2012 Gift Guide: Part 1 With Giveaway! And also music!

A big shiny gold ribbon.It's time for the 2012 gift guides, where I go catalog and online shopping for gift ideas that would work for all the avid readers you know. I have a lot of fun building the gift guides, especially when I find something like the Lowood Lacrosse tshirt and so many people go, 'HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS MUST BUY CLICK CLICK.' It's a relief I'm not alone in these things.

I've got a file of a few ideas already, but I wanted to put out a call for submissions. If you have a gift that works wonderfully for romance reading book loving folks in your life, I would LOVE to hear about it. Please email me at SarahATsmartbitchestrashybooksDOTTYcom with “Gift Guide” in the subject line, and tell me about it!

You are welcome to tell me about your Etsy store, your line of handmade fountain pen inks, your knitted slipper business, or your friend's boutique. But please make sure that there is a reason what you're sending to me would work as a gift for a book loving person, and that I can link to examples online.

I may not use every submission, but I will do my best to include your gift suggestions in this year's gift guides.

Let's get started – and keep reading because there's a giveaway at the end!

 

Classic Literature Board Books

Speaking of Jane Eyre, Carrie S sent me an email with a link which said, “How is it possible that I don't have this???” I replied, “OH MY GOD THERE ARE MORE OF THEM WANTWANTWANT.” What were we talkign about? 

Little Miss Bronte: Jane Eyre Board Book Counting Primer Classic literature board books. 

Alice in Wonderland Colors Primer Awwww, yeah. If there are new babies and little kids in your world, you can get counting primers based on Jane Eyre or Romeo and Juliet, or Pride & Prejudice. There are color primers based on Alice in Wonderland, too. These are counting and colors books, so it's not as if they're toddler-retellings of the books themselves, but if you're friends with readerly parents, these might be a very appreciated gift. 

Sidenote: while we're talking board books, there is a Pantone™ Colors boardbook, too.

And I totally want a set for myself, even though my kids are no longer toddlers. 

Leather Ereader Covers and Pewter Jewelry from Oberon Designs

Moving on: I've talked about my love of Oberon leather covers for ebook readers (and am sad my Oberon cover doesn't fit my new Kindle, so I've started saving up to buy a new one). This year, Oberon is trying to get more of my money, as they have leather cuff bracelets and pewter cuffs as well – in addition to the really beautiful tooled leather ereader and iPad covers.

They also have jewelry like scent amulets, necklaces of pewter charms on leather cord, and earrings. And hairclips, too.

Yeah. I'm sorry. 

Multicolored Set of Disposable Fountain Pens 

Disposable Fountain Pen Set in multiple colors If you like pens, or know someone who does, here's a very simple gift that's great for a coworker or stocking stuffer or one of those nights of Hanukkah where you're not sure what to get someone because you've got 7 gifts and you just need one more – not that this has happened to me (Every Year) (ahem): the Pilot Varsity Disposable Fountain Pen set.

It's $15-$20, and features fountain pens in red, blue, balck, green, purple and pink. I have two Pilot Varsity pens on my desk (I have a little thing for fountain pens) and I love mine. It's lightweight and doesn't make my hand tired (I have one fountain pen that I bought on clearance that I could use to build my biceps, it weighs so much. Probably why it was on clearance) and it doesn't dry out easily, either. And they last a long-ass time. 

So if you know any Pen People, or People Who Obsessively Buy Blank Notebooks, this might be a fun gift for them. 

 

BookBoxes!

And here's your chance to get a gift early! I'm not usually the type to get excited about tchotskes, but I like hiding stuff (especially from myself, like when I put something in a special place so I won't forget, and then promptly forget) and I love hiding stuff in plain sight.

Book Box: a box shaped to look like an antique book, with synthetic leather covers and felt lined interiors. This picture has scrollwork and a skull on it. Misiu from BookBoxShop contacted me awhile back about doing a giveaway, and I wanted to save the idea for the holiday season. I think these would make a spiffy gift, especially if filled with candy, lip balm and tissues, or book gift cards. (Question: is a stack of bookstore gift cards the equivalent to a stack of books? I get the same rushed-heartbeat thrill at both, honestly. So much possibility).

