Mark Frauenfelder is the editor-in-chief of Make Magazine, and the founder of the popular Boing Boing Blog. He was an editor at Wired from 1993-1998, and he is the author of six books, including his latest, Made By Hand: Searching for Meaning in a Throwaway World.
Walnut Coffee Scoop
Canadianwoodcraft‘s walnut coffee scooper is a miniature marvel. As a budding spoon carver, I appreciate the the craftsmanship that went into this spoon, which was finished with “Certified Organic Flax Seed Oil and Orange Wax hand rubbed to a beautiful soft luster.”
I’m in the market for a new espresso tamper, because the diameter of my current tamper is too small for my espresso maker’s filter basket. Esenciatampers‘ Fina Espresso Tamper is made from stainless steel and looks hefty enough for the manly art of pulling shots.
Pocket knives are incredibly handy tools, and I’m a believer in buying high-quality tools that you use frequently. Is $300 too much to pay for nateclarkknives‘s Gentleman’s Custom Pocket Folder? I think it’s a bargain.
Michaelarras‘ birch plywood cocktail/coffee table has a neat midcentury design that doesn’t feel contrived or derivative.
JMCraftworks‘ small solid oak box would be perfect to keep the things I use a lot and lose a lot: my favorite sliver tweezers, a tiny flashlight, and my prize toenail clippers.
iPad Leather Sheath
Hand-stitched from a single piece of saddle-grade cowhide, ColsenKeane‘s iPad sheath comes with a five year warranty and is guaranteed not to scratch.
I could drink miso three times a day for the rest of my life and not grow tired of it. PigeonToeCeramics’ Folded Miso Bowl looks like a fun way to consume my favorite soup.
Three Organic Cultures
In the last couple of years, I’ve been making my own fermented foods: kombucha, sauerkraut, and kefir. OneCultureAtATime‘s Organic Cultures kits are an easy way to get started.
Pure Noe Valley Honey
As an amateur beekeeper, I like tasting all kinds of honey. PollenPrincesses‘ Noe Valley honey is made by bees “in the heart of San Francisco.”
Did you know Jimi Hendrix got his start on a cigar box guitar? Maybe you’ll become as great as Jimi if you get one, too! I appreciate the craftsmanship of BarefootBoogieGuitar‘s instruments.
TheScatterBox combs the beach looking for stones to turn into beads and buttons by drilling holes into their finds. I am impressed by their ruggedness and simplicity.
During the cold war, hollow coins were used to smuggle microfilm containing top secret information. Spy-Coins’ hollow nickels can be used to hide small flash memory chips. But their main purpose is likely to be a cool curiosity to show your friends.
Brass Balls Kit
Fans of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross will appreciate these brass balls, which were a pivotal prop in the movie. They’re made by Paul’s Concept Barn.
Do you have any action-packed gift suggestions for Father’s Day?
Please share in the comments below!
Etsy Loves Dads Series | Gift Ideas for Father’s Day
122 comments
Sign in to add your ownlovelygifts says:
Great items! And love that treehouse!
2 years ago
VintageTribe says:
my dad built me a treehouse when i was little, too. lovely article :)
2 years ago
JenniferRydinDesigns says:
Love your choices! My son would love that treehouse. :)
2 years ago
HoldTheWire says:
Great treehouse, Mark! It's great that you're teaching your kids so many interesting ways to do things themselves.
2 years ago
JEMIMAJACKMAN says:
The honey looks delicious, love the coffee scoop...
2 years ago
avantanthologue says:
i am impressed by these picks! love the cultures!
2 years ago
dayslonggone says:
Love the stone buttons! The treehouse looks like a great place to relax!
2 years ago
dayslonggone says:
I love the stone buttons! And I would like to have a treehouse like that myself! :-)
2 years ago
dragonflymystdesigns says:
Great items!! I really love that treehouse. Brings back memories of our treehouse when we were kids!!
2 years ago
SilverHorsePhotos says:
Awesome finds, the talent on Etsy continues to amaze me. :)
2 years ago
MoxyFoxDesigns says:
Oh, which one is best? Impossible to choose, but I do love the photos of the "Pure Noe Valley Honey", the "Cigar box Guitar" and the "Folded Miso Bowl". These are works of art in themselves. Superb job, Mark!
2 years ago
pinksnakejewelry says:
Great article..like your perspective on things! Very nice picks for Fathers Day too!
