The Staring at the Ceiling Gifts Guide
200+ carefully chosen new, vintage, and handmade gifts for you and your loved ones.
Welcome to a special edition of Staring at the Ceiling, where I share gift ideas for you and your loved ones.
🫵 This is a long one, so you may need to read it in your browser.
Hello and happy gift guide season! I hope you’re all taking care of yourselves.
I personally love gift guides, so I wanted to try my hand at creating one. It gave me a lot of joy to put this together over the past couple of months and I hope it provides you some joy to browse this too. It has a mix of new, vintage, and handmade items. They are intentional presents that won’t end up in the back of someone’s closet and, mostly, they are special gifts for special people in your life, many of which I have given and received. Let this be a guide to get your brain going and not a definitive list.
If you’re looking for different types of gift guides, I link some at the end. And if you are someone who knows me personally, feel free to gift me whatever you see below :)
The categories include apparel, decor, art, candles, jewelry, gifts for children, kitchen & food, and miscellaneous nice to haves.
Enjoy <3
Please Note: I may earn a commission on some products purchased through links in this newsletter.
APPAREL & ACCESSORIES
Vintage ties $45–$125: The Real Real, Ebay, and Etsy have great options. I usually just search for Hermès ties because TRR’s collection is huge and you can almost always find something that works.
Vintage silk scarf $30–$300: The Real Real is usually my go-to but as always, Ebay and Etsy are good options. The price range is wide but the hunt is really fun and you can get some great deals or splurge on some beautiful items. I try to make sure that the scarves are silk and/or cotton and the brands I usually search for are Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, Salvatore Ferragamo, Hermès, and Lanvin.
Cashmere socks $30–$60: Or cashmere anything, $30–$150. I like to look for vintage Brooks Brothers cashmere sweaters on ebay and have found great options for $20–$40. Cashmere socks are a simple luxury people don’t always allow themselves, which is why I think they’re a great gift.
Hand painted pants, $103: A couple years ago I painted these pants for James and he loves them and wears them all the time. It’s a sweet and personal gift and you can customize and imbue it with the person’s personality. Get as whimsical as you’d like.
Pajama set $54–$198: I love giving and receiving a nice pair of pajamas and they’re a great gift for pretty much everyone. I love going honk-shoo mode in my pjs.
BAGS
$14–$130
Bags are always a great gift!! I am a huge Baggu head and I believe you can never have too many. Plus, they’re a great receptacle for a stocking stuffer. Don’t forget you can monogram the LL Bean boat tote. And the Deer Dana tiny tote is so perfectly tiny, you won’t find a tinier tote.
1. Baggu totes and backpacks $34–$56, 2. Baggu Crescent bags and fanny packs $46–$56, 3. & 4. Baggu travel bags and pouches $14–$38, 5. Deer Dana tiny tote $30–$75, 6. Dragon Diffusion dupe woven leather tote $130, 7. LL Bean boat tote $30–$45, 8. Mexican woven bag $50
4 KIDZ
Children’s books $9–$100
Baby mobile $75–$100
Deer Dana kids tees $25–$35
HOME & DECOR
Vases $55–$103: A vase with flowers inside is a sweet gift to bring to someone if they’re having you over at their house or they just moved in. I buy flowers for myself pretty regularly and a beautiful vase would be a welcome addition.
Hue Gah stainless steel vase, Hue Gah organic smoky glass vase, Onora Casa Xochicalco vase, Onora Casa Caliente pottery vase, blown glass vase
Bowls $42–$86: A beautiful architectural bowl is a great gift. I use my beautiful fruit bowl every single day and I fill it with limes. It adds color and personality to my kitchen table and, most importantly, holds all my limes.
Hue Gah curved glass bowl, Hue Gah footed fruit bowl, Onora Casa Xochicalco bowl, Schoolhouse x Clare V catchall, handmade striped wooden bowl
Jewelry box $32–$85: James and I gifted an antique jewelry box to his antique-loving sister and she loves and uses it all the time. I also have a variety of little boxes and vessels around my apartment where I keep jewelry, bobby pins, hair ties, etc. (a glass bird for bobby pins and a lidded glass chicken for hair ties, if you were wondering).
Antique tramp art jewelry box, walnut jewelry box, vintage opal trinket box, vintage ornate silver jewelry box, vintage silver plated jewelry box
Framed photo $29–$80: Another sweet and sentimental gift. You can frame a photo of you and the other person, a concert ticket, a sentimental item that means something. I saw Delaney, @ tremonthome on Instagram, frame a plastic bag that was a part of her engagement. Cute! You can frame a letter, a prayer, a doodle. Get sappy with it.
Calder mobile $75–$100: I found this great seller on Etsy who hand makes these Alexander Calder-esque mobiles and they’re a unique piece of decor that adds color and dimension if you want to venture outside of gifting art prints (next section!).
Coffee table books $28–$84: These are basically all books I have saved in my camera roll that I’ve wanted for years and have never purchased for myself.