The boxes have different themes, such as music or religious imagery, and some are really breathtaking

Misiu has offered a box to give away, winner's choice, so if you're interested, now's your chance! I'm adding a $25 gift card to the bookstore of the winner's choice, so you get books in a book! Want to win? Leave a comment and tell us what you'd put in the box (aside from your junk, obviously) and you're entered to win. 

 

Open to international residents. Must be 18 or over and near a bookshelf to win. Void where prohibited. Do not cut a hole in the box, no matter what Justin Timberlake tells you. 

I'll be picking the winner at random on Friday, 23 November. Good luck! And happy Thanksgiving to all of you consuming turkey this week. 

 

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  1. The last card my aunt who passed away in September sent to me. I keep coming across it and moving it and I don’t want to lose it.

  2. MaryK says:

    I’d probably use it to store craft supplies or maybe to hide the manicure stuff that’s always lying around.

  3. Lostshadows says:

    Question: is a stack of bookstore gift cards the equivalent to a stack of books?

    I’d say they’re even better. No risk of accidental duplicates or “How thoughtful, but why did they think I’d want to read that?” books.

    I’d keep some of my pens in it. They seem to like roaming around the house if left loose.

  4. Melonie Johnson says:

    Ok, this might sound creepy….but I’d store my daughters’ lost teeth and my “tooth fairy kit” – lemme splain: currently I have an old photo box on my bedroom bookshelf in which I keep the teeth my daughter has lost…also in there is a pile of fairy coins (loose change I collected while in Ireland years ago, before they switched to Euros) and vial of fairy dust (glitter) for sprinkling a trail. I’d also like one for my writing desk to store flash drives.

  5. Melonie Johnson says:

    PS – those board books are awesome, will be adding some to wish list for my girls now!

  6. Tracy O'Brien says:

    Postcards and greeting cards! I acquire correspondence materials faster than I correspond, but they’re too pretty to trash. 

  7. Amanda Oster says:

    I’d use it to stash all my jewlery!

  8. Jessica D says:

    I would put in on my desk at work and store tea in it

  9. LJonté says:

    I’d use it as a place to keep my disposable fountain pens, (seriously, I have a set and I love those things) the 3×5 cards I use for making notes and my emergency chocolate.

  10. A bottle of Jack Daniels, to sneak into the next book club meeting I am drug to.

  11. Djmrtrm says:

    Love that book box! Would be perfect for storing note cards and pens on my desk!

  12. Blodeuedd says:

    I’d hide some money 😉 Some I need a book quickly money

  13. Lindleepw says:

    I’m not sure what I’d keep in it. Maybe finally have all my coupons in one place? That would be nice.

  14. Shawny Jean says:

    Jewelry. Or the giant stack of cards from our wedding that i have no idea what to do with.

  15. vandyj says:

    I keep a manicure set, a bit of good chocolate and a good pen and pencil in it.  Those are the things that seem to wander off the most in my house.  They also never come back.

  16. katherinelynn_04 says:

    I’d probably use it for those random things that I want nearby but not necessarily in sight. Like nail files and chapstick and pens. Sort of like a desk drawer where no desk is available.

  17. What to hide? Some mad money, for sure, a couple of pictures of my folks, funeral cards, an old poem, earrings from my mom that I don’t want to lose, silver dollars that are from a Vegas long gone. Things that make me smile.

  18. jcp says:

    important papers

  19. Sarah Wynde says:

    Photographs & flash drives, CDs, and disks with photos on them. I was thinking while watching Sandy coverage that I should put together the quick-evac memorabilia kit. I live in Florida, so it’s not exactly unlikely that I would someday want to evacuate in a hurry and at the moment, the nostalgic items I would want to save are scattered throughout three rooms and two different closets. I’d like to be able to walk out of the house knowing that the important baby pictures and family photos are with me.

