal: Online subscription for $100. Available at www.wsj.com
iPod Bike to Beach Bicycle Speakers
This gift combines my two loves: biking and music. The speaker cleverly fits in the standard water-bottle holder on a bike, making it great for Saturday afternoon rides with friends. Or, as the name implies, it would be perfect for biking to the beach!
$69.99. Available at www.ihomeaudio.com
Flowers and pots
I love flowers, and these small pots are beautiful to spread around your office, bedroom or wherever. The kit includes easy-to-grow seeds, organic soil and 12 earthenware vessels with trays. Give someone a yearlong garden!
$79.95. Available at www.redenvelope.com
The Jawbone 2
Talk hands-free in style. The new Jawbone Bluetooth headsets are a sleek, discrete alternative to other popular models. And, they come in a variety of colors beyond basic black.
$129.99. Available at www.jawbone.com
Sigg water bottles
Sigg bottles are great and well-designed. They are a cool idea for the guy on your list — and no plasticizers or waste if you use these.
Prices vary. Available at www.sigg.com
Lux Art Institute
See a world-renowned artist at work in the studio, up close and personal. It’s a one-of-a-kind art experience.
$10 for 2 visits. Available at www.luxartinstitute.org
Plant a Tree or Offset a Carbon Footprint
Plant a tree in someone’s name through the Arbor Day Foundation. You can even customize the label the sapling comes packaged in.
$3 per sapling. Available at www.arborday.org
Or make an online donation to help offset someone’s carbon footprint. You pick the amount. Available at www.carboncounter.org
Origins Organics Skin Care Line
I love all things Origins. Their products are very earth friendly—using renewable plants, earth and sea substances from around the world. They have products for men, women, dogs and children. Everything smells amazing, and their packaging is beautiful!
One of my favorites: the Organics Skin Care Starter Kit.
$45. Available at www.origins.com
Fuego 01 Grill
Modern design comes to the backyard with this beautifully detailed grill. It looks like a house I’d want to live in!
$2,899. Available at www.fuegoliving.com
Or purchase at: Standards of Excellence, 2620 Financial Court, San Diego, CA 92117
Thomas Paul Pillows
The “Seed Linen Pillow” is the creation of former fashion designer Thomas Paul. His unique patterned textiles are each works of art and spill over to plates, bags, and wristlets as well. (I love the rabbit print wristlet!).
$100.00. Available at www.designpublic.com
Caia Koopman Purse Cases
Caia’s illustrations are wonderfully delicate and feminine, and the juxtaposition with the sultry Goth girl keeps it edgy. I love her sophisticated color palette, and the bizarre and beautiful details. And let’s face it, who doesn’t need another Rehab Wallet Case?
$30 – $36. Available at www.uncommongoods.com
Reusable Grocery Bags
These reusable multi-purpose bags are cute, cheap, and environmentally friendly. You can save trees and eliminate waste by bringing your own bag with you to the grocery store. It’s little steps like these that can make our planet a better place. Use them to carry and “wrap” your gifts!
Prices vary. Available at www.wholefoods.com
Or try www.room6.com and www.enviro-tote.com
The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell
In an election year, it’s healthy to remind ourselves what we set out to become in the first place. Vowell takes an often amusing and always insightful look at some of the country’s first Puritan settlers and how their story has influenced our own. Best of all, she’s a fellow SAIC alum.
$25.95. Available at your local bookstore or online at www.amazon.com
Homemade Baked Goods
I usually give baked goods for Christmas gifts, such as biscotti, pumpkin bread or homemade dog treats.
Try out these great recipes:
Pumpkin Bread
Biscotti
Dog Treats
Eco-Chic Desk Calendar
This great little desk calendar is a fun addition to any girl’s desk. It’s a great alternative to your average wall-mounted calendar, and its eco-friendly at the same time. San Francisco artist, Cat Seto used 100% recycled paper and a wood block stand made from reclaimed lumber to create this unusual piece. You can even send in your used pages at the end of the year, and Cat Seto will recycle them and send you a coupon for refill pages.
