It’s birthday season 2013. From May to August, I have eight close friends and family to buys gifts for or think of something awesome to do. It’s like Christmas on a smaller scale.

A few years ago, my husband came across a site with some really creative T-shirts in all sorts of styles and colors. He geeked out, and I found a goldmine where I could buy cool gifts for my closest peeps.

What is Redbubble?

Redbubble.com is not just an ordinary site. It’s an online community of artists who create their designs and sell them on a number of items including calendars, kids’ clothes, iPhone cases, stickers and posters. New designs are created daily, and you never know what you’ll find. It’s also free to join, and there are no membership fees.

My favorite thing about Redbubble is that it’s all about the artists. As a member, there is a profit split between the site and the artist. For example, if you sell a shirt, Redbubble may get 30 percent, but the artist receives 70. This is more than fair considering Redbubble makes the product and ships it to the customer. And it’s a great product. I have ordered several things and am always more than happy with the quality.

The only complaint I’ve heard is the prices are too high. Well, think about this: you’re not paying a large corporation or big-wigs, you’re paying a company and an artist who worked to design something you may not find elsewhere. Creative work is some of the most challenging kind. Members can set the price mark-up, which is flexible, and I’ve noticed most do 25-30 percent. That’s probably a little below or average for regular retail.

Here are some favorites of mine – some I’ve ordered, some I want. I hope you will take time to browse the site and find that perfect gift for someone.