2 years ago
PunchDrunkVintage says:
I would quote Glengarry Glen Ross, On;y I'd get censored... Love this selection :)
2 years ago
fiorejewellery says:
Cool picks Mark!Thank you for sharing them.
2 years ago
BlackStar says:
Love your finds! I have one of canadianwoodcrafts' spoons and LOVE it.
2 years ago
VedaArts says:
really interesting!
2 years ago
unflappableproducts says:
great article my kids are home from college and we still create together-you will all have a lifetime of self made, handmade joy!! love those knives- great craftmenship in all these items!
2 years ago
shecological says:
Superb choices (not surprisingly!) and I am so excited to hear that I could make my own Kombucha! Thanks for a cool article!
2 years ago
hempcouture says:
Brilliant article! Thank you for sharing!
2 years ago
IlluminatedPerfume says:
Hey I know Mark, he is one of my fellow Backwards BeeKeeper pals here in LA! Very cool to see him here.
2 years ago
rarebeasts says:
Great picks Mark, Sounds like you and your family have got a great thing going. I love the Mars attacks wall graphics.
2 years ago
allthepreciousthings says:
I'm with you, Mark - our family has started giving/ recieving handmade and vintage/recycled gifts with the really personal touch. Things that have so much more meaning and personality. Great article :)
2 years ago
bstudio says:
Great to see a guy's perspective on selections for Father's day! Love them all! What a great Dad he is!
2 years ago
tomatored says:
great ideas- the IPOD dock is way cool!
2 years ago
kodashii88 says:
Those brass balls rock my socks! Gotta love em ; )
2 years ago
CharitableCreations says:
Great Gift Ideas and I love the way you involve your children in making all the hand made items!!
2 years ago
BabasBabies says:
great article... and great gift ideas!
2 years ago
oneof7 says:
love the cigar box guitar..awesome treasury!
2 years ago
saintesmariesjewelry says:
love the picks! the table is awesome!
2 years ago
julieandco says:
Love the balls!
2 years ago
SewnNatural says:
gorgeous!! love that coffee scoop. and it's Canadian to boot!
2 years ago
akcArt says:
Interesting finds! Some very cool and unique stuff!
2 years ago
byhelenga says:
Interesting article and Boing Boing Blog.Thank you Mark!
2 years ago
6catsart says:
Great story. I loved doing creative things with my father when I was a child and have very fond memories of our father/daughter times together.
2 years ago
girltuesdayjewelry says:
An interesting and beautiful array of items! My personal favorite is the cedar iPod dock. That would look (and smell) great on my desk!
2 years ago
Handamade says:
Love the treehouse, if i have big backyard I want one of those. Looks great!^_^ Thanks for sharing this lovely collections.
2 years ago
cottonbirddesigns says:
Great article, amazing finds!
2 years ago
devotchkax says:
Excellent picks, Mark! BoingBoing is one of the sites I keep tabbed along with Etsy throughout the day. :)
2 years ago
AZCreativeStudio says:
Great item selection! Love the Small Circles Coffee Table!
2 years ago
LuRuUniques says:
Just awesome
2 years ago
KarensLoom says:
Lovely article!!! and i so agree on what you say about handmade gifts being so special.....
2 years ago
ecozuzu says:
fun! :)
2 years ago
figurinesbyingrid says:
Wow! beautiful treehouse and the photos of the honeycomb process are amazing!
2 years ago
SusanKJewelry says:
really fun .... thanks!
2 years ago
SusanKJewelry says:
Really fun.... Thanks!
2 years ago
designlab443 says:
That spy coin is a neat piece of history!
2 years ago
ladylotus says:
really nice finds!
2 years ago
CaptainCat says:
i couldnt have picked better myself!! love these items
2 years ago
rainpeople says:
Fun! I adore the 'cigar box guitar' XO
2 years ago
studiokmo says:
love these picks!
2 years ago
gallery32 says:
Love those stone buttons! They would make a cool pendant. Thanks for sharing :)
2 years ago
hankietankie says:
'searching for meaning in a throw-away world', excellent title...sounds like my life story too! XO
2 years ago
AnnTig says:
Great article! Thank you
2 years ago
sisustudios says:
Love the tables designed by Michael Arras!
