The Paper Seahorse 2018 Holiday Gift Guide

Ahh the holidays. It’s a wonderful time for spending with friends, family, and people you love…but it can also be a little stressful, especially when it comes to gift-getting.

From tools for your special writer, to crafts for kids, to gifts on a budget, The Paper Seahorse has it covered with our 2018 Holiday Gift Guide. For a mindful and easy holiday shopping experience, keep scrolling to read our full guide! Maybe you’ll even see something to treat yourself.

Let this year be the year of a happy, stress-free holiday.

Gifts for the Cowgirl

2019 Wildwood Wall Calendar: Rifle Co.'s unique designs are crafted by a husband and wife team right here in Florida. Their large Wildwood Wall Calendar is a great accent piece for any cowgirl’s wall, with 12 months of illustrations to set a happy mood for 2019. 

Their Juliet Rose Planner features 17 months of gold detailing throughout. A beautiful product for the art of planning, your cowgirl will think of you with every reminder they write down

Le Pens: Beloved by writers and artists alike, Le Pens ink is acid free, non-toxic, and glides on any paper with no smudges. Their unique colors are perfect for bringing out your cowgirl’s individuality, and they also come in pastel.

Papaya Hardcover Journal: Just like your cowgirl, these Papaya hardcover Journals are as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside. Each design features artwork from a mother daughter team in Oregon, and with gorgeous details throughout, making journaling something your cowgirl will always look forward to.

Do Books: Founded in 2013 in the UK, the Do Book Co has made their inspirational books available in the US for the first time this year! With writing that focus on practical action and change on 6 topics, one is sure to speak to that go-getter cowgirl in your life.

Gifts for the Cowboy

Kaweco Brass pen: A smooth-writing kaweco brass pen is truly unique to the cowboy you get it for, because every pen, after being used over time, will pick up its own unique patterns on its raw brass material. Just like your cowboy, there’s nothing else exactly like it.

Travelers Notebook Passport: Just like his pen, a traveler’s notebook will pick up its own look through use in time, and your cowboy can customize his inserts however he likes for as long as he likes.

Mnemosyne Notebook: Mauruman designs and makes these sleek black Mnemosyne notebooks in Japan, and each one is filled cover to cover with some of the smoothest writing paper you’ll ever find. These large grid format editions are perfect for your bringing out your cowboy’s creative side

Tampa Red: The first artist to be featured in The Paper Seahorse and Frivolous Dry Good’s curated record collection is Tampa Red. Nicknamed “The Guitar Wizard”, and perhaps the most influential artist from Tampa, he pioneered slide style guitar playing, and bridged rural Southern blues with urban city blues. It’s a vinyl record with an amazing story to give to your amazing cowboy, available at our pop-up in Ybor City.

Just for Kids

Origami paper & book: The art of paper folding is a great hobby to have at any age, and The Paper Seahorse has a fantastic library of origami material to pick from. Set your youngster up with some quality origami paper, with fun designs they’ll love, and a book to get them started. 

"Found Dogs" by Erica Sirotich: Speaking of books, Erica Sirotich, our very own cowgirl here at The Paper Seahorse, wrote and illustrated her own published children’s book! Found Dogs is heartwarming story for all ages, we offer a signed copy at The Paper Seahorse!

Blackwings: Kids will love Blackwings for the unique and adjustable erasers, fluid writing, and the history! They can feel like a writer or artist of the 1950s, while using it in class, on homework, in their journal, or for anything!

Pilot Kakuno starter fountain pen & notebook: Pilot produces these adorable Kakuno starter fountain pens that write so smoothly and even feature a smiley face on the nib so you know your nib is in the correct direction. Pair it with a beautiful Clairefontaine notebook from France, with super smooth paper, and you have the perfect gift set for your kid!

Gifts for the Writer

Blackwing pencils, erasers, & sharpener: Blackwing pencils were revered as the ultimate tool for every creative professional for their adjustable erasers and super smooth writing. They were especially used fondly by writers. You can set your writer up with a box of 12, a set of colorful erasers, and a two-step pencil sharpener for extra pointy points to make a perfect gift set.

Traveler's Notebook and Lamy fountain pen: Traveler’s Notebooks are great for any writer for their customizable inserts that can be added and replaced over time. Compliment it with a Lamy fountain pen from Germany, and you have a writing kit that will last a lifetime.

Typewriter: Not only do we service and restore a curated collection of vintage typewriters, but we’re also one of the only places to sell vintage typewriters in all of Florida. All of our typewriters are classic examples of technical beauty from the 20th century, and each makes an amazing, long-lasting gift that a writer will always cherish.

Vintage desk lamp: Our partnership with Frivolous Dry Goods has resulted in a collection of unique, vintage lamps. These rare finds are perfect for all writers. You can pick a lamp that’s sure to compliment anyone’s writing nook.

Gifts for the Snail Mail Lover

Okina Air Mail Letter Pad & Envelopes: These Japanese air mail sets can steal the heart of any old school snail mail lover. The writing pad’s onion skin sheets hark back to the early days of air mail, when every ounce of weight was conserved for cheaper postage. The matching envelopes make the perfect set for your letter writer’s collection. 

LIFE envelopes & pads: For over 70 years, Life has been crafting paper goods of incredible quality. Their stationery letter pads contain reams of finely woven, rich white paper that fit snuggly with their creamy envelopes. A great treat for a letter writer is super smooth paper for the best writing experience.

