Each year, I have good plans to get my gift guide out before December and this year I’ve actually done it!
My list includes some picks from the 2025 Summer NY NOW Lifestyle and Gift Show and other appealing items that have been sent my way for blogger review. All can be purchased online and some via Amazon. Several are having Black Friday discounts.
There are gifts for the home, jewelry, books, crafts and more. Plus, I’ve also included 2026 calendars from Workman, along with a 2026 calendar giveaway. Be sure to read down to the end and enter.
Gifts for the home
If you’re looking for decor to add to your home, here are three unique gift ideas that I fancied at NY Now.
Jean Pierre Weill 3D Paintings On Glass
Artist Jean-Pierre arranges different parts of an image on multiple levels of glass to create unique dimensional artwork. His technique allows the painting to have elements of light and shadow, which provides a sense of movement. There are mini and petite collections as well as classique and grand paintings. Each is hand-painted. Based in Israel, Jean-Pierre works with his two daughters in their family studio.
BTW, my boyfriend E has one of Jean Pierre’s paintings. I always admired it at his home and now that we merged households I get to enjoy it every day.
Artist Jean Pierre Weill designs 3D paintings on glass
Bloon Original Seats
There are many ergonomical chairs on the market these days. I was especially drawn to the Bloon Seat from Bloon Paris when I passed its booth at NY Now. The stylish ball chair is available in a variety of fabrics and is actually comfortable to sit on. Not only does it look cool in a home office, but it naturally encourages the body to maintain balance and also helps strengthen the deep back muscles and improves posture.
Stylish Bloon seats are ergonomic and comfortable for the office
De Simone Handcraft Pottery
I love the colorful Sicilian handicrafted pottery made by De Simone. I wish I could purchase a whole set. They are so bright and cheery and make me smile. Each authentic Italian piece of pottery is handcrafted and an exclusive work of art. They also now make tablecloths adorned with De Simone artwork. A few De Simone pottery are sold at Eataly shops in the States. There is an online store and they do ship worldwide.
Ooh, ooh, ooh, the best way to purchase De Simone pottery is to plan a trip to Italy!
De Simone Sicilian Pottery is handcrafted in Italy
Jewelry finds
There weren’t the usual number of jewelers at NY Now this year. I managed to find two I liked.
Hilary Fink Jewelry
Hilary’s jewelry stood out to me. Likely because she creates one-of-a-kind and small batch pieces. She uses traditional metalsmithing techniques, natural gemstones, and precious metals in her jewelry. From her studio in San Francisco, she celebrates hand-crafted production to ensure no two pieces are ever alike.
Jeweler Hilary Fink creates one-of-a-kind pieces like these rings with natural gemstones
Qudo jewelry
I absolutely adore the authentic Italian Pomellato rings with their Signature Nudo gems. I’ve always wanted one but unfortunately they only make them in rose gold and I am allergic to rose gold. My lucky sister N bought one duty-free when we were in Milan this spring. So when I saw the Qudo rings at NY Now I was surprised that the company could get away with an imitation so close. I asked the saleswoman and she said Qudo has the exclusive rights.
Of course nothing is exactly like having an original Pomellato amethyst ring, yet maybe I’ll have to treat myself to a Qudo Firenze wisteria ring, which is an inexpensive replica.
Qudo Firenze rings are knockoffs of expensive Italian designer Pomellato rings
Crafts and creative gift picks
Crochet Your Veggies
Calling all vegetable lovers — these beginner-friendly crochet kits are so cute. They come in a variety of veggies so you can pick your favorite or make a bunch to use as a centerpiece on the table or in the kitchen.
Crochet Your Veggies kits include all ingredients to make or give as a gift
The Granny Square Card Deck
For more fun crochet crafts, this 50 card deck features instructions to make all kinds of granny square designs in different color pallettes. Also included is a 32-page step-by-step guide to understanding crochet charts. I have an heirloom granny square blanket that my nana made that sits on one of my guest room beds.
Granny Square Card Deck has design instructions to create 50 different crocheted squares
Happy Stitching Kits
Probably because I’m back into needlepointing, I noticed these Happy Stitching Kits at NY Now. The luggage tag kits have pretty designs and I thought would make a nice statement when traveling. The kits are on the expensive side but come with everything you need to make a finished piece — canvas, yarn, needle, threader, mini scissor and leather tag, There are kits for passport covers, keyfobs, eyeglass cases and coasters too.
Luggage tags
Book for Paper Lovers
My friends at Workman Publishing sent Flow, the Book for Paper Lovers: Color Your World to me last month and I liked it so much I decided to include it in my gift guide. If you love paper crafts this book is a true celebration of everything paper. It’s filled with patterns, illustrations, and images by illustrators from all over the world. There are patterned paper, stickers, a notebook, coupon book, wrappng paper, envelopes and more all in one big book. Perfect for gifting to a paper lover or to keep for yourself.
Flow is filled with all kinds of beautiful paper products
Potpourri of water bottles
I don’t know about you, but I have different water bottles I use for the gym and on walks. After a while I find they don’t clean as well so I need a new one. Here are two I picked out at NY Now.
National Park Sticker Bottles
These insulated National Park Sticker Bottles are part of the Geo Project supporting talented artists and our national parks. Included are weatherproof stickers for 63 U.S. National Parks to personalize your bottle after each park you’ve explored. It acts as a lasting tribute to the journeys you’ve taken.
Bestie Bottles by Asobu
Now that my granddaughter Z can drink through a straw, I was attracted to these adorable stainless steel Bestie bottles with all kinds of animal heads. There are cows, elephants, giraffes and more. And there are bottles available with snowmen characters that also make nice holiday gifts for kids and teens.
Besti Bottles come in kid-appealing animal designs
Calendars to inspire the new year
While I keep my activities on my iCal on my iPhone, I like to hang a printed calendar with appointments on my bulletin board in my office. My fav calendars are from Workman. They have an array of wall and desk calendars.
Calendars make nice gifts. Workman calendars come in a variety of shapes and sizes and have a format for every passion and obsession from Birds in the Garden and Shine On, Anyway with Inspiring Affirmations to The Kid’s Awesome Activity Calendar and Washington Evergreen Natural Wonders — there are multiple wall calendar offerings.
Workman 2026 calendars make nice gifts for the new year
The Page-A-Day calendars are great to keep around the house. Calm Coloring Page-A-Day and colored pencils make a crafty gift as does The New York Times Cooking Page-A-Day for the kitchen with a new recipe each day.
Ooh, ooh, ooh, Workman is having a 30% off sale now, so go get yourself a calendar.
Enter the 2026 calendar giveaway
Drum roll….this year’s calendar giveaway is for The New York Times Page-A-Day calendar. To enter, leave a comment about what you’re looking forward to in 2026. I’m excited for the arrival of my grandson in February! You can leave a comment on this blog post, on Facebook or Instagram @judiboomergirl.
Happy Shopping!
Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving too!
Judi
Judi, Such clever gift ideas! Thank you for sharing them, and a part of you along the way! Always great to read what you’ve been up to…you’re certainly keeping busy. Happy holidays!
Happy Holidays to you too. Thanks for your readership.