Hey there, I’m AC, Grace’s fiancé, and I’ve been asked to do a roundup of gifts for her readers with boyfriends/husbands/dudes who might not be the kind of guys who read Design*Sponge. As some of you may remember, I did this last year, and I’m back again because either some of you found it helpful or Grace is just being straight up lazy this year. Anything’s possible.

So, because the economy is in the toilet and no one wants to spend a lot of money, it’s important to focus on the fundamental rule of gift giving: it’s the thought that counts. I’m serious! Think about it, we’re in the same economy that you are, and right about now we don’t want to spend a lot of money either. If you’re cool with one nice gift, or two small gifts, so are we. Just do us a favor this year: go with the fun gifts we want instead of the practical stuff that we need.

Today I’ll be giving you my take on “guy gifts” in the following categories: Accessories (aka, “guy jewelry”), Clothes, “Toys & Games”, and Media (Books, DVD’s, etc.).

CLICK HERE for the rest of AC’s guide for guys…
read more …

last year i asked some of my favorite art and design bloggers to share their wish lists for christmas gifts. their ideas certainly helped me with my shopping and i’m hoping that they’ll be just as helpful this year. for 2008 i asked which gifts each blogger would like to give and receive, so read on below to see what they had to say this year. the list (and gift ideas) continue well after the jump so click here to see the full list (or just click “read more” at the bottom of this post). thank you to everyone who participated this year! (all of the images above are referenced and linked to below in the bloggers’ entries)

[stay tuned for ac's guy's gift guide next!]

blogger: sarah of cursive
to give: faceted white wood rocks from kindling, i’m giving homemade ornaments this year to my loved ones with written messages hidden insidethem listing reasons why they are special to me with a card listing what i wrote
to receive: a warm white and black plaid blanket to stay warm this winter, hot cocoa mug

blogger: courtney of style court
to give: a donation to an organization like meals on wheels
to receive: a red velvet cake and hand-blocked cotton kitchen towels or mitts from elizabeth james (her towels are $8 each. would be great paired with a cookbook!)

blogger: camilla engman
to give: one of mimi kirchners ‘tiny worlds‘ to my mum, and i would love to have one myself or one of her tattooed men, this wood print by bryan nash would be perfect for my husband, and i’d like to give nigel peake’s maps book to someone.
to receive: for myself i wish, any of the above, more time, the ability to concentrate, not so much rain. and if it doesn’t rain so much i hope i’ve got this firefork to bring out in the woods. i also like this tin light kit form the same place (if i have to stay inside). in my dreams there is a princess ring from klara eriksson.

blogger: jan of poppytalk
to give: i like these plustaches by shannon gerard, this handmade porcelain dish by rae dunn and this ‘bag of bricks‘
to receive: portable usb turntable, herriott grace spoon (they have a wonderful story behind them), i’d also love a bowl of these ornaments, this coptic bound notebook and this print from kate banazi.

blogger: heather of skinny laminx
to give: tivoli ipal radio, everyone in my family will be getting their own mug (with my ceramic transfers on it)
to receive: earlier this year, i invested in a canon G9 camera, and am desperate to get the little old-school leather case that fits it like a glove, but it’s impossible to find. let’s hope someone’s been resourceful…

blogger: abigail percy
to give: hand-made all the way! in addition to gifting my own jewelery, i have some of these things in mind: nature boy and girl bags from design night, wooden bangles from paloma’s nest, feast from lines and shapes
to receive: some art for my place (i should be so lucky!): rob ryan, fox in mociun, and continued happiness and maybe even some love! (it is the time of year for being sappy after all)

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE BLOGGER’S WISH LIST GUIDE!
read more …

today’s gift guide is my final budget-related installment: everything $100 and under. tomorrow i’ll be continuing with ac’s guides for guys and the second installment of the blogger’s wishlist guide. until then, here is a roundup of great budget-friendly gifts that won’t top $100. there are a few pieces i missed from earlier this week so you’ll see a few under $25 and under $50 items in there, but i figured they were still under $100 so it would be ok to throw them in. hope you enjoy the list and happy gifting! if you missed any of the other guides from this week just click here.

[ps: in non-gift-guide news, my next martha wedding blog is up right here- it's all about cake]

[image above, clockwise from top left: script desk lamp $60 (i love this color), miniature concrete planter $98, decanter and glass $98, pair of blue champagne flutes $68, perch vessel $56, treehooked coat rack $80, log bowls $63+, ram bottle stoppers $95, gold knuckles mug $98, pomegranate salt and pepper shakers $99 (how cute are these?), left and right cufflinks $65, iomoi paperweight $68]

[image above, clockwise from top left: card suits coasters $12.99, dolphin studio calendar $98, spice boy spice grinder $60, hugo guiness tote bag $18, initial pocket mirror $14, office owl print $58, foo dog book ends $50, monogram cuff $58]

[image above, clockwise from top left: icon watch $89, raw crystal bottle stopper $55, chalkboard napkin rings $65, alena hennessy scarf $24.99, trio glasses $68, set of 4 calling birds bowls $58, oriole teapot $60, trio pitcher and bowls $100, pierre graphiques stones $50-$100 (they're almost sold out so order quickly)]

[image above, clockwise from left: john robshaw napkins $90, john robshaw placemats $38]

[image above, clockwise from left: thru the trees chandelier $68, martha stewart flowers for 1800 flowers (i like sending flowers for the holidays for the person who has everything) $59.95 each]

[image above, left to right: scented drawer paper from hammocks and high tea (set of 6) $25, mighty oak gift plant by todd oldham for ftd $39.99, todd oldham snail topiary for ftd $59.99]

[image above: reform pots at tortoise LA (made of chinese quince and perfect for thin candles), $69-$100]

[image above: long oval wooden spoons at shophorne (a fantastic new shop) $22]

today’s third gift guide is devoted to products under $50. i hope you’ll enjoy the roundup. stay tuned for more guides tomorrow and friday- if you’ve missed any of the other guides this week just click here.

