For me, it’s all about the gift guides filling the pages of magazines and the homepages of my blogroll. Heaven! Here’s a look at a few things I’m whispering into Santa’s ear.

1. Brooklyn Graphic Map, $40.00 Manhattan’s cool cousin (and my home borough) gets special treatment with this bold, hand-screen-printed from artist Ben Kafton. And seriously, who doesn’t love a memorable map of their city? Get it: delaflamant at etsy.com

2. KOOSTIK, $80.00 I find KOOSTIK clever and chic. Handcrafted from solid wood, it’s natural alternative to electronic iPhone sound docks (and looks cooler, too). Get it: koostik.com

3. Eames Molded Plastic Chair, $399.00 I have a major crush on this simple light-blue chair (and I especially love its dowel-leg base). And it would be very much my style to place it sitting under my new red Brooklyn map. Get it: Herman Miller

4. Pendleton Rainier National Park Full Blanket, $134.83 I dig this item as much I dig the history behind it: Since the early 1900s, Pendleton has honored America’s National Parks with its classic collection of wool Park Blankets (like this one created for Washington state’s Mount Rainier). Get it: amazon.com

5. Shoulder MacBook Sleeve, €139.00 The perfect accessory for a new MacBook owner (such as myself). Made of wool and 100% vegetable tanned leather, it features a shoulder belt and includes a much-needed removable extras case. Get it: hardgraft.com

Images linked to their sources within the numbered text

2Michaels—a Manhattan-based interior design firm run by identical twin sisters Jayne Michaels and Joan Michaels—is known for its spare, timeless, and undecorated style. Between design projects ranging from a Tribeca loft and a beachfront cottage on Martha’s Vineyard, Jayne talked to us about her work, the musicians that filled her childhood home, and realizing a new taste for classical music.

What do you listen to while you work? Right now, I’m listening to the classical radio station WQXR, which recently became listener-supported. I had never been a huge lover of classical music, but I’m drawn to it now. It calms me; even some the broadcasters’ voices have a soothing quality (Midge Woolsey in particular). I’m rediscovering Debussy, Prokofiev, Bach, Beethoven, and even Gershwin.

How do you listen? I listen from a speaker system. I also listen to my iPod quite a bit.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers? I used to listen to Rhapsody before getting an Apple computer (Rhapsody isn’t compatible with my Mac). Now I occasionally listen to ITunes and Pandora.

Does music influence your work? Music has always been an important part of my life.  My aunt was a bass player (upright); my brother, too (electric)—he even built a recording studio in the garage of our house. We’d come home from school and find various musicians sprawled on the furniture, playing their instruments. It was somehow comforting and also inspiring. I loved the creative atmosphere, crackling with possibilities and wonder. It’s carried with me in the choice of my career in the arts. I thrive in a creative atmosphere where ideas flow and boundaries are pushed.

Where do you find music recommendations? I have musician friends who keep me updated. I also follow music blogs and music critics from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

Who influences your musical taste? The Brits have been the biggest influence. I grew up listening to The Beatles, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Kate Bush, The Cure, U2, etc.

What artist best represents the work you create? There’s spontaneity to Radiohead’s music (at least it sounds that way). They’re distinct, unpredictable, and intelligent without being pretentious and hollow.

If your work was a song, what would it be? Lennon/ McCartney’s “A Hard Day’s Night.”

JAYNE’S PLAYLIST

Way to Blue, Nick Drake

Cambodia, Paul Motain

When It Falls, Zero7

Break on Through, The Doors

The Moon and the Sky, Sade

Acknowledgement, John Coltrane

Tomorrow Never Knows, The Beatles

Ain’t No Use, Nina Simone

Inside a Boy, My Brightest Diamond

Leyenda, Andres Segovia

The Look of Love, Dusty Springfield

Hope Street Tunnel Blues, Bruce Brubaker

The Collector, Charlotte Gainsbourg

I’m Not in Love, 10cc

Concierto de Aranjuez, Miles Davis

Running up the Hill, Kate Bush

Romulus, Sufjan Stevens

Quel Espoir, Beau Soleil

The Very Thought of You, Billie Holiday

It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding), Bob Dylan

Fever, Peggy Lee

Images: Jayne Michaels

2. Pencil Cup and Pencils, $15 Instantly accent your workspace with a patterned pencil tin brimming with 22 crisp silver pencils. Get it: Susy Jack

