It’s gonna be a short one this year, which shouldn’t be surprising since the last update I made here was the 2012 Gift Guide! Yikes. Happy holidays!
For the hungry gadget freak (we recommend this every year)
4-slot Egg & Muffin Toaster | I have owned one of these for years.
“Make delicious egg-and-muffin sandwiches at home in about four minutes with this multi-function toaster. The appliance can toast up to four slices of bread, English muffins, bagels, or croissants, while it simultaneously steam-poaches eggs and warms pre-cooked meat. It can also hard- or soft-boil up to eight eggs at a time thanks to the included egg basket. In addition to heating up pre-cooked meat, the two included meat trays can be used to heat slices of tomato or pineapple to accompany toast or a breakfast sandwich — the options are endless.” Also available as a 2-slot. (4 slice: $86.99 / 2 slice: $49.20)
For the temperature-sensitive gadget freak
Nest Learning Thermostat | I’ll just be honest and say that I love mine.
“The Nest thermostat learns from you—your temperature adjustments, your house, your patterns. Teach it well to stay comfortable at home and save energy when you’re away. Simply connect the Nest Learning Thermostat to your home Wi-Fi to control it from a smartphone, tablet or laptop. Change the temperature, view and adjust your schedule or settings, and see exactly how much energy you’re using. Detailed Energy History is available on the Mobile and Web app for the last 10 days. Your Nest Thermostat also sends you an energy summary every month with tips to help you save more. The Nest Learning Thermostat is secure, private, and reliable. Nest supports HTTPS, SSL and 128-bit encryption.” ($249.00)
For the collecting freak
In Flagrante Collecto (Caught in the Act of Collecting) | Yep!
“According to author Marilynn Gelfman Karp, collecting is a calling; and those who are driven to collect unloved objects are the purest collectors of all. In this literary and sophisticated celebration of humble objects, Karp shares her passionate insights on what she calls the “rapture of the capture. In Flagrante Collecto is a vividly illustrated book that is equal parts cultural history, personal memoir, and coffee table objet d’art. The 1000 color photographs that fill this book tell stories of lost and found objects. Ignored by many, these figural matchbooks, buttons, erasers, cigar rings, pictorial seed packets, and other items are hunted and gathered with Ahab-like tenacity at flea markets, antique shops, and collectible shows worldwide. This lovingly assembled volume is a fascinating compendium of material culture as told by an incredible array of objects.” ($4.13-13.47)
For the creative person you love (or hate)
Show Your Work | I’m lucky enough to know Austin. Just get this book.
“In his New York Times bestseller Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon showed readers how to unlock their creativity by “stealing” from the community of other movers and shakers. Now, in an even more forward-thinking and necessary book, he shows how to take that critical next step on a creative journey—getting known. Show Your Work! is about why generosity trumps genius. It’s about getting findable, about using the network instead of wasting time “networking.” It’s not self-promotion, it’s self-discovery—let others into your process, then let them steal from you. Filled with illustrations, quotes, stories, and examples, Show Your Work! offers ten transformative rules for being open, generous, brave, productive. In chapters such as You Don’t Have to Be a Genius; Share Something Small Every Day; and Stick Around, Kleon creates a user’s manual for embracing the communal nature of creativity— what he calls the “ecology of talent.” From broader life lessons about work (you can’t find your voice if you don’t use it) to the etiquette of sharing—and the dangers of oversharing—to the practicalities of Internet life (build a good domain name; give credit when credit is due), it’s an inspiring manifesto for succeeding as any kind of artist or entrepreneur in the digital age.” ($7.56)
For the person who would really like to be able to draw
NeoLucida: The 21st Century Camera Lucida | I backed this on Kickstarter. It’s a pretty great little new/ancient gadget.
“TRACE WHAT YOU SEE. The NeoLucida is a portable camera lucida: an optical drawing aid that allows you to trace what you see. Based on century-old designs but comprehensively redesigned for the 21st century, the NeoLucida is perfect for artists, scientists, designers, or hobbyists-anyone who wants to draw. Originally patented in 1807, by the 1830s camera lucidas were everywhere. Fine artists, scientists, naturalists, explorers, archeologists, architects—all used the camera lucida for drawing in the days before photography. Our design is lightweight (7oz., or 199g), sturdy, compact enough to fit in a handbag, highly adjustable, totally non-electronic, and effective in all lighting conditions. The NeoLucida will also be released with a liberal open-source hardware license, encouraging the world to modify and make their own NeoLucida devices and experiment with new optical applications. If you enjoy drawing from life, or if you’re interested in experiencing for yourself how the Old Masters could possibly have created such accurate, lifelike drawings—then the NeoLucida is for you.” ($47.00)
For the history/science/paranormal/comedy freak
Warehouse 13: Seasons 1-4 | Love this show!
“After saving the life of the President, two top Secret Service agents find themselves abruptly transferred to Warehouse 13—a massive, top-secret storage facility in the badlands of South Dakota that houses every strange artifact, mysterious relic, fantastical object and supernatural souvenir ever collected by the U.S. government. Now the pair—off-the-cuff Agent Pete Lattimer and by-the-book Agent Myka Bering—must chase down reports of supernatural and paranormal activity in search of new objects for their eccentric new boss, Artie Nielsen, to safeguard at the Warehouse. It’s a wildly entertaining adventure full of inventive gadgetry and thrilling action, and with all twelve Warehouse 13: Season One episodes cataloged and archived in this collectible three-disc set, now’s your chance to snag it, bag it and tag it!” ($195.99 …OMG! But the individual seasons are cheaper.)
For the zombie apocalypse freak
Crusty Zombie Toenails / Dried Zombie Skin | Yum! (Maybe.)
“These corroded zombie toenails offer a tasty toe jam-free treat. When lounging around or searching for zombies to kill, this crunchy 2 oz snack will keep your hunger under control. Through years of death and being buried in the ground this crunchy product is bound to satisfy. Our dried Zombie skin is vegan, all natural, and gluten free *Warning: This product is not actually skin, it is dried seaweed.” ($3.84)
And finally, for the people who are odd enough to appreciate this odd little digital web site — our very own analog book!
Milk Eggs Vodka: Grocery Lists Lost and Found | “This book is a compilation of abandoned grocery lists that have been discovered in grocery carts, market floors, and parking lots across the country. If we are what we eat, then this book reveals deep truths about the average American (not to mention more mundane truths like a surprising number of people enjoy onions, and, for most people, mayonnaise is very, very difficult to spell). Separated into chapters (funny lists, sad lists, unhealthy lists, organized lists) the book also includes commentary by the author and some very special recipes created from found grocery lists. Sidebars and food facts round out the menu.” ($10.49)
And if you don’t want that one, try my other book
50 SAD CHAIRS | “This is an awesome work by Acrobat / Photographer Bill Keaggy, who witnesses tired and tossed chairs in downtown St. Louis. Each image is a mixed bag of forlorn and funny, a veritable commentary on our culture of consumption (at least as it relates to chairs). Have a look. And you’ll soon notice: Sad chairs are everywhere. This book is a real treat. Your coffee table is longing for it. It’s a simple, well put together book that will inspire the artist within. A must have, would make a great inexpensive holiday gift. I have one for myself and have purchased this book for friends.” ($6.40-37.50)
There you go. Prices are accurate as of 19 Dec 2013. For more great gift ideas, check out our previous GLC gift guides.
And if this doesn’t interest you then just go check out the newest lists added to the collection.
Happy holidays, everyone!
Love,
The GLC Crew and keaggy.com