ResearchThe A to Z of Christmas Gifts for Hobbyists - part 2
N: Needlepoint. Those who stitch and sew are another group easy to shop for. Needlepoint kits are plentiful at arts and crafts stores, and needlepointers could always use equipment and raw materials, as well as guide books with interesting design ideas and techniques. A good choice for a magazine subscription, too.
O: Origami. While plain paper is so plentiful that it won't be an exciting gift, special paper for origami is available with colorful designs for spicing up a folded creation. Books and magazines are always welcome here, as this hobby lives by the sharing of diagrams. A display case is a good idea here too.
P: Photography. An obvious choice. The Internet has created a rise in the popularity of this hobby, now that any photographer can post their work on Flickr or a blog and become instantly famous. No matter how good a photographer's camera, they are always wistfully gazing at the next more advanced model. Other equipment includes the obvious film and darkroom setup. How about some picture frames to display their proudest work?
Q: Quilting. Quilters will always appreciate a grab-bag of unique fabric swatches. Other supplies include what you'd think of for needlepoint and embroidery needs.
R: Railroad. No list of hobbies is complete without the model railroad builder. Once you know what scale (size of miniature model) the model-builder works on, you can pretty much buy any set piece that matches that scale and they'll add it right in. Bonus points for whole train sets, modeler's tools, or any other paraphernalia.
S: Scrapbooking. Scrapbooking has enjoyed some new popularity recently, with whole hobby shops devoted to it. Scrapbookers may also be anything from photographers to needlepoint artists, so you have a broad range of equipment to go for here. If you're dealing with a historical scrapbooker, newspapers and magazines and any memorabilia from the past time period the scrapbooks cover will be handy clipping material.
T: Toys. A general category to cover the various building and constructing toys still enjoyed by many adults. If you don't take Erector sets or Legos seriously, you should do a search online; you'll find staggering models of everything from life-size Smurfs to the Millennium Falcon to the Eiffel Tower, many of them several meters high. Your building set toy enthusiast will almost always be looking for an expansion pack or set to add.
U: Urban Exploration. This hobby is slightly underground - both figuratively (it sometimes involves trespassing) and literally (it may involve going into sewers, drains, subway tunnels). For the urban explorer, maps, flashlights, GPS gear, cell-phone and or digital camera, and water-proof boots all shine on the list.
V: Vehicles. Auto enthusiasts are another no-brainer, as any store that caters to grease monkeys will have all the gift ideas you could ask for. Don't forget the model car enthusiasts and custom car show fans as well.
W: Wine. Wine enthusiasts will appreciate another wine rack, some classy stemware, perhaps a book guide to wine labels, and the odd corkscrew or two. An even better suggestion is a cheese or fruit gift basket to go with their fancy beverage.
X: X-rated Erotica. Well, I had to put something for X! Those who pursue eroticism as a pastime in itself will include practitioners of alternative lifestyles. This doesn't mean that your gifts have to be X-rated: Erotica fanciers will enjoy lotion sets, massage toys, tickets to a getaway retreat, or anything from rugs to candles to decorate their love nest.
Y: Yachts. Yacht owners are the canonical "person who has everything" to most gift buyers. Any nautical gear will do, but new jackets, hats, coolers, and deck shoes are amongst the safest bets.
Z: Zoologists. Whether pursued professionally or as an interest, animal enthusiasts will be a wild card. See the nature store for the scholarly interest or the pet store for the practical. A zoologist is one person you can safely give a low-maintenance exotic pet, such as a snake or a hermit crab.