The Secret Language of Flowers, New York Living Rooms, An Illustrated Catalogue of American Fruits and Nuts, Ellsworth Kelly Postcards, What Artists Wear, Nothing But Flowers, Memento Mori, The Tennis Court, SLP-041: SHEER DRIFT: The Snake America Newsletters, The Art of the Cevallos Brothers
A book and book jewelry $48: I’m someone who uses old laundry receipts and scrap paper as bookmarks, so if someone in your life is an avid reader, a new book and a beautiful bookmark is a sweet gift.
ART & PRINTS
1.David Shrigley print $54, 2. Libby Haines print $42, 3. Momo Gordon print $25 4. Cevallos Brothers custom print (dm for a commission), 5. Avery Cordray print $65, 6. Diya Sanat painting $155, 7. Hank Lumen painting $180, 8. Flower cyanotype $35, 9. Erika Stearly print $50
More artists and ideas:
Pia Riverola, Ry Shorosky, Shagey, Ana Inciardi, pantspants, Erika Lee Sears, Rafa Garcia, Angela Ooghe
Jean Cocteau lithograph, Ellsworth Kelly print, A cool rug for framing, a framed monarch butterfly
Cartoon prints: If you have a cartoon loving friend, you could buy prints directly from the pages that sell them or find a still you like, paint it, and frame it. I’ve done this with shows like Twin Peaks and Sopranos and it’s a sweet gift, especially if you go the handmade route.
Scoobyscapes, Simpsons stills, Looney Tunes backgrounds (it’s a zine but you can frame some of the pages), Over the Garden Wall Print
CANDLES, ETC.
Scents are really personal so go with your gut on what you like but I included some favorites of mine. I like giving gifts that can be used up, and a candle is a great way to give someone the gift of good vibes in their home. Plus, candle accessories like holders and wick trimmers are a sweet way to make them feel a little luxurious.
Candles $16–$70
Scented: Brooklyn Candle Company Santa Fe, Boysmells LES, Replica By the Fireplace
Sculptural unscented: Onora Casa flowered candle, Oaxaca blossom candle, Big Night tomato candle
Ashtray with incense $17–$87: You can also gift incense with an ashtray or a beautiful bowl. For incense, I’m partial to palo santo, piñon, and cedar.
Curved glass bowl, Xochicalco bowl, Schoolhouse x Clare V catchall, Xochicalco copalero
Candle accessories $22
Candle holders $18–$108
Tama candleholder, Moroccan donkey candlestick holder, red clay candleholder, custom ceramic candle holder, Dansk candle holder, aluminum abstract branches candelabra
Custom matchbox $25–$70: I also got this idea from Delaney @ tremonthome and it’s such a sweet party favor or a gift to someone who’s just moved into a new place.
Custom personalized matchbox, custom logo matchbox, custom text matchbox, custom matchbox (available in bulk)
JEWELRY
1. Colorful charm necklace $35, 2. Daisy beaded necklace $60, 3. Silver mod earrings $48, 4. Ouichef charms $90, 5. Cosmos hair pin $129, 6. Sterling silver ear cuffs $52, 7. Statement gold ring $158, 8. Vintage modernist Louis Booth earrings $55, 9. Pendant necklace $144, 10. 80s brutalist spiral earrings $40, 11. Kiki link earrings $38, 12. Silver cuff $126, 13. Pearl and silver earrings $172, 14. Silver earrings $55, 15. Italian summer charm necklace $230, 16. Glass beaded grape necklace $45, 17. Personalized Alexander Calder brooch $73
Some more jewelry brands that aren’t Catbird, Mejuri, or Analuisa (even though they’re great): Horla (IG dm only), Bywayof (rings: $60–$140, necklaces: $80–$385, earrings: $50–280, bracelets: $120–$240), Bloedstone (men’s—signet rings: $450, necklaces: $50–$60, other rings: $225), Wolf Circus (necklaces: $68–$150, rings: $150, bracelets: $165), Kara Yoo (bracelets: $27–$63, necklace: $50–$275, earrings: $27–$160, rings: $23–$185), Cura by Mila (IG dm only)
NICE TO HAVES
A woven picnic basket $66: For your friend who loves to post up at the park. I’ve always wanted one, but alas, I do not have enough room in my apartment. I guess I need a house so I can have a woven picnic basket.
Weighted eye mask and weighted blanket $34–$150: I really think you can’t go wrong with this sweet little sleep kit. If someone you know loves and/or needs a good nap, they will love this one-two punch of good sleep accessories. I got my mom a weighted blanket and she loves it.
Nodpod weighted eye mask, Luna cotton weighted blanket, Quince woven weighted blanket
Stationery and a custom stamp $14–$50: I got this idea from an old
post a few years ago and it’s such a good idea, I’ve given the gift multiple times, I can’t recommend enough. Casey Rubber Stamps is an East Village institution and they have an amazing breadth of styles of stamps but you can also get custom stamps made. Make sure to give yourself a good time buffer because it’s a pretty lo-fi operation and it might take them a couple weeks to get you your stamp.House shoes aka slippers and clogs $33–$65; $68–$130: Similar to pajamas, I think it’s sweet to give someone a comfy house shoe or slipper. I have an old pair of neon Opening Ceremony Birkenstocks as my house shoes so you can go as far out of the box as you’d like.
