This article first appeared in the Winter 2014 issue of Ottawa Magazine.

Photography by Marc Fowler/Metropolis Studio
Styling by Sarah Fischer and Whitney Lewis-Smith
Classy Cards

Alice Hinther makes quirky throwback cards that are sure to bring a smile to even the most stubborn Grinch. Composed of vintage photographs and whimsical expressions that push the envelope of civility, Classy People cards are loved by anyone who enjoys a good laugh. $4 each. Mags & Fags, 254 Elgin St., 613-233-9651.

Old Ottawa
Take time over the holidays to reflect on precious moments from the year gone by with this set of cards featuring 12 different street scenes from the city as it appeared in 1938. Old Ottawa cards are a personal project by City of Ottawa archivist Alain Miguelez; the story behind each scene, and how it exists today, is described on the back. $30. Books on Beechwood, 35 Beechwood Ave., 613-742-5030.

Buy the Book
Some say you shouldn’t gift a book you haven’t yet read, but given that these books by Ottawa authors hit shelves just this past fall, the bookworms on your list will forgive you. Get to know the seven stages of winter (anticipation, despair, sarcasm, etc.) in Scott Feschuk’s The Future and Why We Should Avoid It ($22.95), or take off to where it’s really cold with Jennifer Kingsley in Paddlenorth: Adventure, Resilience, and Renewal in the Arctic Wild ($29.95). Perfect Books, 258 Elgin St., 613-231-6468.

Proulx Poster
Have you seen those striking graphic Timber Timbre concert posters tacked on telephone poles about town? They would look just as striking on the wall of a home office or child’s bedroom. Designed by Ottawa artist Ross Proulx, the posters (shown in the background) playfully depict well-known cultural references such as the Three Little Pigs and a sailboat meeting its demise on a typed page — after all, loose lips sink ships. $40. Ross Proulx, rossproulx.com.

Stock Style
Was Rudolph from Ottawa? Maybe not, but Lisa Anderson is, and she’s the brains behind these pretty cards that have been spotted at craft fairs and indie boutiques. Heart Meets Paper cards are printed on 80-pound white linen card stock and feature striking yet simple festive graphics. $4.50 each. Heart Meets Paper, heartmeetspaper.com.