3. Kami M Cup, $42 Handcrafted by Hidetoshi Takahashi in Japan, these gorgeously simple, lightweight cups are made from Castor Aralia wood. Get it: Merchant 4

4. Lampedusa Pencil Stand, $85 First introduced in 1967, Italian designer Enzo Mari’s sleek pencil stand has become one of the classic icons of 20^th-century design. Get it: Y Living

5. Pop Up Pencil Cup, $30 The classic drinking straw dispenser inspired this smart desk accessory by designer Paul Koh. Get it: MoMA Store.

Images linked to their sources within the numbered text

1. Ground Scissors These award-winning hardened steel scissors are made using low-tech pressing and grinding techniques by designer Michael Antrobus. Get it: spunique.com

2. Pocket Size Scissors Small enough to keep in your purse or pocket; smart enough to snip loose strings or itchy clothing tags while you’re out and about. Get it: Amazon

3. Clear Handle Scissors by MUJI The simple, straightforward design and easy-grip plastic handles by Japanese retailer MUJI make this affordable pair easy on the eyes. Get it: MoMA

4. Vintage Scissors The gold-tone plating and retro look of these well-made scissors are so lovely, you might want to stare at them more than you use them (but don’t—they’re actually comfortable and ergonomic). Get it: Kate’s Paperie

5. Anything Scissors The whole collection of “Anything” office accessories—a collaboration between UK designer Michael Sodeau and Japanese company Suikosha—makes a day at the office a little more fun (case in point: this pair of bright orange scissors). Get it: A+R

Yes, they’re everywhere: on your computer, your cell phone, your iPod (and for a lucky few, in your head). These days, calculators come standard. But there’s still something that says “I mean business” when you keep one out on your desk. Take a gander at our five favorites

1. Dolmen Calculator, $45.00 A desktop calculator with beauty and brains—it comes in a dark wood with aluminum trim and features settable currency and tax functions. Get it: Unica Home

2. Jet Calculator, $30.00 Slightly nerdy divided by chic plus a whole lot of bling. Get it: Greener Grass Design

3. Top Solar Calculator, $24.95 This eco-friendly pick received the “Good Design Award” in 2007 from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in Japan. Get it: Lincoln Stationers

4. 10 Key Calculator, $60.00 The big, chunky keys of this unique calculator mimic the 10-key pad of a keyboard (bonus: hook it up to your computer and it will act as that key pad). Get it: Charles & Marie

5. Ela Pocket Calculator, $18.00 Sharp, smart, and doesn’t try to take up too much desk space. Get it: Unica Home

Images linked to their sources within the numbered text

Designer, bookbinder, and paper lover Emily Hamma Martin has her hands full. Not only does she offer design services and handmade paper goods through her design business, Orange Beautiful, but she is also in the middle of renovating and opening a new store in Chicago (check out her shop’s progress here). Between lighting installations and the sanding and polishing the store’s wooden floors, she took a minute to tell us how music plays a part in her creative process. (P.S. We’re noticing that a lot of our music profiles mention Pandora. What are you listening to?)

What do you listen to while you work? That all depends.  If I’m doing production or printing—where there’s a lot of repetitive steps— I tend to listen to more upbeat music. I’m a huge fan of Kenna, and the band Metric, so those two are my go-to groups when I need to get a lot of work done. But my upbeat list also includes a lot of 80s and 90s music: Madonna, The Cardigans, Garbage, Kylie Minogue, and, well, Ace of Base. If I’m doing more computer-based work, like designing or correspondence—things that require more of concentration—then I’ll listen to something just a tad bit more laid back: Jem, The Bird and The Bee, or Kings of Convenience.

How do you listen? In the studio, I listen to music on my computer through a set of external Logitech speakers with a sub-woofer (which sounds great, but my downstairs neighbors might not like it so much).

