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?
Classic literature board books.
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
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.
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.
I’d put it on my bedside table and store “goodies” in it. Sort of an emergency survival kit.
Random junk. I know you said that wasn’t a good enough answer, but at least its an honest one. If you need something more specific, depending on the size I’d use it to store either random jewelry and hair junk, or office supply junk.
I’d put my little earrings in there that Boris is always knocking to the ground and chasing and the collectable bookmarks I get in contests of am compelled to buy and then terrified to use because they are so beautiful haha
I’d keep my jewellery in it. It looks absolutely gorgeous!
I would keep all the letters and cards that I can’t bare to get rid of but don’t know where to put in the box.
I’ve been wanting a book box, though I’ve never seen this company before! 🙂
I would put all my book swag and notes that I’ve received from authors and giveaways. Right now they’re sitting in drawers, some in envelopes still.
Enjoy!
TBQ
I’d probably use it for little things I want to hide from my kids.
I’d give it to my daughter, who would love it. She has a lot of clutter and is forever collecting stuff. She has cocktail umbrellas (if you are cute and ask nicely, waiters will give them to you, even if you are too young to have the cocktail) and rocks and shells, and who knows what and goes ballistic when I suggest the vast majority of the stuff should be heaved.
If it were in a pretty box, I’d be less tempted to do the heaving myself.
It’s almost to pretty to actually USE. Maybe some special trinkets inside, but overall it’ll be untouched and gorgeous.
Random shiny things! Isn’t that what everybody puts in boxes?
OOh those boxes are great. I’d probably put book-related items in it; bookmarks, gift cards, notebooks, small books, etc.
lauren51990 at aol dot com
I would totally hide my laundry quarters in the book. They keep getting usurped for parking money. I need to find a better place to hide them and a crazy book is perfect!
I would keep all of my bookmarks in it and believe me,I have quite a few!
I would store money and memento from my kids.
I work in a library and we have a fake book in which we hide candy that we get for our student workers. Two books in which to hide the candy would be so much better, especially when these books are so awesomely gorgeous. 🙂
I’d put my medals, ribbons, dogtags, nametapes, unit coins, etc, from the Army in one of those book boxes. My current little tin box doesn’t have enough room for it all. Five years on active duty and a deployment gets you lots of random bit and pieces.
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I would hide my candy in it. Of course it would not last long as I would be opening the book a lot.
probably receipts, stationery – thanks for the giveaway.
well i would probably put my cards in it, postcards, holiday cards, thank you cards, and my pens…i hope i win 😀
I love all the ideas for what to store in the book boxes! My first thought was a flash drive with all of my ebooks on it. But book money and tea and chocolate are also awesome ideas! I might need more than one box…
I love the skull they’ve depicted there! It would be a great gift for my son who loves skulls and spades and loves writing A La Stephen King. I”m heading to the store to see what other designs they have. Thank You for the giveaway!
I’d set it on my coffee table and use it to hide my lip balm, hand cream and manicure set. I hate being in the middle of reading or watching TV on the couch only to realize that I need something and have to leave the couch to get it. I have like 5 pairs of nail clippers and approximately a million lip balms hidden around my home for this very reason.
I’d like to use it to hide the remotes—tv, cable, DVD, etc.—when not in use.
Ok! I’m going to be quite naughty! My hubby has been away for awhile and my boys thought it would be funny to get me a replacement for those nights when I yearned for him. Well, it’s bright pink and an exact anatomical replica with a “rabbit” attached to it. The boys splurged and even bought the special lubricants and cleaners for this “toy”. I love their sense of humour but now I need somewhere to keep it where it won’t be accidentally found by the cleaning lady, my care attendants ( I’m a quad) or my grand kids!!! A nice romance book box would do the trick, don’t you think! I have an old Readers Digest Book Box that belonged to my Mom & she used it to hide her jewels but this “toy” doesn’t fit the genre! 🙂 (blushing fiercely) Thanks for considering to help me conceal my boys gift!
Pretty! I’ve done most of my Christmas shopping already but these gift guides are tempting me.
Whatever I put in the box my 4 year old daughter would promptly remove. She would then fill it with drawings, stickers, hair clips… possibly bottle caps and Legos.
That box is awesome! I would probably keep my collection of pens and little notebooks I keep all over my desk in it! lol I have this weird compulsion to buy cute little notebooks that i can fit in my pocket or purse. I write down everything from what I need to buy from the grocery store tot he next book I want to buy. So having pens on hand help as well…Just makes my desk a bit of a mess lol
Those bookboxes are fabulous! I’d use one to corral my various writing notes. Despite several lovely notebooks, I always end up writing notes on random scraps of paper …
I’m a keychain collector. I buy keychains from different countries and I just keep them sealed and wrapped up in an old box. I think those book boxes will be perfect for my keychain collection.
I would use it as yet another place to hide pieces of my yarn stash, and therefore be disguising one obsession as another. 🙂
I seem to collect blank greeting cards, and commemorative postage stamps. A lovely box to put some of them in would help me rationalize having so many – and might help me get the box out, and use a few.
This box would look good on a desktop, so I would put memo pads, pens(I am forever losing these!), letter opener, paper clips, etc. Cute gift idea, too!
Wow, those are fabulous. I think notes to myself would be great. Bits of inspiration that I can draw—secret messages to myself.
I would use it for my sewing junk. Snips, random buttons, embroidery floss, thread, needles, needles, needles, bits of ribbon, etc. And these boxes are so pretty that they can stay on the sewing table instead of being hidden away like my more utilitarian boxes.
My bookmarks and assorted pens. The perfect place to put them all!
I’d keep my BPAL perfume bottles (they’re small) in that! The cover reminds me of thye artwork on the bottles, and what a cool way to store them on my dresser!
I would store letters from my late grandparents in a special box. I am glad that I got normal paper letters from them to keep as tangible memory.
I’d probably keep small jewelry items – bracelets, etc. in such a lovely box!
I’d hide candy or money in the box because I like to find things that make me happy later on 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!
smaccall AT comcast.net