This List is Too Long, I'm Not Reading It

Okay! Buy me: a book, a tea, a candle, a locally-made natural something-or-other, or clothing that looks like it was made for either a 5 year-old or a 95 year-old. Especially giant sweaters, long skirts and hats.

The Cloudspotter's Guide

Shobu

Like chess, except played on four boards and you get to gleefully shove each other's pieces off them.

Babel

I don't think I have the heart for the Poppy War trilogy, but I'd like to read more R.F. Kuang.

World Central Kitchen Donation

A charity operating with the simple goal of providing fresh, hot meals made by local chefs to people in areas of conflict and disaster.

Lingopie Subscription

Essentially a language learning tool built around binging shows you were going to binge anyways.

Sons of Darkness

Seed Bombs

Nobody can prove that I am dropping these in scrubby public liminal spaces.

Margin Guide Tools

Gold Leaf Print Gaiwan and Cups Travel Set

Aftermath Gift Subscription

It's about ethics in video game journalism! No, really. My favourite gaming coverage sites have been getting steadily bought up and firing all their most interesting writers. Aftermath is a journalist-owned co-op that I have high hopes for.

ROKR Classic Printing Press 3D Wooden Puzzle

A tiny working press.

Printable Book Tracker Bookmarks

Adorable extrinsic motivation for reluctant readers in class.

Collateral Repair Project Donation

A grassroots NGO in Jordan serving vulnerable locals and refugees from countries such as Syria and Somalia. They have some lovely children's programs working to close education gaps.

One More Chapter / Go to Bed Decision Coin

Matcha Lover Tote Bag

Classic Lolita Skirt

You can't not want a skirt with Fabergé eggs all over it.

Saltsea Chronicles

A post-flood apocalyptic exploration game.

Northern Bird Crafts Mini Backpack

Fancy Glasses Chains

Multi-Colour Sweater

Compression Socks

Turns out running after small children means being on your feet all day. Fun patterns or neutrals are best!

Octopus Books Giftcard

A local socialist bookstore in walking distance that's been around since the sixties. You can also order any physical book gifts to here!

Singing Pebble Books Giftcard (Or Books)

You can also order books to here for pickup. They're literally a block away from my house.

Reusable Bubble Tea Cup

Now that there's a Xingfu Tang open down the road there's constant temptation. Gold or rose gold straw, please!

Reusable Handwarmers

Useful up north!

A Little Wordy

"Moues is not a word." - Disgruntled Friend

Pact Socks

Cute, ethically made socks in fun patterns.

Highlands Sweater Socks from Kotn

Cute, ethically made socks not in fun patterns.

Japanese Woodworking Knife

Metric Square

Bookbinding Punching Cradle

Feed my new hobby.

Ruler Kit

Glue Eraser

We Take Me Apart

"There is no more perfect place to be than in Molly Gaudry’s tender, dirt-floored novella, We Take Me Apart. Oh cabbage leaves, oh roses, oh orange-slice childhood grins: this book broke my heart."

Storygraph Plus Subscription

A fancy subscription to my much-used, non-Amazon Goodreads alternative, which comes with fun reading stats and personalized recs!

Wireless PS3 Controller, Any Colour

Baloo ate ours.

Reusable Dry Erase Pocket Sleeves

The eco-friendlier alternative to lamination.

Watsi Gift Card

A medical charity that directly funds care for patients who can't afford treatment, one percent at a time.

Wuyi Origins Tea

I am deeply put out by not being able to buy all my favourite artisanal teas straight from China anymore. I've heard good things about this and the other vendors below, and anything from them in any quantity would be a treat.

Ranger Tea Tisanes

There are some interesting options at this First Nations-owned business, including Labrador tea and pine needle mixes.

Soocha Tea

This one's a Korean tea specialty store, the only one I've seen operating in Canada.

O5 Rare Tea Bar Gift Card

A Vancouver-based company with a focus on ethical farming and unusual tea origins.

ZhenTea

The tasting notes on this website are adorable. They're also Ottawa-based!

white2tea

Despite the puer specialization, I am very fond of their black, white, and heicha teas.

Old Ways Tea

This shop owner sells tea from his family's farms in Wuyi, in tiny sample packs. Pick a few to send to me!

ACEOs, Any Artist

I have discovered that people make tiny pieces of original art that they sell like trading cards. I want a million of them.

A Donation to Far & Near

China, as seen on the ground through art. Brought to my attention by their excellent summation of the Shanghai lockdowns, and has kept it by being all-around frank and incisive.

A Subscription to the Chatner

Odd and light and occasionally stunningly gorgeous, like if Buzzfeed were written by Carl Sandburg.

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

I have no idea where mine has wandered off to. Doesn't have to be a Pro. Other wired or wireless controllers for the Switch are cheaper and great, too.

Recycled Short Grain A4 Plain Paper Pack

Book binding materials! Short grain A4 is hard to source, and the shipping can get expensive.

Book Binding Paper - US Only

If you live in the US and are travelling to meet up with me somewhere (or I'm travelling to meet up with you), you can buy me a ream of this paper and I will love you forever.

Playdate + Playdate Cover

A new indie handheld has entered the scene.

Oh! Berry Cloudy Font

This would look really cute on classroom displays!

A Field Guide to Reality

Quantum physics in Wonderland.

Original Duckhead Compact Umbrella

Nostalgia.

Rotary Grater

No longer shall I sacrifice fingertips to the cooking gods. (If you buy me a different one, please make sure it is easy to clean by hand.)

