Geek Gift Guide 2011

Posted on by Sarah Cooley
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It’s my favorite post of the year! (or one of my favorites anyway) Every year I post a Geek Gift Guide to help you out with what to buy for all those geeks at heart in your life. My usual disclaimer, keep in mind that geeks aren’t always just about gadgets, we appreciate good design and clean lines. Everyone has something that they geek about about from food geeks to fashion geeks.

1. Inkling by Wacom:

The Inkling digital sketch pen captures a digital likeness of your work while you sketch with its ballpoint tip on any sketchbook or standard piece of paper. Designed for rough concepting and creative brainstorming, Inkling is ideal for the front end of the creative process. Later, refine your work on your computer using an Intuos4 tablet or Cintiq interactive pen display.

In addition to capturing your sketch, stroke by stroke, Inkling allows you to create layers in digital files while you sketch on paper. Digital files are transferred to your computer using the Inkling Sketch Manager software, and later, exported to applications such as Adobe® Photoshop® and Illustrator®. Files can also be opened with the included Inkling Sketch Manager software to edit, delete, add layers or change file formats.

It’s the perfect gift for anyone who is a designer, or would like to improve their graphic design skills, and anyone who likes to draw. This is gets filed under ‘something I want, but really have no use for at the moment’. The Inkling appears to be currently unavailable, but keep checking Amazon for product availability.

2. iPad Card Readers:

As someone who shoots with a DSL and has an iPad, this is something that I’ve wanted for some time. This small gadget plugs in to the 30 pin connector in the iPad and lets you upload photos right from your SD or CF card. No more transferring files to your computer just so you can get them on your iPad. Buy the iPad CF and SD Card Readers at the Photojojo Store!

3. Ceramic Pig Speaker:

Now, I can’t explain the strange connection between geeks and pigs (and pork products) but you’ll just have to trust me on this one!

This little piggy is more than just a sweet sculpture, this Ceramic Pig Speaker works with any mp3 player. An audio jack in place of a tail is a clever twist on form following function.

4. HardCraft Heritage iPad case:

I’m in love with this iPad case! The felt combined with the leather brings amazing texture to this simply crafted case. A simple case with the perfect amount of detailing to distance yourself from the masses and shows that you know exactly what you’re talking about when it comes to style and the appreciation of high quality materials. The leather detail on the front is a handy pocket for your phone. Also fits the iPad 2 with a smart cover on.

5. Jawbone UP:

One of this year’s most talked about pieces of technology. The new Jawbone UP tracks your physical activity, your sleep patterns and what you’ve been eating. It’s the perfect gift for someone who aspires to live a healthy lifestyle.

6. Buckyballs:

I’ve coveted this little desk toy as it sat on my bosses desk. It’s the prefect little gift for anyone who works at a computer all day. Sometimes stepping away from it all and playing with this little toy can be just what you need to get the creative juices flowing.

Featured in Rolling Stone, People, Maxim, Esquire Magazine, each Buckyball cube contains 216 powerful Rare Earth magnetic balls that can be shaped, molded, torn apart and snapped together in UNLIMITED WAYS.

7. Thinksound ts02 Headphones:

I’m a sucker for anything with wood detailing and these headphones are too perfect.

Thinksound ts02 headphones flaunt a small 8mm speaker diameter and reduced housing size to provide better ergonomics, upgraded acoustics, and a wider sound-stage. The ts02 also featuresPVC-Free cables and a hand-crafted, sustainable wood housing for more accurate sound reproduction.

Lastly, if you are still stumped with what to get that special geek in your life, you can always check out my gift guides from years past (2010, 2009, 2008). Also keep in mind that your geek may have a Svpply or Pinterest account. This are places where he or she might have already started a wish-list of items just ready for you to pick from. 

And if you have a vintage lover you are shopping for, head over to my store that is full of vintage housewares and accessories that make great gifts!

Have you ever been stuck naming a new project?

Posted on by Sarah Cooley
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Enter Mixnomer! Mixnomer is this cool new web tool that helps you find a domain name for that new idea, blog, company, or side project that you’ve been wanting to get off the ground. It’s what I used to find the name for Simply Curated and it helped me find a great domain that I never would have thought to try.

The tool is super easy to use, enter keywords or possible words you’d like in the name. Let’s say you want to open a vegan bakery (not the most original startup idea, but just go with it). I enter the keywords vegan, bakery, baking, treats, cakes, simple, healthy, chocolate, tasty, delish. Then I enter the prefixes little, and the. Then pick some suffixes like, ous, ly, and shop. Mix it up and here’s what I got.

More options than I could show you! Mixnomer not only shows you the available domain, but if the twitter username is available as well. Right now the list is ordered by the number of characters in the URL. But I can rearrange to show my favorites on top.

Some of my favorites from this search were DELISHVEGAN.COM, LITTLETASTY.COM, THEDELISH.COM, lots of options I would have never thought would be available domains.

So play around with it, I’d love to see what cool domains you guys come up with! (full disclosure, mixnomer is a company I have been consulting for, but I honestly think it’s an awesome product!)

Blog update

Posted on by Sarah Cooley
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Well by know you all know that Random Sarah has been neglected. Tumblr indeed has won. But you will be happy to know that I will be posting here more frequently for a class I am taking. So for a short time at least, you will get the old Sarah back. The one who updates her blog regularly, and has lots of great stuff to write about new media.

But if you’re interested in what’s been keeping me busy these days while I’m not updating my blog, I’ll tell you. I’ve been doing some consulting work with a few clients while going to school full time. I’ve also rebranded my tumblr blog and opened a online store selling vintage home goods.

There are of course a bunch of other projects I always have floating around my head at any given time that I’d like to explore. Most recently I’ve been wanting to teach a skillshare class on the importance of copy in social media. But chances are before I get a chance to put a whole class together it will probably just become a blog post here.

 

Loving this idea

Posted on by Sarah Cooley
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Today there was an awesome Before & After on Design Sponge. This idea is great for anyone who has ever wanted to have a fire place but couldn’t afford one. This is also a great tip for renters, it’s an easy way to add architectural details to your space without actually installing anything!

Time: 7 hours (including drying time)

Cost: $155 (including supplies)

Basic Steps: After carefully measuring the interior dimensions of the mantle, we built a basic MDF box with shelves to mount behind it. We attached that box to the back of the mantle using wood screws, and then used carpentry nails to attach a piece of masonite to make the back of the shelf. We then used pre-fabricated trim pieces from our local hardware store to trim out the form of the shelves and the bottom of the mantle. The mantle was then sanded, primed and painted.

LOVE IT! The best part is that if you move, you can take it with you!