Welcome To The Surf Shop

By Maryanne Murray Buechner

For the Techie

Where would we be without the IT folks? Show your appreciation with a quirky gift from thinkgeek.com Our circuit-board clipboard (one of the Toys @ Work listed under Cube Goodies) arrived promptly.

For the Weekend Host

Put this little pig from anthropologie.com in a guest bathroom, or take it to your next house-warming party (you'll find the soap in Gifts Under $50). The pig comes nestled in straw in a pretty pink box--in a set of three, of course.

For the Collector

Roughly 2,000 artisans from around the world sell crafts like this hand-carved zebra mask on novica.com Explore by country, region or category. The artist's profile appears with every item.

For the Cat Lady

Indulge those feline companions with sushi-style treats, available at trixieandpeanut.com under the name Izzy Yum Yum Kitty Kabuki Snacks. Have a dog's stocking to stuff? You'll find every kind of toy (tugging, flying, plush, rubber) at cleanrun.com Our favorite: the flying squirrel.

For the Puddle Jumper

Behold the Monsoon, one of a trio of snazzy umbrellas at chiasso.com (see Accessories under the watch icon). Slow Flow, our second favorite, sports green squiggly lines. A 6volt light bulb at the pole's peak takes four AAs.

For the Retiree

You don't have to be bound for Florida, a cruise or a cabana to appreciate something from mauishirts.com Each print is identified by name (Banana Tree, Bird of Paradise), and most have matching sarongs.

For Mom

She birthed you, the least you can do is give her a plant. We found this little bamboo at windowbox.com in the Balcony Store under Gifts That Grow. Consult the Gift Advisor, or let the Floracle guide you to the most appropriate purchase.

For the Neatnik

Brighten up any broom closet with the Radical Upright, one of several stylish cleaning implements for sale at casabella.com Even the heavy-duty household gloves (look under Bathroom Cleaning) come in a rainbow of colors.

For the Day-Tripper

This leather desk diary, illustrated with cartoons from the New Yorker, comes in navy or red, and you can have a name stamped on the front cover. Cartoonbank.com also offers framed prints of the highbrow doodle of your choice.

For the Sweet Tooth

If you have a taste for retro--clocks, barware, dinettes--try vintagevending.com The Ford Old Columbia Gumball Machine, a reproduction of an early 1900s model, takes pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. Bags of Dubble Bubble sold separately.