  20. Teri C says:

    I would totally add one of those multi packs of the tiny liquor bottles to the boxes 😉

  21. Teresa Nichols says:

    Such neat designs!  I’d probably keep favorite photographs and my fancier jewelry in it…things to only pull out for special occasions.  Thanks for the giveaway!

  22. Sarah J says:

    I would use it to store pens and small notebooks by my bed. The skull box looks sort of pirate-y though, so maybe I’d keep jewelry and treasures in there. 🙂

  23. Liz says:

    I love @Sarah Wynde’s idea of an evacuation “kit” of photos and hard drives. After a frantic Sandy evacuation I’m in the process of putting one together.

  24. Valarie P. says:

    I would keep it on my desk at work to make the two guys in my office who collect the leather bound editions of books jealous.

  25. Amy Smith says:

    I love the book box.  They even have it in Van Gogh’s Starry Night.  I love that one.  They even have a Casablanca one.  These are so cool!  I would use it to put my jewelry in.  It being disguised in a book might trick someone trying to steal it.  Who would think something was valuable inside of a book. 🙂

  26. Trix says:

    Depends on the box dimensions, but I certainly have enough chocolate, jewelry, mix tapes, stickers, and pens to throw in…

  27. Mary Beth says:

    I would place my cat’s ashes in it.  I love the idea of him spending time on my bookshelf!

  28. I would keep cards in it! I collect cards. What a neat gift! thanks 🙂 sstogner1 at gmail dot com

  29. Kat Sheridan says:

    It looks like just the right size to hold my tiara, along with my iPod, my favorite reading glasses, a pad of sticky notes, a flash drive with my manuscripts and latest WIP, some sweet small munchies, and my favorite pink pen with the fluffy feather on top. In other words, the small, absolutely essential things in life.

  30. Shiny says:

    my button collection (consisting entirely of buttons I’ve found lying around in the street, started when I was in the army, where buttons drop like flies, and no one cares enough to pick them up cause they can just go get new ones). It currently lives in a sandwich bag, but could really use a permanent home.

  31. JennyME says:

    Those look like the perfect place to stash my secret candy hoard!

  32. Joykenn says:

    I have so many things in my bedside drawer that I’m always digging through.  I’d put a nailfile, hand cream, cuticle cream, clippers, floss, needle & tread for emergency repairs, pen and small pad for quick notes—and maybe a square of chocolate.  Just the necessities!

  33. Sarah W says:

    This box is perfect for hiding the good chocolate from my children!

  34. Bafriva says:

    Well, first thing I thought of to put in the bookbox was the ticket stub from the first movie my husband took me to.  Then a couple of family photos that I don’t want to lose, etc.  I’ll probably end up buying something from the shop if I don’t win.  Wow! they are all gorgeous!! Want!want!want!.

  35. ms bookjunkie says:

    I’d put jewelry in it, especially the special pieces made for me by my friend E (which can now be found—and not found—all over the place) so I don’t have to take the place apart when I’m dressing up a bit.

  36. Suze in Palm Bay, FL says:

    Small keepsakes and ephemera. Show ticket stubs, note cards, stamps, pens and eyebrow tweezers. My monocle (seriously) and some embroidery floss I have no use for but it way to lovely to let go!

  37. Julieinduvall says:

    I would put my signed agency agreement and my first signed publishing contract in that box.

  38. Hydecat says:

    I’d take it to work and use it to store the pens, pencils, small bits of paper, and other small things that get buried under the mounds of paper on my desk. I bet it would be a great conversation-starter too.

  39. GHN says:

    I would probably keep extra hairpins there – I have hair long enough that I can sit on it, and good, industrial strength hairpins are a necessity for me

  40. Rose says:

    You give gifts on every night of Hanukkah?! Wow. I’m Jewish but Israeli, and we don’t do Hanukkah gifts at all (except maybe some minor stuff for kids). Suddenly I feel deprived… I might have console myself with some extra latkes.

    As for the box: miscellaneous jewelry, most likely.

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