2 years ago
KatsKube says:
stone buttons are awesome. love the ideas
2 years ago
CCsCrafts says:
can't agree more with the made from nature theory, the disposable items we are almost forced to use everyday are amazing! We have made maple syrup with our kids, and enjoy gardening, chickens, pigs, cattle.Such a change we have made when we relocated from city to rural life! Can see exactly what you're saying!
2 years ago
momomadeit says:
wow! such cool stuff - thanks!!
2 years ago
artflat5 says:
great selection!!!
2 years ago
Enuwbe says:
I love your invenions!
2 years ago
adrienneaudrey says:
the hollow nickle is pretty good. Great selections!
2 years ago
ohsusannasjewelry says:
oh honey.
2 years ago
pogoshop says:
I've got to say, that's an awesome treehouse. What could be better?
2 years ago
creativo says:
what kind of hair product you use? I can't decide between the small circle coffee table or the this one which has the grass in the middle? Your thoughts? il_fullxfull.116989766
2 years ago
JBirdHome says:
This is a ridiculously great collection!
2 years ago
GoodGriefGlass says:
Great that you share these projects with your daughters.
2 years ago
shellsherree says:
My mum and her hubby have bees, too. Such earnest and dear little things! A great selection, thanks, Mark.
2 years ago
VelveteenHabbit says:
how cool that it brings family closer too hand making things gives us meaningful activity when there is so much meaningless dribble
2 years ago
jcisco112 says:
When I was little my neighbor would send over fresh honey right off the comb and there was nothing like it. Wonderful memories!!
2 years ago
ZZsROCKnRECYCLABLES says:
haha the brass balls kit!!!
2 years ago
optic says:
Beautiful, need I say more.
2 years ago
maggiemaevintage says:
fun stuff!
2 years ago
accentonvintage says:
Great items! Love the honey !
2 years ago
imadeyouabeard says:
boing boing is the best! excellent picks, mark!
2 years ago
polkadotmagpie says:
Excellent picks. Folding knives are the bomb for Dad. Going to the Blade show tomorrow. I will look for Nate Clark. Yay boing boing!
2 years ago
EngravingByT says:
Great picks. I also think your latest book should be a great seller. Everyone could learn a thing or two from it.
2 years ago
trulyvera says:
Love the small circles coffee table!
2 years ago
gresu says:
Finally a pocket knife that's stylish
2 years ago
NinaStillStudio says:
some great ideas, must check out some of these shops for my men.
2 years ago
jechorydesigns says:
Interesting! Thanks for sharing!
2 years ago
LittleWrenPottery says:
I love that ipod dock it looks so cool and I like how its natural combined with something so hi tech.
2 years ago
ericawalker says:
Great piece, thank you! I also heard Mark interviewed on "Word of Mouth" yesterday and really enjoyed it and left me wanting more... I will be buying the book.
2 years ago
chacabraka says:
Great article.. I just contacted make magazine about my fuzzy furry hammocks! Hope to hear back soon. I gotta get some of that honey.. wow!
2 years ago
jewelrybymichal says:
Very fine items,love the teaspoon .
2 years ago
zJayne says:
This was really great to read and I recently found that San Francisco honey here too. Amazing how different honey tastes and you won't go back to heavily processed once you have it in your tea or tastebuds. Thanks for sharing here with us on Etsy.
2 years ago
paulofnavarone says:
lots of nice tactile things. its worth tracking down the whole topps mars invasion set through the internet. some are really gruesome. all are awesome.
2 years ago
NoKitschProject says:
Living can be joyous, heh? To think that not so long ago all those 'makings' (spoons, yoghurt, honey) were not really a pleasure, but a nasty little chore.. Looks like a worldwide overdose of cities that now rectifies itself. Good luck!
2 years ago
nowonder says:
I always dreamed of a treehouse growing up. Its great that you get to build things together as a family!
2 years ago
diytherapy says:
great taste !
2 years ago
SavoyFaire says:
I have treehouse items! lol Love a good treehouse!
2 years ago
FebystanDesigns says:
DIY projects & working with children on them sound great!
2 years ago
petitelegume says:
The table is gorgeous - thanks for pointing it out. And your book looks great, too!
