Gifts Worth Giving

What will be popular gifts for the 2010 season? According to gift-giving expert Robyn Freedman Spizman, author of “The Giftionary: An A-Z Reference Guide for Solving Your Gift-Giving Dilemmas…Forever,” handmade products are on many wish lists this year.

“Anything that has the touch of an artisan and a unique quality is especially popular,” Spizman said. “So, too, are gifts from around the world. Comfort gifts, such as beautiful throws and pillows, are also big. Embellished gifts—hand-painted, fringes, tassels, sequins—are in. And we are personalizing and monogramming more than ever.”

Catalog/online merchants serve up a slew of on-trend products for all the recipients’ on your list. Here’s a quick study:

* Bird Glass Cloches, available from catalog and online merchant Wisteria, are handmade from recycled, food-safe glass, so they’re perfect for the baker or home chef. The gardener on your list will appreciate the Tiered Metal Plant Stand, which is handmade and painted by hand. It’s both a decorative and functional piece, ideal for small plants and seedlings in need of sunlight—it measures about 80 inches high when assembled. For a more exotic flair, Wisteria offers Calligraphy Brushes made of horn, jade or stone and horse hair; vintage iron pieces; and Earthenware Vessels with an unglazed finish, so each one is unique.

* For the green enthusiast on your list, consider the wares in catalog and online merchant Viva Terra. The merchant’s mission—inspired green living—covers a broad range of product categories. For the at-home chef, consider the Bamboo Box Knife Holders. Each box interior is filled with food-safe, bamboo skewers that create a “safe cushion” for knives that won’t dull the blade. Recycled Glass Balloon Vases are as charming as they are “lopsided in the just the right way.” Channel your gift recipients’ inner Zen with replica Buddhist Temple Bells. The Giant Bell measures 15 inches high; the smallest is 5 inches high.

* Arhaus is best known for its furniture and home accessories. But for the most fashion-forward people on your list, consider the brand’s sister Web site, arhausjewels.com.  Find super cool, cutting-edge cuffs; vintage Italian leather handbags; Roman antiquity-inspired necklaces; and the Samba twist bracelet, which features brass wire wrapped in sisal.

* Ballard Designs offers quick turnaround and no upcharge for monograms (10 letter maximum) on select holiday stockings. The timely designs from Suzanne Kasler suit the natural wood finishes dotting the marketplace today. Kasler’s Linen Stockings with taupe or red borders, and the Burlap Stocking with exposed red stitching, lend a laid-back, serene vibe to interiors. Without a fireplace? Check out the Cast Iron Stocking Holders, which can double as towel racks after the holidays. The floor stocking holder measures approximately 50 inches high, the tabletop model measures 35 inches high.

* Find plenty of stocking stuffers for all those on this year’s Nice List at Paper Source. Colorful Crinkled Scarves with pom-pom trim are especially playful, as are the polka-dotted insulated lunch bag and ceramic travel mug. Look for cupcake motifs and black-and-white kitchen accessories, as well as kid-friendly activity kits, including retro items such as Shrinky Dink charms and friendship bracelet-making kits.

* Catalog and online merchant Cambria Cove offers an eco-friendly solution for the woman on the go. Lucky Koi Reusable Totes can hold 40 pounds of groceries, workout gear and anything else that needs transporting. When not in use, the fade-resistant bags fold up into a small case. Gadgets get a glamorous makeover with Cambria Cove’s exclusive embellished digital frames. Rather than resemble a small TV screen, the digital picture-viewing device is as ornate as a Rococo-inspired frame (and it plays music, too). Personalized wall decor by artist Alexander Doll allows the gift-giver to commemorate recipients’ life milestones such as an anniversary, first-kiss or wedding. The giclée prints are personalized with a custom message and graphics, including names, date, location and hair and skin tones. For the home chef, consider the monogrammed glass cutting/serving board, a statement piece offered in six colors.

Give the gift the gift of comfort and coziness: Garnet Hill offers an assortment of festive holiday sheet sets, shams, comforters and quilts. But the special someone on your list will likely delight in the lambswool Rosette Throw, which features scalloped edges and knit rosettes and leaves on both sides. It’s offered in a calming hue called Oatmeal. Want something more colorful? Consider the Haverhill Afghan, which is crocheted by artisans who use lambswool yarns to create what resembles a mosaic of jewel-toned hexagons.