Bookboxes at the Gift Forest, ho!

I donned my craft snood and fashioned some gift items for sale at the Gift Forest, an annual pop-up holiday gift shop hosted by The Bridge gallery with 60+ Virginia artisans and vendor wares. Runs December 1st to 24th, weekdays 12-8PM and weekends 10AM-6PM (Christmas Eve opened 10AM-4PM), 209 Monticello Road in Charlottesville, by the Spudnuts.

I had made and tucked away (forgot and lost actually) two prototype bookboxes and decided to make more with my favorite source material, recycled Reader’s Digest Condensed Books. Uniform in height and depth, with faux leather spine, sturdy case binding and attractive graphic print covers, I have a collection of nearly 600 covers to choose from.

Reader’s Digest Condensed Book covers.

The bookboxes have sturdy, contrasting print sides and mini magnetic closures. Perfect for desktop display or to cache treasures deep in the bookcase. I raided my sewing basket for vintage buttons, ribbon scraps and leather tabs.

The six bookboxes and four bookbags pictured below are at the Gift Forest and available for purchase: $25 each bookbox and $45 each bookbag. Have a favorite book you want transformed into objet d’art or unique whatnot? I take commissions.

4 little bookbags: Seahorse, plum gold floral, brown plaid and blue quatrefoil.

I popped in opening night, the first of December to check it out. Strange day, nearly 70 degrees. Yet, it is that time and we will shop in sandals or boots. In my heart, I covet and would add 86% of what I saw there to my wish list. Like that neon sign across town saying, Get In Here: go to the Gift Forest, get in there. But save a few things for me, please.

Outside looking in.