19 december

Today's gift suggestion is another Etsy find.

Custom Bookshelf Painting

Get the reader in your life a voucher for a painting from The Ideal Bookshelf. The image above is from one of the etsy listings, which includes images of other custom paintings she's done for people.

There are four basic options for custom paintings
- 8x8 inches featuring up to 7 books for $160
- 8x10 featuring up to 10 books for $220
- 8x10 featuring up to 15 books for $300
- 9x12 featuring up to 22 books for $400
and the artist is open to special requests.

If you like the idea, but can't afford the custom price tag, there are lots of prints ($20-$60) available in the etsy shop. I particularly like Ideal Bookshelf 97: IS, Ideal Bookshelf 8: ST, and Ideal Bookshelf 56: JT (love the addition of the hat!).

You can read more about the artist and why she likes painting books on her website.

9 december

I discovered Etsy seller, Typewriter Boneyard, when one of his book lamps was featured on Etsy's front page. I was charmed. The best thing about these is that the bottoms of each are flat so you can put it on top of a pile of books if you wish. I imagine one of these on my bedside stand.

Hardback Book Lamp

I particularly like the one pictured (The Nymph and the Lamp) because of the combination of the round knob-like bulb and the door fittings.

6 december

Another Etsy find.

Etsy seller COGnitive Creations has quite a few items that would be perfect gifts for readers. I particularly like the Defining the Life of a Reader Artful Hardware Bracelet (pictured above; see also the necklace version). A few other gems from the Artful Hardware line: English Garden Reader Necklace, Steampunk Writer's Quill Hair Fork, and Treasures of Wonderland Necklace.

2 december

I'm a huge fan of Etsy, a site where users can sell handmade and vintage items.

Artist Lisa Snellings has an etsy shop named Strangestudios, where she sells (among other things) collectible statuettes called "poppets."

Pictured is one of her custom (reading) poppets. Right now she also has a set of poppets inspired by Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book (which I haven't yet read) and a poppet reading Dr. Suess (One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, which I have read).

My personal favorites (of those available right now) are not reading-related. They are Bah Humbug (perfect for the grinch on your list!), Clouds get in my way, and Winter play.