As the news leaks Black Friday ads with big door busters and early-bird specials hit the news of major retailers, I'm looking for alternatives to check items off my holiday shopping list.  And, because I have many creative friends, my list is going towards handmade, one-of-a-kind, or editioned artists' books that make the artist and book lover oohh and aahh.  Two sites have wonderful on-line catalogs and stores to get your gift-shopping started for the creative book lovin' types in your life!  One is at www.vampandtramp.com under their on-line catalogs offering.  Check out War and Conflict which provides a look at war and conflict from World War I to 9.11 through the eyes of the book artist.  Past offerings of on-line catalogs include 50 under $50.  Perusing their many offerings of artists' books will delight and you'll be sure to find something that fits the budget!  Also, check out their recommendations for books on making books!

Another great website offering wonderful artist's book selections can be found at http://abecedariangallery.com/_wp/.  Alicia Bailey, book artist and gallerist, showcases many artists through her on-line shop with such categories as "Prudent Pix" which highlights emerging artists from Denver and across the country.  Another area to check out is the wonderful catalogs Alicia has prepared of past exhibitions.  Exhibits such as "Boxy Books", "Artist's Books Cornucopia" and "Molten II-Erotic Books" offer a wonderful array of artists' book from book artists both nationally and internationally and are a great way to introduce people to the genre.  Also check out her own works at http://aliciabailey.com/marketplace/.  I would also recommend signing up for her email with upcoming exhibits and calls for art!  The exhibits are amazing and if you can't get to Denver, one can live vicariously by viewing some of the online images of current exhibitions! 

Also, checking out the great book arts centers websites like The Center for Book Arts in New York City, The Chicago Center for Book and Paper, the Minneapolis Center for the Book, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center and the Asheville Bookworks, one will find great offerings from gift certificates for workshops as well as their offerings created and bound in their studios.  The Asheville Bookworks does a great exhibit titled "Bookopolis" annually and then curates a show from their entries which then gets produced as a catalog.  Last year's exhibit catalog entitled "Memory Palaces" was a gift I gave to many people who enjoyed viewing the wonderful selections...(shameful self-promotion occurring here as I was included!)...Published through Blurb, their website provided direct links to past catalogs and they make great gifts!

If you want to shop for someone who wants to make books, also check out Amazon.com for great selections. Offerings by authors and book artists, Gwen Diehn, Esther K. Smith, Alisa Golden, and Gabbrielle Fox have marvelous books with great directions for journeying into the book arts field!  Enjoy the journey and start crossing off those gifts!