Gift guide 2012: Store recommendations from NYC shop owners

Gaia DiLoreto, owner of By Brooklyn (261 Smith St between DeGraw and Douglass Sts, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn; 718-643-0606, bybrooklyn.com)

“One of my go-to spots for holiday gifts is Catbird—look no further for all things pretty! It is a veritable bounty of unique and extraordinary jewelry, housewares and beauty products. I’m in love with the flirty and affordable prints by Natalie Krim, and Catbird’s own line of jewelry is always a hit with my friends who like their accessories on the understated yet lovely side. The ampersand stud earrings and matching ring are a home run.”

Catbird Ampersand earrings in silver, $64; and Ampersand ring in gold, $96; both at Catbird, 219 Bedford Ave between North 4th and 5th Sts, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-599-3457, catbirdnyc.com)

Natalie Krim Girl & Bears and Girl & Mice prints, $48 each, at Catbird, 219 Bedford Ave between North 4th and 5th Sts, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-599-3457, catbirdnyc.com)

Rony Vardi, owner of Catbird (219 Bedford Ave between North 4th and 5th Sts, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-599-3457, catbirdnyc.com)

“I love Sprout Home. Terrariums are the cutest and make a really special gift, even for people without a green thumb.”

Cat and dog bubble terrariums, $40 each, at Sprout Home, 44 Grand St between Kent and Wythe Aves, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-388-4440, sprouthome.com)

Tassy de Give, owner of Sprout Home (44 Grand St between Kent and Wythe Aves, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-388-4440, sprouthome.com)

“There is a great store in Greenpoint called The One Well that sells local and organic home goods. It’s like going over to your cool friend’s house, but everything is for sale! The Meow Meow Tweet liquid soaps are always a good gift and smell amazing—tea-tree-and-rosemary, cedar-and-clary-sage, and lavender-and-lemongrass are some of my favorite scents. It also sells beeswax candles, and great one-off jewelry items and artwork. It’s beautifully curated and will leave you feeling mystically inspired.”

Meow Meow Tweet organic liquid soaps, $15 each, at The One Well, 165 Greenpoint Ave between Eckford and Leonard Sts, Greenpoint, Brooklyn (347-889-6792, theonewell.com)

Louvriere beeswax column taper candles, two for $22; and owl candles, $5–$15 each; at The One Well, 165 Greenpoint Ave between Eckford and Leonard Sts, Greenpoint, Brooklyn (347-889-6792, theonewell.com)

Kerry Jones, owner of The One Well (165 Greenpoint Ave between Eckford and Leonard Sts, Greenpoint, Brooklyn; 347-889-6792, theonewell.com)

“I adore In God We Trust for its stock of D.S. & Durga perfumes. I like sexy, woodsy fragrances, and the company does a fantastic job of making scents that bring me right back to canoeing in the Occoquan River or hiking in Sedona as a kid. I am obsessed with My Indian Childhood for women and Boston Ivy for men. They are both earthy, sensual and warm. Plus, the Greenpoint location is right down the street from me, and I love shooting the breeze with the cute shopgirls.”

D.S. & Durga Boston Ivy men’s fragrance, $96; and My Indian Childhood women’s fragrance, $89; both at In God We Trust, 70 Greenpoint Ave between Franklin and West Sts, Greenpoint, Brooklyn (718-389-3545) • 129 Bedford Ave between North 9th and 10th Sts, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-384-0700) • 265 Lafayette St at Prince St (212-966-9010) • ingodwetrustnyc.com

Shana Tabor, owner of In God We Trust (70 Greenpoint Ave between Franklin and West Sts, Greenpoint, Brooklyn; 718-389-3545 • 129 Bedford Ave between North 9th and 10th Sts, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-384-0700 • 265 Lafayette St at Prince St, 212-966-9010 • ingodwetrustnyc.com)
 
“Anything at Kiosk would be a good gift; there are so many cool little things. [Owner Alisa Grifo] gathers everyday items she finds on her travels around the world, so you can always find something practical and unique. I particularly like the toolboxes from Japan and the Mexican wooden-mouth teaching toys—so weird and so cool.”

Mexican wooden mouth teaching tool, $25, at Kiosk, 95 Spring St between Broadway and Mercer St, second floor (212-226-8601, kioskkiosk.com)

Japanese metal toolbox, $90, at Kiosk, 95 Spring St between Broadway and Mercer St, second floor (212-226-8601, kioskkiosk.com)

Alisa Grifo, owner of Kiosk (95 Spring St between Broadway and Mercer St, second floor; 212-226-8601, kioskkiosk.com)

“The staff at Project No. 8 is really friendly—they make it super easy to shop for my husband. In the past, I have bought him headphones, sweaters, a tie and shirts. He has never asked to return a thing! This year, I have my eyes on the desktop pieces from Field, which are simply beautiful; I especially love the marbleized bookends. I’m a bit of a natural-product nut, and Project No. 8 carries Black Limited Edition soap my husband really loves to use in the shower. I give him different scents throughout the year. The Various Projects goods are just really fun but minimalist objects, and make for intelligent gifts. The pencils are a big favorite.”

Field Daniel/Emma soapstone bookends, $110, at Project No. 8, 38 Orchard St at Hester St (212-925-5599, projectno8.com)

Various Projects mechanical pencils, $10 each, at Project No. 8, 38 Orchard St at Hester St (212-925-5599, projectno8.com)