2012: The Year You Finally Become a Gift Giving Genius

courtesy of Martha Stewart

Gift-giving. When you get it right, you feel great, and can wholeheartedly endorse the expression, "tis better to give than to receive." But when you get it wrong...the fake smile, the insipid praise, the bland thank-you note--ugh!

Such painful moments should be enough to inspire a new approach to how you shop for presents. And, though you might still have a few pine needles left on your floor from last month, now is the time to make a change.  Don't worry: it's not hard. In fact, all you need to do is spend 30-40 minutes upfront and you'll be on your way to giving thoughtful, unique gifts forever after.


Intrigued? I hope so. The key here is keywords, alerts to be specific.The goal is to get the auction aggregator sites to do the legwork for you, allowing you to spend your precious time elsewhere--even if it's watching random pet videos or checking into the ultimate time sink: Facebook.

My sister loves owls. So do a lot of people! This came up in my search. She has five people in her family so...
Carved hardstone owls on petrified wood. At Klein James on January 19th. estimate $200-300.

Live Auctioneers has, by far, the best tool for creating keyword searches, and allows a seemingly unlimited amount (I have at least forty on, so...) at no cost. To create them, go to your profile page on Live Auctioneers and click "Alert Terms." In the search box uptop, type in your keyword or words, then hit "Create Alert." I do advise you to then immediately preview it--it will help you make sure everything is spelled correctly, for one thing, and that the term yields the kind of results you're looking for.


Of course, there is an important step that precedes this, in fact, the most important step: creating your keyword list. Before you jump on L.A., you'll need to sit down with a pen and think about your family members and dear friends. What are their interests?  Are they intrigued by a certain historical event, era, decade or famous figure? Do they love a certain animal? Do they Scuba Dive? Flyfish? Who are their favorite authors? What colors do they like? Do they go crazy with the holiday decor? Do they love cheese? Wine? Monopoly? Asparagus?

You get the idea. The goal is to find a few relevant search words for each special person. One of my sisters, for instance, loves owls, is nuts about her German Shepard, and has a cockatiel, so I have searches on for each of those. My other sister loves whales and vintage santas, among other things. My mom loves woodcuts and is an avid birder. My dad adores his English Setter, and is interested in the Civil War, his Alma Mater, etc.

My parents moved to the Chicago area last year. The minute I saw the Copeland, "Chicago Pitcher, " which features historical vignettes, I knew it would make a nice gift for them. I researched the sales results and was able to secure one at a fair price. My mother's smile, when she opened the box, said it all. Success!

I have found many great items this way. The best thing about this method is, it's personal, yet fairly passive. I recommend LA for this because I like the way they impart information. When items come up that match your search, you receive an email with embedded photos and lot links to the actual description. You'll never get more than one email a day per search term, and you only get incremental items--ie everything that matches the search term since the previous email. Thus, even for a broader search term, such as "porcelain," it's rarely overwhelming.

My dad loves his English Setter and my sister loves her cockateil. This mixed lot of majolica may just be a done deal! At Skinner on January 19th, estimate $200-400. (Fingers crossed it goes for a lot less!)

Last year, I had a blog entitled: "Restocking the Gift Closet." Well, in actual fact, my closet is more of a clear plastic tub, but the message remains the same: always try to have a few small items on hand for quick birthday presents, housewarming gifts, hostess gifts, etc. Soap and candles are nice indeed, but for something with a bit more panache, I have a few favorites. One staple is an assortment of inexpensive pitchers, which can be used for either beverages or fresh cut flowers.

Two, clear pattern glass pitchers, circa 1900. At Horst Auctions on January 28th, estimate $50-75.

Please don't go to Pottery Barn, when you can get a stunning, handblown glass pitcher like this! At Keystone Auctions on January 28th, estimate $75-100.

 

I saw this lot and immediately thought: five special presents, plus one for the bidder! Six small Wedgwood jasper-dip pitchers: at Skinner on January 19th, estimate $250-350.

Other good "stocking the larder presents" include: paperweights, inexpensive candlestick holders, salt and pepper shakers, letter openers, magnifying glasses, small picture frames, serving utensils and trays. Or, look for lots of vintage bottles and fill them with bubble bath or vinegars. One thing is clear: the possibilities are vast. Online auctions enable you to find distinctive gifts from the comfort of your armchair--so what are you waiting for? Get your search(es) on NOW!

These nine paperweights feature historical figures--a bit specific for a host gift, but great for history buffs! Nine sulphide paperweights. At Kiminski auction on January 21st, estimate $200-300.

Circa 1970 brass letter opener in the shape of a sword. At auction January 18th, estimate: $20-40

It's hard to ever have enough serving utensils. Break apart this lot of sterling-handled utensils and you have seven hostess gifts nice enough to ensure you'll always have a seat at the table! At Leighton Galleries on January 19th, estimate $100-150.

Last year, I snapped up this lot of five pairs of brass candlesticks for $80. The brass polished up beautifully. I kept three (!) pairs for myself, and put the two smaller pairs in the gift closet. Don't be afraid of unpolished items--look for them! You often get a better deal due to a little surface dirt.

Green cut-to-clear vase, at Hewlett's on January 28th,  estimate $45-65.