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GIFT CERTIFICATES

WISH LIST AND
GIFT REGISTRY

ASSOCIATE SITES

Personal Gifts for any Occasion

When the occasion calls for something special, Herzercraft writing instruments are an excellent choice

• Need it quick? The gallery always has a great selection
  of pens, pencils, and sets to be shipped immediately.

• Plan ahead for the holidays or special gift-giving
  and have a masterpiece custom made.

• Your thoughtfulness will be appreciated for years to come.

Custom Gifts Online - Have Your "Gift Vision" Crafted by an Artisan

Article by: Tom Herzer

In my fifty-something years of gift-giving, I recall many a holiday season or special occasion, traipsing about malls or specialty shops looking for that special gift that was just right. Often, my mind's eye even had a vision of what I was looking for. Eventually, I typically tired of the quest and settled for something that was "available". In this article, I offer an alternative to "settle for what they have" and encourage you to seek out a craft professional to create your vision.

My most recent experience was my wife's last birthday. She loves doves. You know, the birds. I had in mind to buy her a crystal dove she could admire on her desk at home. I visited all the department stores and special shops I could find throughout most of the day. I found several crystal figures; none of which were bird-like, and finally gave in to a crystal butterfly.

The next time I know what I want; I'll follow my own advice and look for an artisan to craft my vision. Since everyone's "gift vision" is different, it might not always be easy to find a professional to craft your gift locally. Well, that's why Al Gore invented the internet. Oops, lost half of you? Seriously, there are likely to be at least dozens of craft professionals for any gift type you are considering, on the internet.

Let me give you one example where you can find a large variety of artisans; that is, custom crafted pens. Sure, you can go to your local Hallmark store and probably find a nice variety. But, if you really want to make an impression, explore some of the many internet sites by typing in something like "wood pens", "custom pens", or "exotic pens" into your favorite search engine.

Sites vary in terms of models and material options offered. The best of them will offer various models within the major categories of ball point pens, roller ball pens, fountain pens, and even pencils. Look at the detail page of offerings that appeal to you and be sure the model is offered with a variety of body material options. Some may offer various wood species or synthetic materials. By combining the category, model, and material selection, you should be able to find a selection that matches your "gift vision".

The custom crafted pen is but one example of gift ideas that can be crafted to order. If you need some inspiration, type in "gift" or "gifts" into your search engine to find sites that will provide categories of gift ideas. You will find a variety of categories such as gender, occasion, age, etc. Once you settle on an item type, imagine what you would like your gift to be like. Would you change the color, or maybe the material it is made from? What would make it just perfect for the recipient you have in mind?

Now that you have developed your "gift vision", type in the key words that will lead you to your custom crafter. If your vision is a crystal dove, like my introductory example, the words "custom crafted crystal dove" should do the trick.

As you explore the various sites, you can tell a lot by the presentation of the site itself. Is the site visually appealing? Is it easy to navigate? Does it offer security endorsements and a secure server for payments? Positive answers to these questions are likely to reflect well on the character and attention to detail the artisan provides in their product. Just remember. There's more to consider than just whether a nice photo is displayed and the options you want are available.

Make you next gift-giving experience truly personal and rewarding by having your vision crafted. In review, the simple steps are:

(1) Imagine your gift in your mind's eye

(2) Refine the details

(3) Search the internet for potential artisans

(4) and critically review the web sites and the product you are searching for. Once you have tried this approach to finding a gift, I think you might adopt it as a favorite.