gifts of notable scale

Foot and hand pillows by John Sohn, for anthropomorphic blanket forts.

A miniature magazine all about miniatures: World of Interiors December 2025 special edition (image via Casa Magazines).

Jumbo Oni paperclips, for a big grip.

A a cottage-shaped box, to hold jewels or sewing notions, or rooms designed to fit on a page, designed by Miss Sarah Elizabeth Birdsall Otis.

A very big bag (Gabrielle Frantzen's raffia weekender), to encourage packing light.

The gift of one book crammed with words (a single-volume edition of the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary, complete with magnifying glass) or the gift of just three sentences, written by Kiosk.

An extremely difficult puzzle with just 159 pieces, by Artifact Puzzles.

A whale sized to swim in a tea pot, by Ocean Teabag.

Construction supplies for the littlest household projects by Mini Materials.

The ninth chapter of nine-year-old Daisy Ashford's novel, The Young Visiters, designed to fit on a shirt, by A History of Frogs.

A measuring tape by Alan Sobrino marked in increments of verse.

Lisa Swerling's "One Wish" Glass Cathedral—a summer's night under glass.

foodie gifts you should not eat

A pink cabbage tureen, to channel Bunny Mellon.

A selection from John Derian's produce aisle of marble and porcelain fruits and vegetables.

Beer that is easy to burn off (because it is actually a candle by Cereria Introna).

Japanese crayons with pigments made from cabbages and leeks, corn and carrots.

Chris Chiappa's fried egg sculpture at Good Friend (or if you prefer soft-boiled, these).

A bejeweled charm from Mociun's Fine Foods (or Susan Alexander's fruit compote).

Gohar World's plate of beans.

A long-sleeve tee with a Roe Etheridge apple.

Disco cherries (or ice cream or pineapples) by Sofiest Designs.

Jellycat's extremely huggable sandwich (or Folkmanis wormy apple).

A box of cookies in puzzle form by Food 52.

The ultimate New York City bagel.

An arty cookbook by Esther Choi that "uses food to create edible interpretations of modern and contemporary sculptures, paintings, architecture, and design."

And a Fortnum and Mason chocolate toad—frighteningly lifelike, but actually eatable!

birthday gifts some 42-year-olds might enjoy

Sofia Lind reading poster at Fine Little Day.

Samantha Pleet harvest opera gloves.

Reproduction whaleboat deck prisms at Detroit Garden Works.

Wild golden chanterelles from Mikuni Wild Harvest.

L'Envers handknit undyed wool balaclava.

Romantic Things by Mary Jacobus: an exploration of "the world of objects and phenomena in nature as expressed in Romantic poetry alongside the theme of sentience and sensory deprivation in literature and art." Includes a chapter titled "Senseless Rocks."

Caron Callahan Ellie Mary Janes in green.

Santa Maria Novella hand sanitizer.

Curly sheepskin waterbottle cover.

Stone tangram at Casa Shop.

Erie Basin marine hoops.

Dust to Digital's Harry Smith B-sides boxed set, compiling "the flip-side of 78-rpm records that [Smith] selected for the original Anthology of American Folk Music."

Also: cake. (Happy birthday to meeeeeee.)

gifts for jigsaw puzzlers

A ha-ha funny one: Piecework Puzzles Meta 1,000 piece puzzle.

Akihiro Woodworks Jin cup for sustaining sips of something warm close at hand.

Keen Hsu's LED lantern speaker, to shine a little extra light and gently amplify the soothing voices of podcasters.

Akron St. Ko low table—paired with meditation cushions or floor pillows, the tray top makes it perfect for puzzle work.

One for collectors: Liberty Puzzles "Flutter By," 290 pieces with assorted whimsies (pieces cut out in the shapes of recognizable things, like caterpillars and dancers).

A puzzle disguised as a novel/a novel disguised as a puzzle: a first edition of Julio Cortázar's Hopscotch.
Shearling moccasin clogs (fuzzy slippers are always useful).

An enamelware bake set that doubles as sorting strays for puzzle pieces (or some less-costly butcher tray palettes).

Bode quilt jacket (each one is a wearable, covetable work of art).

Perfectly pieced earrings by Grainne Morton.

A snack that keeps your hands clean: old-fashioned bourbon cocktail lollipops by A Secret Forest.

The gift of infinite options: a puzzle without end—"no fixed shape, no starting point, and no edges."