[stay tuned for lauren and derek's diy project next at 2pm!]

[image above, clockwise from top left: button coasters $44, very friendly tea towels $38, nature serving set $38, framed bus sign $38, vintage scandinavian books $40, paperweight $45, acrylic and wood bangle $38, self-watering pot $28, trefoil servers $38, bird whistles set of 2 for $42.50, red felt garland $48 (great for diy gifts and wrapping)]

[image above, clockwise from top left: hello card case $35, "dignified" grocery lists $32, feather headband $32, bent ply stand $29, whale chalkboard $44, whale tongs $44, felt doily $38, ink splat cufflinks $50, handmade wallets at fred flare $28]

[image above, clockwise from top left: airplane print eye mask $24 (for the frequent traveler), usb chain $24, italian dish towels $32, small nature tray $50, sugar pot/creamer $27, bronze twig hook $25, bottle cap remover $48, porte key fob $48]

[image above, clockwise from top left: sakurasaku glass $39 (it leaves a pretty water-print pattern on the table), ortolan organic napkin $34, bloom lumen $48, alphabet ice $29]

[image above, left to right: hive wine rack $35, ceramic diamond ring $45]

[today's second gift guide comes from d*s winter intern, despina. despina and sam were kind enough to share some of their holiday wish list picks today. click here to check out sam's list. thanks to des and sam for their hard work!]

this holiday, i’m all about clean lines and bold colors! the conceal bookshelf is top on my list of of cool little gadgets, while the memo glass brings me back to a time when lower case letters were forbidden to breach the middle dotted line. the blik decals and girl glass rub ons let me sit in the designer’s seat and take control over my glassware and wall space. the moma store has great modern options for gift giving, but also make sure you scour etsy for amazing handmade items, quite possibly at a more affordable price! happy shopping! -despina

[image above, clockwise from top left: Deer Dishtowel $18, Warm Wishes Stationery $12, Riki Design Clock $120, Vers Wood iPod Speaker Dock $179.99 , Loop Candelabra $28, Memo Dotted Line Glass $5, Conceal Bookshelf $15, Bubbled Glass Doorknob $32]

[image above, clockwise from top left: Girl Glass Rub Ons $5 , Modern Giraffe Fabric $8.95/half yard, I <3 My Bike Bell $8, Coat Rack $68, Boy in the Woods by Blik $40]

[image above, clockwise from top left: Posters of the Cold War by David Crowley $30, Little Otsu Annual Vol. 3 Weekly Planner $18 ]

[today i'm sharing two special budget-friendly gift guides created by my fantastic winter interns, samantha and despina. stay tuned for the under $50 guide at 1pm today]

this holiday season i’m loving anything vintage or vintage inspired. i’m also crazy about great packaging, which is why i included some soaps from french paper and fresh. the fragrances are lovely, but the packaging is even better. also check out anthropologie for great accessories like their amazing pinch pine tea set. i hope this list helps give you some ideas for the holidays! -samantha

[image above, clockwise from top left: apple casserole dish $24.99, pop ink soap $20, pinch pine tea set $24-$78, lomo diana dreamer camera $65, featherbrain headband $34, dean and deluca spice rack $150, vintage canisters $29, new year earrings $98, victorian ring dish $6]

[image above, clockwise from top left: over and over by mike perry $35, max brenner hug mug $9.90, cannabis, rose and patchouli parfum by fresh $75, waterlily soap $14, luxe pillow $36, yee-haw journals $22]

today’s gift guide is all about super budget-friendly gifts- all $25 and under. tomorrow i’ll continue with gifts under $50 and under $100 (and ac’s guy’s guides on friday) but for today it’s all about gifts that definitely won’t break the bank. if you’ve missed any other gift guides just click here to view the archives.

[image above, clockwise from top left: mini glove mold $3.95, guinea hen feather ribbon $22 (great for projects and diy gifts), small cupcake canister $16, magazine rack $8, stitchable keychain kit $20, 2 carat cup $25, origami sticky notes $5, plywood alphabet $8, mushroom ornament/clip $24, hable pin cushion $10, toothpick holder $18, airmail luggage tag $14]

[image above, clockwise from top left: ferm living tea towel $19, marimekko cocktail napkins $6, berry glass $16-$18, media pocket $19, napkin catch placemat $19, bottle opener $8.80, stoneware coffee cup and spoon $22.50, dishware decals $6, satu soap trio $12, salt and pepper shaker $23]

[image above, clockwise from top left: paper kit $16 (perfect for diy gifts), vintage key ring $21, morris water bottle $14.95, hable construction fabric horseshoe $18, rosette journal $18, french envelope tray $16, smoke wine glass $3, deer candles $5.29]

[image above, clockwise from top left: pitcher water bottle $15, bubbles table runner $24, platinum edge water glass $14, thomas paul horse pouch $20, taika cup + saucer $30, thomas paul pencil cup $5, brooklyn mug $10.95]

[image above, clockwise from top left: curved spout vessel $19.80, pop mat placemat $24, mud australia jug $21, coaster set $12]

[image above, clockwise from top left: hau hauz coin purse $25, filzfelt wool placemats $14, wine cylinders $16, boyan miniature bowls $8.50]

[image above, clockwise from top left: monogram pillowcase $18, mud australia salt dish $13, felted planter $24]

[image above, clockwise from top left: graphic match boxes $4]