$23. Available at www.seejanework.com
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
This is the latest and greatest from Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, who can best be described as the female version of James Brown. One listen and you’ll see why this heavy 60′s soulful sound is an instant classic.
$9.99. Available on iTunes
iTurbo iPod Charger
Save energy with this fast, single battery operated charger and take your music to go! It gives your iPod up to nine extra hours of playtime as soon as you plug it in. No extra wires or waiting for the charge to complete before you can head out the door.
$19.99. Available at www.containerstore.com
Surfrider Foundation
Make a donation to an organization dedicated to keeping our ocean and beaches clean. And, if you’re feeling extra beachy this holiday season, you can donate a little extra to the Save Trestles initiative. They’re fighting to keep one of the West Coast’s best surfing beaches safe from the adverse effects of a toll road. Or better yet, donate your time on behalf of a friend, and help clean up a beach near where you live. Do good and inspire others to follow in your footsteps!
Find out more at www.surfrider.org
Rings
Beautifully modern ring designs made from sustainable metals. 21% of proceeds give back to non-profit organizations, 19% of them to the non-profit of your choice.
Starting at $35. Available at www.design21sdn.com
Concert Posters
Illustrated posters have a long, storied history in rock performances. And for modern music fans, you can find a wealth of posters from recent shows. Hatch Show design produces authentic letterpress posters, made by hand in Nashville, Tennessee. And, Belly Up Tavern concert posters by Scrojo are a great series of contemporary concert posters. Even better if you were at the show!
Prices vary. Scrojo posters are available at www.scrojo.com
Hand Show Design posters are available at www.gigaposters.com
GOOD Magazine
This aptly named mag is one of my favorites—informative, well designed and completely guilt free (unlike some of my more questionable reading material). Best of all, GOOD lets you do good. You pick your subscription price and 100 percent of whatever you decide to pay goes directly to the nonprofit of your choice. More than a magazine, it’s a mission, and something any at-least-semi-socially conscious giftee can get behind.
Subscriptions available at www.goodmagazine.com
Matryoshka Measuring Cups
Nestling measuring cups intended to adorn your countertops between meals. Beautiful, clever and practical—a perfect combination.
$28. Available at www.anthropologie.com
Dean & Deluca Spice Rack
One of my earliest and favorite memories is savoring my grandmother’s cooking. Everything she made was magnificent, and used just the right amount of about every spice you could imagine. That’s a lesson I’ve brought to my own cooking, and this spice rack makes finding the right spice a snap.
$150. Available at www.deandeluca.com
Bogs Garden Boots & Clogs
I love to garden, but I like to do it in style, so I get my gardening boots and clogs from Gardener’s Supply Co. They’re comfortable, durable and easily as fetching as any flower garden. For an even hipper look on your feet, check out Hunter Boots.
$30 – $85. Available at www.gardeners.com and www.hunterboots.com
Olive Wood Shaving Set
A nice shave kit is something you can use forever. I switched from my Bic to a proper kit a few years ago, and I’ll never go back. The once mundane task of shaving has now become a morning ritual I look forward to. And my cheeks are as soft as a baby’s butt, which is a good thing.
$200. Available at www.dwr.com
Rosebud Lip Salve
This is the best lip balm in the world! It’s a step-up from Vaseline, but it gives your lips the same healing benefits. It’s definitely a staple in my beauty regimen.
$7. Available at www.sephora.com
Rolling Stone Cover to Cover: The First 40 Years
At some point in their obsessive relationship with music, every avid fan has had a subscription to Rolling Stone. Why? Because Rolling Stone has cultivated some of the best writers of the last decades (Hunter S. Thompson, Tom Wolfe, Cameron Crowe) and turned them loose on everything to do with modern culture. From some of the most insightful band profiles anywhere to rabble-rousing political coverage, Rolling Stone encompasses it all. That makes this four-DVD archive of every page printed in this venerable publication from 1967 to 2007 like a dream come true. It’s fully searchable and comes with a 208-page coffee table book filled with the iconic photography that your favorite music fan probably cut out and tacked on his wall (not that I ever defaced my copies that way, mind you.)
