I think most people don't remember the things that I like, recognize the things that I need, or pick up on what means the most to me. As a result, I made a list that I think will help, on the occasion that someone is in need of inspiration for gift ideas.
For some reason, no one seems to like touching "Jackie Chan" as a gift idea for me. The man has made over 50 movies, and I only own a tiny handful, less than five. Likewise, my family has had a Wii for 8 months now, and for some reason, nobody seems to think I want a game for it. Buying a video game isn't hard. Websites such as 1up.com and others review games, just read the review and keep one thing in mind: the Wii is about the remote; it is mass-produced low-end virtual reality.
All too often, I get a lot of random gifts. I really don't understand this. Why not get one really thoughtful gift and write me a personal letter to go with it? I will more easily remember one gift rather than a lot of miscellaneous items. Here's a classic example: a book about a subject that doesn't interest me. If you know I am interested in professional dress, don't buy me a t-shirt. I have over 50 t-shirts (not undershirts) and celebrate when they get stained or wear through. Likewise, when a dress shirt I have which is proven to be wrinkle-free (and you need to know that it is, you can't trust labels) finally gets worn out, I'm sad.
In the list, you probably noticed a few words like "rare" and "quality." That's a big thing for me. So much of what we buy is so poorly produced or of such insufficient material, that it really is annoying. Most soda pop is made with corn syrup, and is rather generic in its flavor. There's one ginger ale I like which is made from raw cane sugar, aged in oak barrels, and uses real ginger. Something that good is worth the empty calories. Another example: I recently got Noelle a package of real cinnamon. You're probably thinking that's nothing special, they have it at the grocery stores. Actually, what they have at the grocery stores is called cassia, or "Saigon/Vietnam Cinnamon." It isn't even cinnamon at all. If you have had both, you know the difference. Visually, cassia "sticks" look like tree bark, but Ceylon or Sri Lanka cinnamon looks like an unshaped cigar. The same measure applies to clothing. A good dress shirt, sweater, or pair of jeans is made from long fiber cotton (not recycled cotton), it is mercerized, not carded, and fabrics are made on a narrow loom. The sweater might be crocheted instead of knitted, and if it is knitted, turning it inside out does not reveal a bunch of long loops of yarn spanning the inside. Denim was supposed to be a fabric that lasts a long, long time, and is very durable. I have one pair of jeans that has lasted 5x as long as my others. I bought it at a feed store called Fleet Farm. Find a rare wrinkle-free shirt, a sweater that will be an heirloom, or a pair of jeans that is popular with loggers, and I will be thrilled.
Some people conveniently forget that I'm an artist, and I'm the only one in my family, or among my cousins, aunts, and uncles, who studied art in college. Because of the time involved in art, I tend to get stuck doing other things first, but with my degree completed, I hope that will change. Do I want artwork for my wall? Not something you bought. I have no space left. If you made it, I would treasure it. Looking at the work of another artist tells me a lot about the way that person thinks.
I will close with this observation: any time you can combine areas of interest, the gift will be a winner. I'm not sure if it is out there, but maybe you could hand-tool some Transformers luggage tags out of heavy-duty leather. Maybe Jackie Chan has a line of dress shoes (check for size). I'd love a do-it-yourself guide to building a home nuclear reactor, just make sure it comes with the permits.