Northface Thermoball slippers, Baggu puffy slippers, Bombas bouclé slippers, Moroccan leather slippers
Cute soap and a soap dish $12–$65; $25–$65: People never buy themselves a fancy soap, so why not give the gift of luxury and beautiful scents? My brother’s signature move is gifting a Caswell Massey gift set and everyone always ends up obsessed.
Loewe tomato bar soap, Flamingo Estate peppermint soap, Necessaire bar soap, Pre de Provence French clean scent soap cube, Pre de Provence sage soap, Caswell Massey presidential soap set
Material resting stone, handmade woven ceramic soap dish, Ferm Lving woven ceramic soap tray, Nameeks orange soap dish, Hue Gah soap and perfume holder, Hue Gah Isa tray, concrete soap dish
KITCHEN
As someone who loves to cook and bake, beautiful kitchen items are always welcome. Utilitarian items like rolling pins or dough scrapers are good stocking stuffers and would be great to gift together.
Butter dish $28–$115
Le Creuset orange butter dish, Porta butterfingers butter dish, blue and white butter bell, Quail ceramics butter dish, META butter dish
Grill press $69–$113: Hear me out. It feels like a random generic kitchen tool but I gave one to James last year and at first he was like okay……..BUT now he takes any opportunity to use it and he feels like a chef. Slam dunk on my part.
Egg holder $30–$50: For someone in your life who has chickens or loves a beautiful kitchen accessory.
Salt cellar $25–$65
Sur La Table marble salt cellar, Emile Henry salt pig, handmade ceramic salt cellar, salt sphere
Rolling pin $20–$30
Made In French rolling pin, Sur La Table rolling pin with measurements
Dough scraper $9–$20
Oven mitts $68
A beautiful apron $29–$85
Williams Sonoma apron, Yick Yack striped apron, Hedley & Bennett apron, Levi’s rigid denim apron
A good mug $25–$89: Fill it with candy or something!!
Flow ceramic mug, retro handmade mug, chunky handmade mug, small ceramic coffee cups, Italian silver espresso cups, stainless steel Italian espresso cups (sold out but they were so good I had to include them), Felt + Fat coffee cup, Bronto orange coffee cup
FOOD & PERISHABLES
Sometimes there’s apprehension in giving a perishable gift, but like candles, I think it’s perfectly fine and sometimes even better to give a gift that can be used up. It’s a great opportunity to gift someone food or ingredients they might not otherwise buy for themselves because it’s not practical and you’re also giving the gift of a lovely culinary experience. Here are some faves I have given and would love to receive.
A comically large amount of flaky salt $15: I’ve gifted this before, it got a big laugh, and now they have a lifetime supply of salt.
Levain cookies $29–$85: I’ve given these to my parents when I visit or family friends when I’ve stayed in their home. People are obsessed with them, they’re so good. They ship nationwide!!
Signature cookie bundle, tin cookie bundle, “from NYC with love” bundle
Tony’s Chocolonely $13–$30: Every week, I buy one large Tony’s Chocolonely almond salted dark chocolate bar and work through it slowly throughout the course of week. It’s so good, their flavors are great, their packaging is cute, and it’s a great stocking stuffer.
Rainbow tasting pack, dark chocolate lovers bundle, you can also design your own wrapper
Fancy olive oil $37–$42: I use Graza every day and it’s noticeably better than other olive oils. I’m a sucker for branding, what can I say.
Brightland Alive extra virgin olive oil, Graza Sizzle and Drizzle gift set, Branche no. 2 olive oil, Frankies 457 extra virgin olive oil
Fancy balsamic $22–$37
San Giacomo balsamic vinegar, Brightland Rapture balsamic vinegar
High quality vanilla $18–$22
Something from Alison Roman’s upstate NY corner store First Bloom $12–$100: First Bloom has a beautiful collection of home and high quality pantry item items and they just made online orders available. They sell out frequently, but keep your eyes on it if you have an Alison Roman head in your life.
WHEW THAT’S IT!!
Thank you so much for reading! This was really fun to make, it took me one million years, and I hope this was a little helpful. We’ll see if I have any new ideas for next year!!! Pls me know if any links don’t work!!
🎁 Bonus: other great gift guides
’s The Trash Panic Guide to Gifting’s Holiday Lust List’s The A Tiny Apt. x Schmatta Design-y Holiday Gift Guide
A note on affiliate links:
After a lot of thought, I’ve decided to include affiliate links (Etsy only for now) to help cover the costs of keeping the newsletter free and the small commissions from these links help support the time and effort it took to put this newsletter together. This is not a shopping newsletter, but I link to Etsy often because I love the platform and I enjoy sharing my finds with you. I hope this keeps the newsletter sustainable without charging subscribers, and as always, I’m grateful for your support.
See you next time. On the first Monday of the month, you can expect Asset Library and on the third Monday of the month you can expect In the Clouds in your inboxes.
So many great ideas in here! Thank you so much for mentioning me!
Yes to gifting butter dishes. Everyone deserves spreadable butter for their toast!