Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Gifts I Hope I Find Under My Christmas Tree This Morning
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish, a weekly meme that now resides at That Artsy Reader Girl. The meme first came about because of a love of lists. Who doesn’t love lists? The original creators also wanted their lists to be shared with fellow book lovers and to ask that we in turn share ours with them and connect with other book bloggers. To learn more about participating, stop by their page dedicated to it and dive in!
This week’s topic: Top Ten Bookish Gifts I Hope I Find Under My Christmas Tree This Morning
Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate, and Happy Holidays to all!
Today’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is officially “Books I Hope I Find Under My Christmas Tree This Morning”, but quite honestly, I already have more than enough on my TBR to get through at the moment, so instead of books, I decided to feature bookish or reader related gifts that I think are pretty cool or useful (and wouldn’t mind having).
Book Sleeves
The problem with book sleeves is that you only ever really need one or two, at most a few. But all the many amazing and gorgeous designs out there make me wish I could own a few dozen.
Book Quotes Doormat
I love showing my love for fantasy in subtle ways, and having a quote doormat is a nice way to do it for when the delivery people or neighbors come around. I’m actually trying to convince my husband we need these, but I don’t know if I’m making any progress on getting him on board.
Bookish Apparel and Accessories
Speaking of showing off your love for books, another way I like to do it is through the clothing and jewelry I wear.
Book Totes
I can never have enough tote bags, especially in the summers when I visit the local library every week to stock up on reading materials for my kids. Most of mine are from shirt.woot, and I’ve gotten tons of laughs and compliments on them, so I’m always on the lookout for new available designs with bookish themes.
Headphones
Huge audiobook listener that I am, I go through bluetooth headphones like they’re going out of style. I always carry a pair with me wherever I go, and around the house will be a couple more charging, ready to be switched out when my current one runs out of juice. Due to the hard and constant use, I probably replace a pair every few months, so I have a feeling I’ll find some in my stocking this year.
Dictionary bookmark
I’m not really big on bookmarks; most of the time, whenever I find myself in need of something to mark my page, I pick up whatever’s conveniently lying around be it an old receipt or a piece of candy wrapper. I kind of like the idea of an electronic dictionary bookmark, though. Not sure how well this thing actually works, but it’s a neat concept. Something like that would be super handy for when I’m reading a dead tree book. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve caught myself poking at a word on the page like an idiot, waiting for the definition to pop up, momentarily forgetting I’m not actually on my Kindle.
Art Books
Okay, so maybe there are some actual books I am wishing for today. For those who don’t know, I’m a collector of concept art books, for video games especially. There have been some recent ones I’m hoping to add to my collection.
Replica Swords of SFF
Speaking of collecting random things, my dream one day is to own a respectable collection of replica swords. Not too surprisingly, there are plenty out there inspired by fantasy literature. The best replicas are super pricey though, so if I ever win the lottery or stumble across some outrageous sum in pirate treasure, maybe it’ll happen.
Little Free Library
So you’ve all heard of the Little Free Library, right? It’s basically a “take a book, return a book” free book exchange. Commonly, they take the form of a small wooden box that anyone can fill with books to share, or bring one home to enjoy. The ones I’ve seen in my area are mostly around local parks and playgrounds, but some people have also placed them in front of their houses to share with their neighborhood. This is something I’ve always wanted to do, if nothing else because it’s a fun way to donate my books and set them free in the world (let’s hope my neighbors enjoy Sci-Fi & Fantasy). If I had any woodworking talent, I’d make my own, though ready-to-be-assembled Little Free Libraries can also be purchased. Still, chances are it’s all a moot point anyway, since my despotic HOA would probably shoot this idea down faster than you can say BAH-HUMBUG! Oh well, I can dream, and if I ever move, a Little Free Library in my front yard might still be in my future.
New Shelves
I’ve long since run out of shelf space. Currently, the linen closet is doing double duty as a makeshift bookshelf, handling some of the overflow, while my side of the walk-in closet is stacked from floor to ceiling with even more books. If I were to grab a coat just a bit too violently, there’s a real possibility I might disturb something and get crushed to death in a horrible book avalanche. Yes, I am in desperate need of new shelves. My husband, who actually does have some woodworking skill, has promised to install some built-in bookshelves for our family room, but six years later, this project has still yet to get off the ground. After all this time, I’m not holding my breath, but with luck, maybe I’ll get to see some blueprints/plans this year at least!
