The failproof Christmas gift guide

Buying Christmas presents can sometimes be a big adventure and may include lotsof time of pondering what where and how to get someone. It’s often kinda easy to buy presents for our closest people because we know them very well and because they sometimes give us small hints on what they currently want or need. ❤️
But things get more complicated when it comes to getting presents for people in our more broad circle because it can be pretty hard to determine what exactly they would like..

And for such cases I have prepared for you a small failproof gift guide with some evergreen ideas that will help you never fail in choosing a present. It’s important and clever to base our present idea on something we are sure the person likes so we know we’ll find a present for their specific taste. However, you have some freedom to get creative when choosing the present after we have determined together the right theme or topic for it. that’s why you may use this guide as many times as needed without any chance of getting everyone kinda the same present ever.

Fandom gift

the most useful information when choosinf a present fot someone - are they in any fandom. If we know that the person is a huge huge fan of anything, then we can be sure that a themed present would be a great choice and would surely make them very happy. Everything from Harry Potter, Lord of the rings, Star wars or definite comic book character such as Batman or Spiderman - gives you a vast choice of various merch items so you can choose the dream present.

My two examples include a Harry Potter themed present - the book Fantastic Beasts and where to find them, muggle-worthy socks from the official merch and a gold necklace. While I used an average necklace you may spice up the present by opting for a gold snitch one or one of the houses’ symbol. My second present set includes a Funko POP! keyholder that I got as a present and another one that I spend lots of time looking for after seeing the design online. Unfortunately, Harley merch specifically is pretty hard to find in physical stores even after all the hype around Suicide squad and Birds of prey, and it’s often immediately sold out so my advice is to search for products mainly online.

Favorite brand

a favorite brand can also be a great hint for choosing a present because when someone recommends or mentions they love a brand, it’s almost sure that they would love almost any product by the brand. If you’ve been shopping together or had the person tell you about a fave purchase of theirs - that’s a failproof way to know they like the brand and would like your present.
For example last year I purchased products by my favorite illustrator Valfre, waited awhile for them to arrive from the USA and they are still one of my favorite items ever,

the Valfre brand is created by an artist who creates all her design and they are always unique, extravagant and include her representative character and art style.

A person’s fave brand may be anything - from a celebrity or artist, designer or a simply a big famous brand,

Game

This category includes everything from board games, card decks, dares games or drink games for nights with friends. My example includes my forever fave art challenge book Wreck this Journal by Keri Smith and two items from a fave brand of me and many friends - The school of life, which works for popularizing phycology for massive audiences and offers books and such interesting games about getting to know better yourself and the people around you. These games are very interesting but only suitable only for a person with interests on these topics. However, as a generic game gift I would advice you to choose a Monopoly or Dixit game, and if you want to be a bit more creative - you may pick a themed edition - for exampe in collaboration with F.r.i.e.n.d.s. the series or some other fandom.

Art present

It may be both super easy or super hard to find a suitable present for an artsy person. that’s why I suggest you opt items by their favorite fellow artists or art brands so you can be sure the present is a good decision.. One stroll around an art bazaar together can give you lots of hints and you will no longer wonder what they would like best.

My present examples include all Bulgarian brands and these are ones I really really like. I included artworks by my fave artist Missmetoday, handmade flower design earrings and rings by the brand By Larissa jewelry, watermelon earring by Mihha and art stickers by Adriana Yankova.

Of course you can always get them some art supplies but it’s kinda hard if you’re not well informed on what products exactly they use and you will surely know whether you can or not make pick such a present for them. If you sure know the person uses Moleskine or Copic markers, you’re all set.. A smart choice would be to get them a voucher for an art supplies store or website so they can choose what products to get themselves. It seems like a not very personal present at first but if you think more about it - it could be a really great present that they would highly value and surely like.

Personally, I have received voucher presents a few times and I really liked them because I used to to get some useful items I need and really like.

I hope my present ideas would be useful and will help you make someone a greatly chosen present Happy holidays!

- Nicole

Passion for art

There has always been one thing that I have loved ever since I can remember - art. I have already told you about the geat role of music in my life, about my many writing prompts, I have mentioned my love for cinema and dancing is my way to relax and have fun. But today we are talking painting. Some of my ealiest memories as a kid as well as what I still do when I want to relax and recharge for a bit is drawing. I have so many notebooks, folders and boxes full of artworks that it’s almost hard to organize it at home but it’s all worth it. That’s one part of my life that I have not shed light into via a blog post yet and I’m very excited to tell you about it.

I have done all kinds and genres of artworks and I love trying new ideas and tricks. Among my works you can see lots of illustrations, sticker-like and graphic designs as well as more abstract colorful pieces and also portraits and realistic portraits.

These are some realistic portrait artworks I hav done of Axl Rose, Marilyn Manson, Chester Bennington, Hayley Williams, David Bowie, Joan Jett and Miley Cyrus. I have some more but these are my personal faves.

I love stationary and art supplies because they’re great tools and help me create my art but also because there are so many cute design products and brands that really impress me. And when I’m working I love to have my supplies layed out around me so I usually draw on a big table or on the floor so I can see them all. Some of my favorite brands for art supplies are Faber Castell, COPIC, Sakura Koi, Koh-i-noor, Prismacolor etc.

My favorite drawing style is usually varying from pencil/markers and ink pens to combining them with watercolors. It’s the effect created that I love the most but also the fact that I can always have a moleskine and pencils at hand and sketch on the go or even when I only have a short period of spare time. However, it’s nice when I have more time and can indulge into real painting and even create a little studio vibe atmosphere around.

Glad I had a chance to share my colorful mess with you! Whle working on this post I even started thinking about maybe getting a little more serious and braver in my paintings and trying to paint on canvas instead of only paper. So hopefully I’ll soon have a new story to tell you. :)

- Nicole