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers? In the last few months, I’ve switched over to listening to music almost exclusively on Pandora. I was going with the free X-amount of hours at first, but those ads were just too annoying. Oh, and the fact that I’d have to stop working every five to six songs to tell it that I was “still listening.” Now, I’m a paid subscriber (it’s like $12/year), and I can have constant music with the only interruption being that I want to change the channel.

Does music influence your work? Do you have an example? My immediate response to this question was “No, I’m pretty sure it doesn’t”—but then I realized that it has actually DIRECTLY affected my work. One of the designs from my first card line has a floral motif with the phrase “Miss You Much” on the front. That is a definitely paying homage to the Janet Jackson song of the same name, which I listened to endlessly when I was eleven years old.

I also have a holiday card that simply says “holiday…celebrate” on the front. Yep, that’s from Madonna’s “Holiday,” which came out when I was five. So, I guess succinct-yet-poignant lyrics not only stand the test of time, they also translate well into greeting cards.

Where do you find music recommendations?  Who influences your musical
taste? When I was 20, I studied abroad in Scotland at the Glasgow School of Art. I really came into a much greater appreciation for more unique music while I was there—a lot of which I still listen to today. The groups that I’ve continued to follow from my time there include Stereophonics, Gomez, and Travis, just to name a few.

Nowadays, pretty much all of my music recommendations come from my boyfriend, who writes, plays, and records his own music. He plays in a Chicago band called Absinthe & the Dirty Floors and also runs his own independent record label, Sidedown Audio. It’s hard not to find out about new music with him around. Many of our days off are spent walking to the local record store and looking for old vinyl, or buying the newest CD release.

What song or artist best represents the work you create? Justin Timberlake. He’s had a long career, starting at a very young age; has reinvented himself several times, while still remaining true to his talent; and he used to like Britney Spears.

EMILY’S PLAYLIST

What do you listen to while you work? I have a habit of listening to the same music and songs over and over when I work. I’m that person who can put a group of songs on repeat and play it for weeks until I get sick of it or have moved on. Lately, I’ve been on a big nostalgic 80s and 90s kick.

How do you listen? Usually headphones when I really want to concentrate and drown out noise (which usually means my constantly singing kids) and sometimes just the speakers from the laptop if I want “background music”. Occasionally I plug my iPhone into the dock or listen to music on the stereo, but usually it’s just headphones. Since I work from home, I find that the physical act of putting on headphones (big, padded Sony headphones, not earbuds) creates an illusion of a mental “workspace” that helps me focus.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers? I use Pandora quite a bit. I like that it can introduce music and artists that are new to me since I’m woefully lacking in that department these days.

Does music influence your work? I was a music performance and composition major after I left art school, and even though I work as a designer these days, those years spent studying music were the most satisfying creativity-wise. I have done some sound design for theater and interactive websites and really enjoy putting music together with images, video, and live theater.

Where do you find music recommendations? You’ve read that I can listen to the same songs over and over, right? I’m clearly in need of help. But generally if I read about a band on a blog or something from someone’s twitter feed, I’ll definitely check it out.

What song or artist best represents the work you create? This is one hard question! And the only way I can answer this is to go straight to one of my favorite artists, PJ Harvey. She has a way on reinventing herself on almost every album; not only in the way her music and voice sounds, but also in the way she looks. I respect that she can go from almost a punk-rock sound to music that is more pop-ish and accessible—and then a very stripped down, almost austere quality with just a piano or guitar. And with every album she changes her look and stage show to interpret the music that she creates. Bjork does this, too. And I am not comparing my work to them in any way at all (please, in my dreams!), but I feel a certain affinity to these women because this type of creativity and reinvention is what I aspire to and, to some degree, have pursued.