So those are some of the neat bookish things I’ve stumbled across. What did you get (or are hoping to find) underneath the Christmas tree this year? Hope everyone is having a safe and merry holiday season!
The BiblioSanctum 
Book totes!!!!
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I can never have enough of them!
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I think I need Speak Friend and Enter in my life! And Bend The Knee haha that’s awesome! I love a good art book too, especially fantasy/ SF art. I can think if a few I’d like to have!
Merry Christmas!
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Yeah, both doormats are great! I would have trouble deciding between the two messages…depends on how I feel at the time, I guess 😉
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Merry Christmas!
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Thanks, Bookstooge! Hope you had a good Christmas!
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It was decent. Things have gotten better now that the Mrs and I are getting over some severe head colds…
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Oh no! Hopefully it wasn’t too bad. I came down with something too, just before Christmas. Bronchitis, I think. Just a horrible cough, no other symptoms, so it could have been worse. I’m better now, but still get fits occasionally where I Feel like I’m going to cough my lungs out 😀
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I was out of things from Mon through Wed. Christmas I just sat around at my bro’s like the ghost of Christmas sick 🙂
Worked out doors today and I’m pretty sure that helped clean me out.
Glad you are feeling better and hope it wasn’t spreadable.
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Yeah, I felt much the same way the day before Christmas! And thankfully I had no one to spread it to. It had already gone through my whole family and I was the last one to get it. So I got the worst of it 😛
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I love the mats! If I put them outside our house someone would steal them! If I see some book sleeves I might be tempted. I love the touch my shelf bag! Merry Christmas Mogsy!
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Haha, I didn’t even think about that – the awesomeness of those mats might be tempting to a would-be thief!
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I totally LOVE the doormats! And the two you showed in the pictures are perfect: depending on the kind of visitor you expect, you can use either one to a very dramatic effect… 😀 😀
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
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Haha, my front door is one of those double doors – so I can actually display both if I wanted. Or switch them out depending on the visitor, as you say 😉
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I could always use new book shelves; if only I had room to put them. LOL And I love book sleeves. You’re right, you don’t technically need a ton of them but they are so cute!
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
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Very true, shelves take up a lot of space! 😀
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I didn’t know they made Grim Readers hoodies. Now I’m going to have to go find one. Happy reading!
eli @ the (book) supplier
My TTT
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The one there is from shirt.woot. I love their book/reader-related designs!
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I hope you get your bookshelves, then you can feel free to send your husband over to my place because I need some too🤣 Happy holidays!
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Haha, good luck getting my husband started on even one set of shelves. I’m still waiting after six years! 😀
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These all look like amazing things to get. I hope you got some or all! I am buying some new shelves for our basement with our Christmas money so we can move our board games and some of my husband’s RPG books down there. Bookshelves are the life. 😍
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Yeah, we’re hoping to get our basement finished sometime in the next couple of years – when that gets done, we’ll have more space. I can’t wait. We have a lot of books and gaming related stuff lying around the place too 😀
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I love your list. 🙂 I wound up skipping for the same reason you changed it up, wish I had thought of that because I have plenty of bookish items I would love. I got some ikea bookshelves this year, with an added shelf on top so they *almost* have the same effect as builtins (but not really … but way easier!). Those art books look gorgeous!
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My dream shelves are tall ones too – the better to fit more books, lol. I’ve seen some of the built-in projects people have done using simple Ikea shelves actually, they look amazing!
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Some great gift ideas here and who doesn’t need more shelves? I really hope to get a book sleeve or two in the new year. Hope you had a great Christmas and sorry for visiting late – life sometimes gets in the way, especially around the holidays.
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No worries, I was really busy on Christmas as well and didn’t get a chance to visit all my blogs til later in the day. I hope you had a good Christmas!
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ooh I love that concept of a free library!! And wow I’d love to own a replica sword one day! 😀
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Some of those swords are so beautiful, especially the well-made quality ones. They’re like actual weapons, so maybe they can also double up as home protection, haha!
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Lol! Love the “Bend the Knee” mat.
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Haha, yeah that one seems popular 😀
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Book avalanche – what a way to go though – smothered in words. I love the ‘speak friend and enter’ doormat and also the room with the shelves – not just the shelves though – the whole room looks good to me.
Lynn 😀
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AMAZING list!!
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ALL OF THE ABOVE!
But I especially love the idea of the free library/mail box 😀 I’d love to have one in front of the house but.. we live in the bush so there’s only kangaroos coming past hahaha
Doormats are pretty neat as well and I always need more tote bags ❤ Tote bags for life!
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