2 years ago
breadandroses2 says:
Mmmmmm, more honey, more treehouses. Wood & handmade wooden wares are wonderful. For the umpteenth time I'm now re-reading Eric Sloane's A REVERANCE FOR WOOD, and this passage deeply resonates with me (all of Sloane's titles highly recommended reading): "In 1765 everything a man owned was made more valuable by the fact that he had made it himself or knew exactly from where it had come. This is not so remarkable as it sounds; it is less strange that the eighteenth-century man should have a richer and keener enjoyment of life through knowledge than the twentieth-century man should lead an arid and empty existence in the midst of wealth and extraoridinary material benefits." Sloan wrote this in 1965. All the more true now.
2 years ago
breadandroses2 says:
Oops, that should have been 'extraordinary'. You know what I meant.
2 years ago
meoneil says:
In a site where so much is female oriented it is lovely to find this terrific selection of manly things!
2 years ago
thinkertinker says:
I really like the title of The book, Searching for Meaning in a Throwaway world. That's how I feel, too. People just throw out so much which giving it much thought.
2 years ago
Morphologica says:
I love the miso bowl! Very cool (wants)
2 years ago
kathyjohnson3 says:
Ah, the treehouse, every child should have one, brings back memories, thanks for sharing!
2 years ago
BethanyHight says:
The stone buttons are genius! Wish I'd thought of it first.
2 years ago
Asianexpressions says:
Amazing finds! Great article!
2 years ago
happywhosits says:
Great selections. And I so agree with you say about how special a handmade gift is. Eileen...
2 years ago
shopbonnin says:
You've given your daughters such a gift. I don't remember ever making a thing with my dad although I know he had it in him. A shame really. It will carry on through them.
2 years ago
michaelanneerlewine says:
picks i never even thought there were shops for! i am pretty impressed with the live culture shop...thanks;)
2 years ago
Lotsofjewels says:
Great article, so true about a throw away world. When my kids were little we made alot of stuff from other used stuff, now they are both recyclers and reusers and I am one proud mama!
2 years ago
jargonhead says:
I saw your book while volunteering at SF Maker Faire, and I am looking forward to reading it! Thanks for pointing out the organic cultures kit, and sharing these wonderful finds.
2 years ago
museumshop says:
Great items for Father's Day gift.
2 years ago
recycledwares says:
you've chosen some wonderful items for father's day.
2 years ago
NoMoreTwistHandmade says:
love your blog and these picks. thanks for the komboucha link--i've been trying to find a good place to buy the culture but hadn't thought of looking on etsy!
2 years ago
ThankYouDonnie says:
Your daughters will cherish the memories. Happy Father's Day!
2 years ago
bhangtiez says:
Wow, great finds! Thank You for sharing! Makes me so proud to be making handmade items, and proud of all my fellow ETSY sellers & buyers!!
2 years ago
Pelebetty says:
You are so so very right! I'm new to producing work for my Etsy shop and really am inspired to create so much more! Thanks for the great article!
2 years ago
evertonterrace says:
Love that coffee table! Your daughters are very lucky - sounds like a wonderful way to spend your days.
2 years ago
LulaMatilda says:
Mark, happy father's day to a great dad -- YOU!
2 years ago
VelvetBitchOriginals says:
A cigar box guitar and an awesome tree house and all is right with the world! Thanks for the great article and Happy Fathers Day!
2 years ago
victoriousyouth says:
awesome, enjoying the new twist by bringing a guest blogger.
2 years ago
miriadmoni says:
There is nothing like handmade, for me it's a way of life. Your daughters are lucky!
2 years ago
singinglittlethings says:
I love the idea of another generation of little adorable handmakers coming up in the world.
2 years ago
CuttingEdgeDesign says:
Interesting insights.
1 year ago
mikeschultz says:
Great article. Nice picks too. I love the keepsake box! Reminds me of H. C. Westermann.
1 year ago
SillyBuddy says:
Wonderful picks!
1 year ago
morphic says:
Hey Mark - LOVE THE TREE HUT! Thanks for the inspiration :D My big goal at the moment, is to work out how to make a wind energy generator for running our sewing machines! I'm in the searching for ideas stage at the moment, but i think there is potential! Keep being creative and sharing the buzz about hand-made! - Ray
1 year ago
dabbledesigns says:
great collection of unique items!
1 year ago
LeapARTandVintage says:
Thanks for teaching your kids the hand made way. I hope one day it will be The Preferred Way of the general populous (I dream big). Thanks for sharing the neat stuff!
1 year ago