Good gift ideas for the person who is always tending to some little project
Welcome to gift guide season 2021! I’m kicking things off with gifts for the person in your life who is always tending to something — maybe their newest hobby, or the planning doc for the next group trip, or a tomato plant (either real or in a video game). Lightly outdoorsy, but in a very at-home kind of way. Like a dad who is also a mom who is also a dad. This is the gift guide for people with taste that’s quite similar to mine, is what I’m saying.
P.S. Get more gift ideas for this type of person on the 2019 and 2020 version of this list.
Charles Viancin mug toppers
These were actually an impulse buy from a really great store in Bar Harbor, Maine, and they’ve turned out to be great. Basically you just set them on top of a mug to keep your hot beverage hot. They really work, and they are cute! I have the sunflowers (a set of two is $13.50 from Amazon) and I just discovered/ordered the tomato version.
Arts & Crafts T-shirt
For the person who is a jock in their own unique way. Available in sizes S–2XL; buy it from House of Dakh for $29.95.
A guide to local wildlife
This is actually what I got for my mom — who is famously hard to shop for — for Christmas last year, after I realized that she pays pretty close attention to the birds in the trees in her yard, as well as all the other wildlife. In her case, I went with Butterflies of Michigan, Mammals of Michigan, and Birds of Michigan, but you could easily tweak based on where the person lives. I personally own/love New York City Trees, and just last week, after way too much time on the Brooklyn Bird Alert Twitter account, bought Birds of New York Field Guide and Field Guide to the Neighborhood Birds of New York City.
A birdhouse/bird feeder
Speaking of local wildlife, this beautiful modern bird feeder would be a great way to turn the books into a bigger gift. This one is available in two color combinations; buy it for $75 from MoMa Design Store.
Hawkins NY sparkly sponges
These would make for a beautiful stocking stuffer or help round out a cookware-centric gift. Available in three different color sets; get a set of three from Hawkins New York for $6.
A steel toolbox in “the very best size”
If the Mx. Fix-It in your life doesn’t have a spot for their growing collection of tools (or craft/hobby supplies, or whatever), this extremely hot green one would be perfect. Get it from Garrett Wade for $64.55. Bonus pairing: A hot carabiner. Bonus to the bonus: A teeny tiny metal toolbox, which is the ideal place to store all your carabiners.
If the person you’re shopping for has lots of little odds and ends — maybe they sew or knit — I’d recommend this beautiful solid-wood craft box, which is the sort of thing they’ll have/use forever. Get it from Garrett Wade for $179.
A gentle, nature-inspired game
I’ve been obsessed with/signing the praises of Wingpsan for the past month, and there are a lot of other options in this vein that are worth checking out:
Mariposas, which focuses on butterflies and was designed by the same person who designed Wingspan. Buy it for $49.99 from Alderac Entertainment Store or $32.99 from Amazon.
Parks, which is National Parks–themed and is on my personal wishlist this year. Get it from Keymaster Games for $49.
Trails, a new game from the Parks team. Buy it for $19.99 from Keymaster Games.
Arboretum, which challenges players to “create the most beautiful garden.” Buy it from Renegade Game Studios for $21.99 or from Amazon for $20.49.
Point Salad, a drafting card game that centers on vegetables. Buy it from Alderac for $19.99 or Amazon for $16.99.
And, finally, Wingspan! Buy it for $60 from Stonemaier Games or from Amazon.
Birkenstock Arizona shearling sandals
Sometimes I’m like “Hm, I can’t really think of anything I want for Christmas this year” and then later I’ll remember these exist. I’m a recent convert to Birks and these just look so luxurious and cozy. Get them for $150 from Urban Outfitters (also available in two other colors) and find some other color options at Birkenstock.
To wear with a pair of New Balances and a baseball cap on Saturday morning trips to the library and local garden store. The sweatsuit above, which I have, is from Gap (the bottoms are on sale for $25 and the hoodie is on sale for $25, both available in sizes XS–XXXL). I also love the options from Aritizia, which come in a ton of really beautiful colors and different cuts.
Fjallraven Kanken backpack
I’ve never been a backpack person, but I bought this one in September for our trip to Acadia and ended up loving it; it holds a ton of stuff, the color is beautiful, and it’s just super convenient — great for hikes, but also little day trips and/or park visits. It also comes in like 50 colors; buy one from Fjallraven for $80 or Amazon for $76.
Dad Grass or Mom Grass
Are they more of a daddy or a mommy? It doesn’t really matter because there’s something for everyone! I’ve sung the praises of this product times already; it’s a great option for someone who occasionally wants a wine-free way to take the edge off, but doesn’t want this badly or often enough to actually get a weed dealer. Get it all from Dad Grass: a pack of five joints of Mom Grass ($35), Dad Grass ($35), or the Parent Pack (which has five of each) for $66.
Haws watering can
I bought one of these watering cans back in 2015 and it felt like the most indulgent purchase. It’s just beautiful; a genuine joy-sparker. This watering can is also more than just its looks; it’s made by a company that has been doing watering cans for 130 years and is extremely ergonomic/loved by gardeners. Buy one from Horti for $16. (There are also some additional color options on Amazon, but the prices/shipping times vary.)
A metal cookbook stand
This might not look very special on the website, but I own it and I can tell you that it’s really beautiful in person. The packaging is particularly nice, and it’s made of that sort of painted metal that feels very 1950s. It would also pair perfectly with a cookbook! Available in 12 colors; get it for $12 from Hightide Store DTLA. (Also: I love this store so much! Definitely have a poke around; they have tons of great gifts. For example, the Penco clips are great and would be a good stocking stuffer.)
And practical slip-ons to wear when doing all those little projects
I love sturdy house shoes (safety!!!), especially rubber clogs. A couple recs:
The Super-Birki, which looks like what would happen if a Croc and a Dansko fucked. Available in nine colors (and men’s and women’s sizes) from Birkenstock for $79.95.
Calzuro clogs, which I’ve had/loved for a while now, and which now come in pistachio green. Available in 16 other colors and men’s and women’s sizes; get them from Calzuro for $106. (Some of the colors/styles are also available from Amazon FYI.)
Perfect to slip on so you can dash outside and check out an interesting bird before it flies away. 🦉