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December 10, 2007

Gifts for Letter-Writers

A thoughtful letter is always the greatest gift between two pen pals, but that doesn't mean the letter-writer doesn't want to ring in the holidays by unwrapping some great letter-writing schwag. Here are a few of our gifts for the letter-writer in your life:

Sonrisa vintage metal desks, price varies: We are drooooling over these gorgeous desks, but have no room in our teeny apartments in which to put a beautiful writing desk, so we’re going to suggest that you big spenders out there pick up one of these desks on our behalf. Made of vintage steel, whose paint has been removed to reveal its original mid-century design, these pieces are durable--and did we mention gorgeous? We promise: this is a desk that’ll have you writing letters all day long. Gift it to a (very) loved one, or maybe just claim it for yourself.

Vintage typewriters on ebay, price varies: Typewriters are part of the great nostalgia of letter-writing, and a great gift for your writer-friends. (And now you’ve got that desk above, don’t you need a typewriter too?) There are gems all over ebay, like this fiery red Olivetti with bright white keys. Search ebay for more, and bid away for the gratifying gift of click clack click.

The Card Society from port2port press, $140: This is the gift that’ll keep on giving all year long. The lucky recipient gets two cards a month for an entire year of completely original and limited run designs. If you haven’t seen Maria’s work before, take a peak at some of her past card society editions, holiday and new year cards. This is definitely on my holiday wishlist!

Letter-writing books: These are two of our favorite letter-writing books: Post Secret: A Lifetime of Secrets, and Letters of the Century: America 1900 – 1999 (above, left). Post Secret is the product of the Frank Warren project we all known and love of the same name—strangers send postcards revealing their deep dark secrets, and greatest joys to Warren, on customized postcards of their own design. Letters of the Century is a collection of some of the most notable letters written between politicians, novelists, musicians, and other emblems of America.

Notecards and Postcards from Screech Owl Designs, $15 for a box of 12 postcards, card prices vary (above, right): Just when we thought we were getting sick of birds and owls, this Brooklyn-based designer came along with gorgeous box sets of intricately drawn animals in household situations--sitting on Eames chairs, pecking at the typewriter, perched by a piano. These drawings are full of whimsy, incredible detail, and an air of sophistication. Box sets come in a delightful blue box with owl logo printed on it that is half the gift in itself. Contact gs@screechowldesigns.com for more details (currently unavailable online).

Postcards on Moo.com: Send the gift of personalized postcards to the stationery aficionado who is in love with your photography. Add images (up to 20), crop as you like, and an order of twenty will be on its way to your good friend’s mailbox.

Cardstock, Every Card You Need This Year, $60: The one thing that always catches us in a bind, is that right when you need that wedding-birthday-new baby-fill in the blank card, you just don’t have anything appropriate. You make a mad dash to the nearest pharmacy, but all they have is glittery cards with cheesy sayings. Save one of your friends from this same sad card-giving fate and gift them with Cardstock’s forty-card box of “every card you need this year” is just the solution you’ve been looking for. With simple drawings—of owls, bridges, pine cones, teeth, and birds, there is a card for every occasion all year long.

Happy giving, and happy holidays!

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