Marge Neu: Photographer Extraordinaire + Perfect Gift Idea
Photography makes a creative and thoughtful gift for those who have everything or appreciate the arts. Marge Neu is a talented New York City photographer who captures the most incredible moments from her travels including those from the streets of New York, Canada, Iceland, Africa and Vietnam. She studied with several award winning photographers and her work has been exhibited in juried shows and at ABC Home. I love that Marge turned her passion into something real and special; she is certainly one to watch. I am highlighting some of my favorites here as gift ideas but it is a real treat to view her entire collection to see the breadth of her work.
Too Many Babies: This amazing candid photo was taken in the Bowery in New York City. It appeared in a juried show last winter.
Dancing Polar Bears: This photo is part of a series taken in Churchill, Canada. It was exhibited at ABC Carpet & Home and in a juried show in Florida. My husband Michael received “Dancing Polar Bears” as a gift and adores it.
Geothermal Rainbow: This one was taken at a Geothermal plant in Iceland. The rainbow was created by water drops captured as they were exploding!
You can order these photos (prices start at $300) directly from Marge Neu’s website. Check out more of her photography here.

Bib Necklace, $56
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Bib Necklace
Forget deck the halls. Deck someone you love in this necklace that looks like a million bucks, without the matching price tag. Bib necklaces are all the rage this season, and we’re drooling over this one—which comes in several glamorous shades—from Candi Stamm, our favorite jewelry source. We may just need to stuff one in our own stocking! Price: $56.00 Special: The necklace is $50 for AskMelissa subscribers. Purchase: Call Candi Stamm, 917.566.5033, to order. |
vivabox, $29.95-$160
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vivabox
For those oh-so-finicky hosts this holiday, we love vivabox, combining freedom of choice with the personal touch of a real gift. In the box you’ll find a theme-inspired gift, along with a gift card that lets your lucky recipient pick out a second gift from vivabox’s website. Choose from among 12 themes, including wine, spas, coffee and museums, and you’ll never give a bad gift again—viva la box! Price: $29.95–$160 Special: Receive 10% off with promo code askmelissa. Valid: November 4–December 31, 2009. Purchase vivabox |