READ ON FOR JENNA’S PLAYLIST

JENNA’S PLAYLIST

Fences, Phoenix

Walkabout, Atlas Sound

Human Nature, Michael Jackson

He War, Cat Power

A Place Called Home, PJ Harvey

How Soon Is Now, The Smiths

Rainbo Conversation, Stereolab

In Time, Zero Seven

Everything In Its Right Place, Radiohead

Lover, You Should Have Come Over, Jeff Buckley

Cupid’s Trick, Elliott Smith

Shallow Days, Blackalicious

Coffee & TV, Blur

Bizarre Love Triangle, New Order

Tape Song, The Kills

Images: Jenna Park

Amy Feezor is the copy director at Real Simple magazine, she is also a freelance writer and blogs at M-Dashing about home design and decor and her obsessions with photography, artisan foods, travel, art, local restaurants, etsy.com, and organizing. This freelance life happens from her Brooklyn headquarters – a corner of her studio apartment. I thought this was a particularly appropriate ‘Inspriation’ after the last post about small spaces.

How long I’ve worked from home…and where is “home”? I have two offices: one at work-work, and one nestled in a nook within my small studio apartment. This is where I blog and work on freelance projects. I’ve been writing professionally for about ten years now, and my home office expands well beyond my desk and my Mac. It’s by my bedside within notebooks I keep handy in case I think of something while I am falling asleep (a common occurrence). It’s on my couch and my coffee table [an Eames molded plywood coffee table that was a recent purchase]. It’s in my kitchen. It’s even on the subway—I find that I do a lot of writing there (it feels strangely private…I even wrote much of this stuff on the F-train). I grew up all over the South, and don’t have an official hometown, per se. So that means that home is wherever I am at the time. Home as has been Birmingham, Nashville, London, Charlotte, Austin, and now home is Brooklyn. But it’s probably not my last home; we’ll see where the next few years take me.

What an average workday involves: Thinking quickly, writing quickly, eating quickly. Quick check-ins on email, Twitter, and my daily blog. Eating quickly again. Taking three to four meetings, in person or on conference call. Trying to find quiet moments to actually think a concept through. And reminders to myself to get up and stretch every once in a while.

Technology that inspires me? My new SLR digital camera. I can’t stop taking pictures right now, and I am really interested in how photography tells a story. As a writer, it’s a new way to adjust my eyes—to challenge myself to look beyond words and learn to rely more on the visual. It’s definitely starting to influence my work. I learned film photography back in college and have a cool metal-bodied Minolta that used to be my dad’s, but this is a whole new ballgame. I am learning more about how to control it and how it controls me. And for the record, I love my little machine so much that I’d probably make out with it if I could.

How I organize my space: My physical space is pretty organized and painfully neat. There’s not much clutter (what a disappointment; aren’t creative types supposed to be messy?). But I just can’t deal. Everything has its place with me, mostly because I’m very forgetful. Being organized helps me be less so. Also, there are folders. Many, many folders. And sometimes, they’re color-coded. My digital space largely mirrors my physical space (read: lots of colorful folders). I have a big to-do list I’ve created in Excel. I deal with bills in Quicken. And I also tend to have a bit of post-it note/Internet bookmarking problem, so I’ve been trying out Evernote.

Item on my desktop that I cannot do without: My red pen. It’s my magic editing wand. My notebook (can’t go anywhere without it). And the calendar…I’m always juggling deadlines and timelines, and need to constantly reference it. I’m still a bit old-fashioned about it, though—I like to have a paper one within reach by the desk.

What inspires me: Great storytelling, whether it’s from a book, a film, a TV series, a song, or a spot-on comedy routine. How my words look in different fonts. The designers I work with. Graffiti. Independent artists and people who post their art anonymously on the street just so it will be seen. Powerful small businesses. My camera in my hands. A big blank wall. Beautiful everyday objects. The Pacific Ocean. Other writers. Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Hampstead Heath in London. People who do things instead of just talk about them. Olive oil. Anything with butter in or on it.

Most important piece of furniture in my workspace? And what I would change about my office if I could? My desk in my workspace and my coffee table in my living space—they’ve become interchangeable, in a way. Since my studio is small, I move back and forth between the two areas to brainstorm, write, and think. They work together as my writing table, my computer holder, my place-to-find-a-pen, my library, and my dinner table. If I could change something it would be more space! A place to have a printer (mine currently lives under the bed). And a cute assistant who smells nice and has large bicep muscles (does that count?).