I know we’re up to our ears in gift guides at this point, but! My friend Jodi Levine had such a cool idea for how to bring bookish things together, I asked her to show us her approach. Here goes…
Says Jodi:
I tend to be a last-minute holiday shopper. When my inevitable panic sets in, I try to remember my best trick for coming up with personal gifts. I start with a book — typically a cookbook or some kind of activity book. Then I build a gift around the book, assembling a “kit” with tools, materials, or ingredients. After my trip to the bookstore, I can often find what I need at the supermarket or a craft store (most sell baking supplies, too). These kits feel heartfelt, and they’re so easy to put together.
As for wrapping, I just put everything in a plain brown paper bag, add tissue paper, and tie a candy cane or sprig of greenery to the handle. When I’m lucky, I’ll find a kit item that will double as the gift container — like a baking sheet, large jar or my favorite (inexpensive) basket that people will actually keep and reuse.
Although I usually choose cookbooks or craft books, this idea works for *any* book if you get creative. Even a novel can inspire a gift theme — even if the theme is just “reading,” ha! (I would love to receive a book with a book light and cute bookmark!) Or the book’s setting can inspire a gift like food ingredients or a gift card to a related restaurant. You could also take inspiration from reference books (think: a birding book, paired with binoculars and a bird call.)
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Cookbooks are one of my favorite gifts to give and receive. As a vegetarian-ish eater, longtime fan, and unofficial student of the Jenny Rosenstrach Cooking School, I love this book! It’s just so usable, with endless tips, stories, shopping lists (including best store-bought “saviors”), mix-and-match charts, and a “hooks” chapter. Several of these recipes are already in our regular rotation, and I can’t wait to add more. I’m wrapping this book with some ingredients that I learned about from Jenny and a pretty dishcloth, all arranged in a reusable wooden tray.
Gift kit items:
* The Weekday Vegetarians Get Simple
* Rancho Gordo garbanzo beans
* Dukkah
* Smoked paprika
* Long spaghetti
* Capers
* Artichoke hearts
* Dishcloth
