Holiday Gifts for the Eclectic Soul

Holiday Gifts for those among us who have esoteric needs. You know who you are.

The kinds of things no one ever thinks to buy for us, so we just have to buy them for ourselves. What? You've never done that? Right.

18 Gifts for the esoterically inclined:

1) Artist Catherine Nolin has gorgeous prints and original art at her etsy shop. She has a wonderful sense of color and mixes patterns with abandon. I can't think of a single room that wouldn't benefit from a Catherine Nolin hanging on the wall.

2) A Membership to the Metropolitan Museum of Art or any other local museum in their area would be a very welcome gift to any art lover.

3) Carol Gillott is a wonderful watercolor artist whose light-hearted prints and original paintings are to drool over. You can find Carol's work at her Paris Breakfast etsy shop. Currently you can buy originals for not too much money. She will also send your pooch to Paris (metaphorically) by doing a custom watercolor of Fido in some Parisian haunt.

4) For the man who has everything and needs nothing. A hand made steampunk eye-catching tie pin guaranteed to startle. See it at ArtifactsNRelics, an etsy shop.

5)  Needle felting mouse. What more is there to say? Cute doesn't quite begin to cover it. Find more hand made critters at T.C.M Designs on etsy. Let's face it, you can never have too much cute.

6) Am I always the last to know? Puffin Classics has a whole slew of beautifully re-designed (by D.J. Terrazini) classic books which are just scrumptious. And wouldn't they look divine on your bookshelves? Buy one as a gift, one for you, one as a gift and one for you, one as a gift and....Well, you know how it goes. Who can resist these?

See more at this post: The Terrier and the Lobster.

Love these sherbet colors!

7) And don't forget the gorgeous embroidery designed covers that Penguin Publishers developed with artist Jillian Tamaki.  Read more about these at Looking Glass.

8) A cleverly crocheted Edgar Allan Poe doll. I mean, who WOULDN'T want one? I laughed out loud when I saw it and that's enough for me. Just love it. Found this on etsy at yayhookedcrochet .

9) What classic movie maven wouldn't want a Bette Davis in DARK VICTORY doll? Debbie Ritter over at etsy has outdone herself with these little treasures featuring authors ( An Edith Wharton doll? Coming right up.), historical figures, actors and characters from movies.

Edith Wharton. Of course.

10) This vintage typewriter key bracelet is just right for the bookworms among us. Check out URmyType's shop at etsy.  Vintage typewriter key jewelry is too cool for...uh, school. (Is that the saying?)

11) Futurama action figures. Again, I ask: who wouldn't want these? I mean, even if you only occasionally watch the show, here's a way of having these oh-so-geeky characters watch over you. Amazon has a whole slew of them.

12) National Gallery history plates. Melamine. Personally, I'd hang them on the wall, but you're welcome to eat off them if so inclined. Available at mxyplyzyk, the uniquely Greenwich Village store. (Though they now have a smaller adjunct in Jersey City.)

13) Pop-up Turkey Timer. Okay, okay, it's a little peculiar - but in a good way. The little legs pop up, I think, when the turkey's done. Perfect hostess gift or stocking stuffer for the cook. At mxyplyzyk

14) An absolutely gorgeous Noah's Ark from Shaker Workshop. A little pricey, but it's hand-made in the USA and this is the kind of thing that should last for years. I can imagine passing it on to your children (if you don't lose the animals) OR you can simply add it to your home or office as a sculpture.

15) Bambino Soap Dispenser. I love it. Surely, I can't be the only one. Too, too adorable. Mxyplyzyk.

16) Love these Penguin mugs. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler sits on my desk holding pens and whatnot. Tons of titles available at artmeetsmatter.

17) An exquisite piece of 'rejuvenated' jewelry from the artisan Amy Hanna would never be amiss. Most especially at Christmas time when flamboyance is the operating theme. I love Hanna's work. She also has a book showcasing her fabulous treasures. Link: Amy Hanna.

- OR -

If all else fails, there's always Ugly Doll. So ugly, they're cute. Again I ask: who wouldn't want one of these?

Please note: I'm not endorsing any of these websites or products other than to say I like the look of them. I get no benefit from making up this list except the fun of putting it together.

Gifts for the Creative Soul

I'm sure you all know about Etsy and its minions of artists, crafts people, jewelry makers, designers, knitters and the like all busily creating beautiful gifts for yourself, your friends and/or family, so I needn't explain much more about it. I'm just going to post some of the great artists who have Etsy Shops where beautiful paintings, prints and other items are to be had for not too much money. I can't think of a better gift than something uselessly beautiful and charming, whose primary reason for existence is to please.

• Catherine Nolin's Etsy Shop where you can view and buy Catherine's extraordinarily beautiful paintings. I love Catherine's use of color and patterns. She has a fantastic sense of design.

• Janet Hill's Etsy Shop where you can view Janet's cheerfully evocative paintings. Most of her work has a vague touch of 1950's sensibility. Her light-hearted use of green and red is charmingly disarming.

• Emily Martin's Etsy Shop - The Black Apple - where you can view her range of charming products, including prints, cards, posters and assorted other gift items.

• Carol Gillott's Etsy Shop - Paris Breakfast where you can view her absolutely dazzling watercolors done in the most delicious colors. Her subject matter: anything and everything having to do with good food, dogs, cats, Paris and London.

• Anne Harwell's Etsy Shop - Annechovie where you can view Anne's sunshine bright still life designs, prints and posters.

• Periwinkle Sky where you can view Becky Kelly's sweetly delightful childrens' themed watercolors. Perfect for a child's room or just for the young at heart.

• Amber Alexander's Etsy Shop where you can view her animal-themed watercolors done in quiet low-key colors, perfect for any room in the house.

• CHINAdoodle's Etsy Shop where you can view re-worked china plates done in a modern fun way with brightly colored daubs of paint. Great to hang on a wall anywhere.

• It's A Whimsical Life where you can view artist Susan Mitchell's incredible felted creations as well as her prints. Her work is charm personified, her animals the cutest things you will ever see anywhere.

• Sandra Eterovic's Etsy Shop where you can view Sandra's eclectic selection of wonderous items. LOVE the 'hand clock'!