You can tell it's the HallowThanksMas holiday season when the Christmas displays go up before Halloween (yes, they did that this year), and Starbucks starts serving up its pumpkin and gingerbread lattes. If you missed the Black Friday weekend shopping and find that you're stumped for gift ideas, here are some fun ideas for book lovers (other than books, but that goes without saying, doesn't it?).
The Demeter Fragrance Library created a perfume based on "A trip to your favorite library or used bookstore. Sweet and lovely with just a touch of the musty smell of aged paper, Demeter's Paperback harnesses that scent with a sprinkling of violets and a dash of tasteful potpourri."
Paddywax has a line of "library" candles and fragrances, from Jane Austen to Oscar Wilde. The Edgar Allan Poe Library Travel Tin Candle is made from their signature soy wax, "paired with cardamom, absinthe and sandalwood fragrance notes, and hand-poured in a 3.5 oz two-wick travel tin." Or you can opt for the fragrance-duster-oil version.
Anthologie touts one line of wall coverings as being perfect for people who are out of bookcase space (or maybe just those who have switched to eBooks but still miss that bookish look to a room). Tracey Kendall's paperback wallpaper will fill nooks of your home with towers of titles.
For all those little book lovers on your list, there's the Little Librarian kit. "Kids can practice the important skills of organizing, sharing, borrowing, and returning. Book pockets, check out cards, library cards, and bookmarks are just like the ones from the real library. Little Librarians will issue overdue notices and awards. Favorite books can be stored in the reading journal and shared with friends."
How about a purse made from a book? Each one is hand-made and starts with a gently-used book from garage sales, flea markets or estate sales. as long as it has an eye-catching cover, like the Sherlock Holmes item here. The fabric, handles and the button enclosure are matched to the cover.
How about a book lamp made from a book? These lamps are made from drilling into old hardbacks, such as this one made from Secrets and Spies- Behind the Scene Stories of World War II (from the Reader's Digest Collection 1964). It's one of the Typewriter Boneyard's most popular sellers and even includes a 30W Quad Loop Edison Bulb.
These unique bookends can also be used as a vase. Fashioned out of terracotta with glazed finishes, the tops are left open, so you can put a plant or flowers in them. For both the book lover AND gardener on your list - a twofer!
American Discount Tableware touts these dishes as "Just as smart and original as any good read" (well, maybe, depending upon the book). They'd certainly liven up a book club's refreshments, and they're stackable.
This bookshelf needlepoint pillow will help cushion your back while you're staying up all night turning the pages on your latest thriller purchase. It's hand needlepointed from 100% wool thread and has a cotton back fabric, with color coordinated cording. For cleaning, the inner pillow is removeable.
Although I'm not sure these are available for purchase yet (maybe coming soon to a store near you?), Flora Chan designed a line of teas for what she called the Prologue Tea Co. Each tin is based on classic literature (including Sherlock Holmes) with flavors inspired by each story, and designs "include motifs from the narratives and other elements that are a part of the reading experience."
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