$79.99. Available at www.amazon.com
Wine of the Month Club
There are a variety of different wine clubs and memberships, but Gold Medal Wines has been recognized in multiple national publications as among the best. There are different levels of membership, offering everything from the ultra-rare to the simply sumptuous. Members also receive a newsletter documenting the history of the featured wineries and other tidbits to enhance the tasting experience.
A great gift for any wine connoisseur!
Memberships range from $34 to $179+ a month. Available at www.goldmedalwine.com
Vintage Record Snack Tray
Recycled vinyls are repurposed as snack trays. Great for audiophiles, and you can pick the music genre!
$28. Available at www.elsewares.com
Fine Art from Dave Adey
One of my favorite new artists is David Adey. He deconstructs imagery from magazines, posters and bus shelter ads and re-imagines it in a new, complex vision. Whether it’s a flower made completely of tiny red lips, or Posh and David Beckham constructed out of a myriad of graphical shapes, the final work is both beautiful and haunting. It would make the perfect gift for that someone special with sophisticated taste!
Prices vary. Available at www.davidadey.com
Kiwi Magazine Subscription
This is a great resource for parents trying to raise their kids to be environmentally conscience. As a new mom, I turn to this magazine for ideas all the time.
1 year subscription (6 issues) $11.95
2 year subscription (12 issues) $19.95
Gift subscriptions available at www.kiwimagonline.com
California State Parks Pass
A parks pass affords unlimited access to California’s natural beauty. One of my favorite places to visit is Torrey Pines State Park for its hiking trails, dramatic cliffs and expansive beaches. Features like lifeguard towers, easy parking and shower access make this a great beach for families.
One-year pass for $125.00.
Available at CA state parks store: www.store.parks.ca.gov
Candy Wrapper Clutch
This multi-colored clutch is hand-woven entirely from recycled candy wrappers. Fashionable and earth-friendly. Plus no two are the same!
$95. Available at www.momastore.org
Recchiuti – San Francisco “Creativity Explored Box”
My sister (who works at the Food Network) turned me on to this confections shop. Anything from this company is crazy delicious!
Best of all, $2 from each sale goes to Creativity Explored, a nonprofit visual arts center where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit, and sell art.
8 pieces, $21.00. Available at www.recchiuti.com
Wine pocket
A cool wine pocket made of environmentally friendly wool. Slip in a bottle—chilled or not—and head out for your celebration destination.
$29. Available at www.branchhome.com
Windrider Bicycle Clips
Inspired by the sandals of mythical Greek god Hermes, these clever pant cuffs keep your pants from getting tangled in the chain while you ride. No more rolling up your trousers and looking like Huck Finn. Just strap these on, and ride like the wind!
$15. Available at www.momastore.org
CAKE Small Node Bowl
This is not a bowl for popcorn, but it will look striking on the kitchen table. The “Node Bowl” from CAKE is organic in form and exudes a wonderful feeling of nature.
$40. Available at www.designpublic.com
Wall Mounted Vintage Bottle Opener
Some things just don’t need to change. Designed in 1925, this classic bottle opener will last you a lifetime. And let’s face it, everyone needs a bottle opener for the back porch to open up those cold ones on a hot summer day.
$8. Available at www.dwr.com
Hercules MP3 Mixer
I love this product. It’s a fun way to get interactive with digital music and great for parties (and I DJ’d at my college radio station, so I should know). The only drawback: It’s just for PCs.
$129.95. Available at www.musiciansfriend.com
Platypus Platy Bottle
Help cut down on the billions of plastic bottles that are discarded each year in landfills. This collapsible bottle, made of safe No. 5 polypropylene, stands up to sporty use, but is cool enough for urban adventures, too. And, when empty, it takes up hardly any space in your bag.
$7.95. Available at www.platy.com
Chiasso Sorted Cutting boards
An intriguing, health-conscious idea for any aspiring chef on your list. These dishwasher-safe cutting boards are color coated so you can keep your meats separate from your fruits and avoid cross-contamination of foods. Oh, and they look great, too.
$98. Available at www.chiasso.com