Wandering Son, Volumes 1-8

An out-of-print queer manga, with early volumes so rare they're nearly unaffordable. I'd managed to collect the entire thing before somebody threw away my copies. I would like whatever I can get back.

Taiwan: A New History

One of my old class books that got lost in the move.

The Copper Pot Products

To experience how terrible Medieval food was firsthand.

Discord Nitro Classic

This allows me to spam you all with bespoke emojis and large videos. Please note that I want the one that's $50, not the flashy one that's $100.

THEM Anime Reviews Donation

I've got an unreasonable degree of fondness for this cruddy review site that's been around since I first started watching anime. I'd be sad to see it go.

Excavated Shellac: An Alternate History of the World’s Music

"This collection highlights music that is often invisible in today’s world — the incredible world of global recordings that aren’t jazz, blues, country, rock ‘n roll, R&B, or 'classical.'"

Any Recycled Bookmarks

The goal is to have one bookmark to lose inside every book.

SEE YOU SOON TOMBSTONE! Shirt

Pacific blue and small!

Teachers Pay Teachers Giftcard

I burn an excessive amount of money on teaching materials.

Japanese Tableware

The website's just a suggestion; I need small bowls and plates more than large ones, and they don't need to match at all. Ceramics made by your local artists are also very welcome!

Kotn Fitted Turtleneck

I like all of these colours. Medium.

Reusable Tote Bags

Doesn't have to be this brand at all.

Sundial Ring

This is, like, $700. Don't bother clicking through.

The Mincing Mockingbird Journals

Pick your favourite.

A Book You Think I'd Like

The truth is that while I spend an embarrassing amount of time inside libraries, I don't always keep up with bookish news and recommendations. Physical books are lovely; weightless ebooks can travel with me.

LIONKILLER

Gay Mulan set during the First Opium War.

N+1 Gift Digital or Physical Subscription

Fearless, intimate, exceptional journalism.

Global Giving Gift Card

Give me money so I can spend it on abandoned parrots and kelp nanotechnology. (Donations-in-honour-of also most welcome.)

Para Para Flipbooks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r52uChHPIq4

Ghibli Art Books

(Any but the Totoro book, which I was already gifted.) "This has nothing to do with the story and was very hard to draw." -Miyazaki

The Folio Society Edition of Emma

In which Jane Austen sets out to write a protagonist no one but her will like, and fails.

Lofty Pursuits Candy

Many a pleasant hour has been whiled away as this candymaker educates me on black currants and Tom Lehrer's poetry.

Fox Slipper Socks

Fox in socks.

Citation Needed Stickers

For use on irritating bathroom graffiti.

Cute Ceramics

Animals, pots, houses, and assorted thingamabobs.

Hanon Deluxe the Virtuoso Pianist Transposed in All Keys - Part I

My hands are rusty.

Spotify Premium Gift Subscription

I will be thrilled with just a month of ad-free music.

Recycled Calendar Stationery

Or any other recycled/FSC-certified stationery sets.

The Vegetable Sushi Cookbook

One can only eat so many avocado rolls.

Ghost House

Including such classic poems as “Yoshi (A Pastoral)” and “St. Augustine Enters the World’s Largest Pac-Man Maze."

Reusable Produce Bags

Can never have too many.

HRIC Donation

Are you as mad about Xinjiang as I am? Please direct funds here.

Candles

Sweet-smelling things to burn.

Clarkesworld Magazine Subscription

Consistently putting out some of the best spec fic on the market.

Give Directly Donation

This is a super cool charity that streamlines the process of getting money to people in need.

Food Bank Donation!

Feed some folks! Cans are cool, but olive oil and unsalted nuts are a really nice treat for people. Take a cute picture of what you give away and that can be my present. <3

Connection Lost

"Well, you're very good at loving things you know are going to leave."

Assorted Sizes of Fabric Gift Wrap/Giftbags

Help me wrap other people's presents! Hurrah. (Any brand is fine—sometimes local craft markets will have someone selling these, too.)

Lost-n-Found Donation

A shelter in Atlanta that helps get LGBTQ youth off the streets.

Better World Books Gift Card

The hipster alternative to a Chapters gift card.

Je te Veux Sheet Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM9GgEsa8k4

Steam Games

Gaming friends, you know where to look.

Steam Gift Card

For those of you who don't use Steam, but agree gaming is one of the healthier addictions to have.

Bandcamp Albums

Give the gift of music.

Etsy Gift Card

Don't feel like wading through layers of frills to find something I might like? This is the gift for you.

Bruce Trail Conservancy Donation

Huzzah for tax-deductible gifts.

Comixology Giftcard

Now you won't have to know what I buy with it.

MUBI Subscription

Like Netflix, but more pretentious.

Crunchyroll Membership

Would you like to support my anime addiction? Of course you would.

Piano Print Tights

To match a lovely violin headdress Gracie bought me. Beige.

Ravioli Mould

It's become easier to find vegan ravioli, but not easier to actually make ravioli.

Red Sailor Beret

All the fashion, none of the seasickness.

Ribbon Headband

Makeup?

I've gradually come to realize I should just ask people who actually wear makeup to choose brands instead of attempting it myself. Local/natural/etc. is always good.

Apple Giftcard

"But Olivia, I thought you didn't like iTunes." That's why I buy books with these. And hey, you can even email them if you don't feel like wasting plastic.