Weird Pasta Bookish Gift Guide
Help the reader in your life feel more loved and less weird…
My husband and I have “set-up” our 3-foot tall $15 fake, non-denominational celebration tree, so that means it’s officially the holiday season!
The first ornament I bought for myself had to be a stick of butter
Of course, we all know the holidays are kind of about being with family and loved ones. But really what they’re for is showing how much you love those people in the form of items with specific monetary values.
In the spirit of consumerism, I’ve put together a gift guide for the reader (or writer or person who loves to be cozy) in your life. But also in the spirit of leaning towards anti-capitalism, these items come from artist-led/small/independent businesses (I feel like there should be an “and/or” in there but I don’t feel like googling the correct grammar).
And ALL of these items are under $50 (or you can go above and beyond by getting a gift card that’s more than $50 or gifting multiple items!).
Send to someone as a hint…
Ok enough out of me. Here is…
Weird Pasta’s Bookish Gift Guide
Starting off strong with gift cards for independent book stores:
*note that even if your friend/loved one doesn’t live in one of these cities, bookshops do ship orders!
Bookshop.org - How it works: “Bookshop.org works to connect readers with independent booksellers all over the world. We believe local bookstores are essential community hubs that foster culture, curiosity, and a love of reading, and we’re committed to helping them thrive.
Every purchase on the site financially supports independent bookstores. Our platform gives independent bookstores tools to compete online and financial support to help them maintain their presence in local communities.”
Skylight Books - My local bookstore in the Los Feliz neighborhood of LA.
Chevalier’s Books - Another great bookstore in LA on Larchmont Boulevard.
Community Books - The local bookstore in my “hometown” of Park Slope, Brooklyn.
McNally Jackson - Another NY bookstore but they have multiple locations throughout the city.
Powell’s Books - HUGE used and new bookstore in Portland, Oregon. They do ship orders, but I highly suggest you check it out in person if you’re in the area.
These are soooo cute, and I might have to buy all of them for myself:
Personalized Book Stamp - How cool are these!!! There are so many options too and all of them are cute and cool. Be like Cillian Murphy who signs and dates every book he reads.
Kindle Case - COME ON!!! Spectacular. Give me 14 of them right now.
Bookmarks - I’m obsessed with the ones that look like library cards.
Honestly these gifts can be for anyone who likes to lean into the wintry vibes by staying in and getting cozy:
Clay by Bee - My friend Maddy makes these and are you kidding!!!! They are so cool. When I finished writing my first book Maddy made me a mug that had “author” inscribed(? carved? help) into the bottom of it. So not only is she talented, but she’s also the sweetest. Check her out here too: Clay by Bee IG.
Illume Candles - These are my go-to candles when I feel like splurging (which for me is anything over $20 for a candle—but they also have smaller candles at $14!!!). This sounds weird but trust me: the Blackberry Absinthe scent is sooooo good.
Harney & Sons Tea - I’ll be honest with you, I bought these once purely because of the tin they come in. And I stand by that as a good use of my money. But if you actually want to drink the tea too, they have some decaf options that are perfect for a cold night in.
This is not exactly reader specific, but still! Or give to the writers in your life:
Recycled Notebooks - They are made from recycled material, and there are soo many options in terms of size/type/cover art.
Smooth Notebooks - I got some of these when I went to Japan (brag), and I will continue to use this brand for the rest of my life. The paper is to-die-for smooth, and I love the overall feel of them. Great size as well.
Field Notes - Purchased this pack because I’m a sucker for anything Joshua Tree-themed. But they have a whole array of national park 3-packs! They are small and thin, so you can easily keep one in your bag to carry around in case inspiration strikes.
Ok…welcome to my current obsession:
ArtsyLegacy - For your kindle or the above-mentioned notebooks, there are so many cute book-themed stickers. I love this etsy shop and will most likely buy some from here for myself!
Create A Scene Sticker Book - I’M OBSESSED WITH THESE STICKER SCENE BOOKS. Here’s a video, but basically you’re given a blank room and a sheet of stickers. You follow the guide to see where to place the stickers to create a scene. It’s sooooo (last time I say “sooooo” I swear) relaxing and meditative. I’ve been doing these while watching Secret Lives of Mormon Wives…
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Ok! Hope you enjoyed this gift guide!
https://weirdpasta.substack.com/p/weird-pasta-bookish-gift-guide
