2025 Gift Guide for Creatives
I do love a good suggestion list!
I am a big fan of gift guides. I decided to have a go myself using products and items I’ve used, stumbled across or been given this year.
For the Creative Entrepreneur with ADHD
ADHD Coaching/Book: I only discovered I had ADHD at the age of 45 - two years ago. And I SO have it. Add in becoming self-employed and perimenopause and I was a mess. After a LOT of googling I signed up for coaching last October and it was a game changer. My coach is Natalie and I 100% recommend her. It isn’t cheap but so worth it. And if it’s out of budget then I can recommend Founder Shanna Pearson’s new book - Invisible ADHD.
Rainbow Timer Clock: I use this thing constantly (on the advice of Natalie) to keep myself on task and make sure I take breaks. Lots of designs. Set it for 30 mins and don’t let yourself get distracted until it goes off. Or in my case, set it for 15 mins to make sure you’re still working on what you wanted to do 15 mins ago.
Simple Planner: Wire bound, one page per day, perforated corners, extra notes pages, lots of colorful covers to choose from. Yes, it’s a brick, but I’m a paper notebook person and this lets me make notes/doodle while giving lots of room for planning my day/week.
PaperMate Flair Pens: The perfect pen for notes, journalling, planning, doodling, you name it. I change colors as frequently as possible to help my ADHD brain stay engaged both with taking notes and re-reading them afterwards.
For the Quilter
Quilt Tattoo Fabric: I had the honor of meeting Amy, the designer, printer and owner, at QuiltCon 2025 and fell in love with her work. Use this fabric to write messages on your quilts or use her other designs as jumping off points for other pieces.
Quilt Alliance Membership: Doing great work, the QA are “bringing together the creative, scholarly, and business worlds of quiltmaking to celebrate and preserve our shared quilt heritage and inspire today’s quilters.” One year’s membership is just $35 and I just received a sheet of stickers I will definitely use and a FQ of quilt labels as a welcome gift.
The Color Cube: I always reach for this when starting a new project. There are now 4 different ones but I find the first one is enough for me. Invaluable for anyone who has to choose a color palette before starting a project - so quilters, embroiderers, coloring enthusiasts, knitters and so many more! It really boosts your confidence about your color choices.
6” Perfect Scissors: I took a reverse applique workshops with Celeste Compion recently and she sold me on these scissors. Micro-serrated blades for super clean and sharp cutting. Yes please.
For Creative Workshop & Class Teachers
Overhead Camera Phone Stand with Light: Ah the joy and the curse of recording content and delivering workshops online. Good lightening and a stable camera are ESSENTIAL and this has given me both. Easy to clamp to the table and move around.
Protalus Insoles - For Those Long On-Your-Feet Days: I have been wearing these for about 8 years now and they really do make a difference. I have flat feet (TMI, I know) and had really bad Plantar Fashi-thing for years. These genuinely helped.
Listen B*tch Affirmation Cards: I swear by, at, and with, these. They talk to me like I talk to friends in need of a pep talk. Just seeing them on my desk reminds me that I am a badass.
Other lists I’ve been admiring are Austin Kleon’s and the Craft Industry Alliance’s. If there are products or lists you’d recommend leave me a comment below - I look forward to exploring them!