"Write More Letters" rifle pin: Rifle Co. makes an adorable collection of glossy enamel pins that speak to anyone. This “Write More Letters” pin was tailor-made for snail mail lovers and letter writing enthusiasts alike.

Kaweco fountain pen: Kawecos are known for their ability to bring writing experiences to a whole new level. This German company makes some of the best quality fountain pens, and they’re beloved by letter writers for the enjoyment they bring to the letter writing experience.

Washi tape: Washi tape adds the perfect touch to any mail art, and when it comes to washi tape, MT is the gold standard. A color or pattern from our collection is sure to speak to that letter writer in your life.

Vintage stamps: These amazing vintage sets carry stamps from as far back as the 1960s! Every pack contains real, vintage, never-before-used stamps that are all still valid, and that can create some truly one-of-a-kind mail art!

Gifts for the Calligrapher

Calligraphy Kit: Our Calligraphy Kits are a best seller for a reason! Put together by both The Paper Seahorse and our partner The Postman’s Knock, each kit contains every essential calligraphy tool in one package. It’s perfect for both the beginning to the more experienced calligrapher. Pick from our Essential Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit, or our fully rounded out Ultimate Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit.

Michael Sull wooden nib holder: Michael Sull is a master penman and calligraphy expert. While teaching for over 30 years, he also hand-crafts these beautiful turned wooden nib holders, with wood he picks out and turns himself, in a process that takes several years to complete. It’s the ultimate tool for the calligrapher.

G. Lalo note sets: A simple yet elegant addition for any calligrapher, these bordered Vergé de France Stationery Cards are a great canvas for calligraphy. They’ll compliment, but won’t overpower, your calligrapher’s writing.

Tamblyn book, Ink, straight holder, Tomoe River paper: The 8th edition of a classic work, F.W. Tamblyn's Home Instructor in Penmanship is a treasure trove of lesson plans and helpful hints for better penmanship, with examples of spencerian, copperplate, business writing, flourishes and more. Compliment it with a bottle of McCaffery’s specially formulated ink, a straight turned wood nib holder, and a pack of Tomoe River’s dot gridded calligraphy paper, and you have a perfect gift for your calligrapher.

Gifts under $30

Box of Blackwings and sharpener: You can never go wrong with a Blackwing. Their smooth, bold graphite writing and flat, adjustable erasers make them quality tools that anyone can fall for. A Blackwing two-step sharpener for super sharp points completes the experience.

Alwych notebook and J. Herbin rollerball: These all-weather journals are a favorite in UK, where they are made, and are beloved by outdoor enthusiasts for keeping notes safe in all weather environments. J. Herbin’s rollerball pen is a great addition, with a clear body that tells you when it’s low on ink. It writes super smoothly and can be refilled again and again with J. Herbin inks or any universal ink cartridge.

Life Co. writing pad and Delfonics pen: Life writing paper is some of the smoothest you can find. Their pads make writing a whole new experience, especially when complimented with a Delfonics pen. These ballpoints have a smudge-proof flow that doesn’t skip on paper, and their unique design makes them a winning gift.

Gifts under $50

Lamy: Lamys have a quality that’s hard to beat. Designed and perfected in Germany, their larger yet lightweight body gives great control to the writer. With their own line of refillable inks, this is a gift that lasts for years to come.

Blackwing gift sets: Palomino makes these Starting Point Sets that are a perfect introduction to the world of Blackwings. It includes 6 pencils in 3 different styles, 3 metal point guards for protecting your point on the go, and of course their signature two-step sharpener for the pointiest points.

Pepin creative papers and Tools to Liveby 8” scissors: Inside these books from Pepin is a collection of large, high quality paper sheets in gorgeous designs. They come in a variety of patterns, and the paper can be used for almost anything you can think of. They make a thoughtful gift when paired with Tools To Liveby’s 8 inch scissors. These scissors are made of brass and are super sharp for great precision.

Stocking Stuffers

Herbin Ink: Herbin has crafted these vibrant inks for hundreds of years, and they still put the finishing touches on their signature tins in Paris. With a plethora of colors to pick from, it’s a sweet treat for anyone to find in their stocking.

Coccoina glue stick: Coccoina's signature glue has a pleasant almond scent, and a non-toxic, acid-free formula, making it especially handy with young kids. These glue sticks are made in Italy, work great for any crafts, and make a wonderful gift.

Midori and Tools to Liveby paper clips: Not only are Midori d-clips adorable, they’re also stronger than regular paper clips. They come in an array of cute animal shapes to pick from. Tools to Liveby produces these high-quality brass paper clips, each featuring their own unique designs. Each box has the year a different design was patented.

Leonardt & Co. nib tin and nibs: These cute little tins are reproductions of the original design by Leonardt & Co. in Birmingham, England. Surprise a loved one by sneaking a few of our Nikko G fine nibs or Brause extra fine nibs inside their new tin, and you have a charming gift within a gift!

We hope this handy guide has helped ease the stress of holiday shopping, and that your friends and family love their gifts this year! Have a wonderful, restorative time with those you spend this holiday season with. If you ever have questions, need help, or just need somewhere to be in the hustle and bustle of the season, our studio on South Howard in Tampa is always here for you. Happy Holidays!