16 Great Vintage-Style Gift Ideas

A “novel” way to “travel back in time.”

By Mary Dezember
Author of stories and poetry as portals to possibilities.

16 Great Gifts handkerchief bookmark clutch necklace poem

As I was writing my novel Wild Conviction, I made gifts that corresponded to the events in the novel. The story spans three years in antebellum America—1858 to 1861.

Making these historical items “actualized” some aspects of what I was writing.

Having them around me feels as if I am in the scene of the some the novel’s action.

I gave and still give some of the gifts pictured to my friends so that, as they read the novel, they can see where their gifts fit with the action.

If someone you know is intrigued by history, giving them any of these gifts along with the novel is a “novel” way to “travel back in time.”

Here are sixteen of the gifts I made—and continue to make—that correspond to events in the novel. Any or all are easy to make and fun to give.

Why sixteen gifts? Because, as stated on the cover, Sixteen is Power!

Pictured are the various gifts that correlate to scenes in my novel *Wild Conviction*, set in antebellum America. Photo by Mary Dezember.

1. Twilight’s Carpetbag (Small Clutch Style)

The small clutch I bought also comes in black. Pictured here with lovely gifts tucked inside.

This carpetbag clutch is a very small version of the carpetbags used as luggage. When the protagonist, Twilight, travels, she carries a carpetbag.

I wanted a clutch, not a full-sized carpetbag, to give to friends. I found exactly what I was looking for on Amazon.

However, it could be fun to pack a copy of the novel and some of these gifts into an actual carpetbag for a friend who truly is a history buff!

2. Gallatin’s Wallet

Actual 19th century man’s wallet that I own. Part of my collection. Photo by Mary Dezember

Mid-1800s vintage-style wallet I made for gifts: I used a bifold wallet and crafted the belt tether from 5MM faux suede. Photo by Mary Dezember

While both men and woman like Gallatin’s wallet, I want to add here that men—as well as women and young adults—are enjoying Wild Conviction and recommending it to their friends and book clubs. See the comments on Amazon reviews here and on Goodreads reviews here.

“Gallatin pulled his wallet—tethered by a strand of thin leather to his belt, as was the custom so that no one could steal a man’s wallet—from its place tucked between his torso and belt. In Gallatin’s hand, the wallet unfolded as if it were coming alive, opening like a breathing book that offered a story of compassion.” (page 64, Wild Conviction print version)

This is an actual 19th century wallet. It measures about 7-1/2” x 4”.

Below the photo of the actual 19th century wallet is a photo of the vintage-style wallet I made. I found a wallet on Amazon that looks a lot like the actual historical wallet I own, then pulled 5MM width faux (micro-fiber) suede through an inside space, and tied a loop on the end that would fit onto a belt.

The 1850s vintage-style wallet I made—at about 7-1/4” x 3-1/2”—is just a little smaller than the actual historical wallet.

Then, inside Twilight’s Carpetbag Clutch and Gallatin’s Wallet, I added/add these gifts that correlate to the Wild Conviction story:

3. A Poem by Phillis Wheatley

“From her shrine honoring beloved GrandMama, Twilight Adams lifted a book of poetry by Phillis Wheatley, pressed it to her chest, and whispered, ‘It’s time.’”
(Page 1, Wild Conviction, print version)

The poetry of Phillis Wheatley is referred to throughout the novel. An amazing poet and woman, she wrote expert verse.

According to biography.com:

“. . . Wheatley became the first African American and first U.S. enslaved person to publish a book of poems, as well as the third American woman to do so.”

I typed then printed in blue one of her poems, folded then tucked the page inside Twilight’s Carpetbag Clutch and inside Gallatin’s Wallet.

4. “Feather” Bookmark

Feathers appear throughout the story. I opted to give thick paper bookmarks that are designed to look like feathers, which I found on Amazon.

These lovely bookmarks are doing double-duty, as a reader can use their bookmark as they read Wild Conviction, and they hint at the literal and symbolic significance of feathers in the story.

open wallet with clues to events in novel Wild Conviction — Vintage-style wallet filled with gifts that relate to my novel *Wild Conviction*, set in 1858 to 1861, Photo by Mary Dezember

5. Hair Ribbon

“Her hair ribbon loosed from its tenuous hold and fluttered on the soft wind.”
(Page 206, Wild Conviction print version)

The hair ribbon shows up in other places in the story.

I scented it, as it is scented in the story.

6. Embroidered Handkerchief

“. . . she wore lace gloves and carried an embroidered handkerchief, a blue silk parasol, and a blue silk fan.”
(Page 242, Wild Conviction, print version)

I bought the handkerchiefs already embroidered on Amazon. There are several different embroideries.

7. Amulet Necklace

“Carefully, she dusted the dirt from the root that, twisted nearly in a knot, rather resembled a heart. She threaded a soft piece of twine through one of its spaces then tied it around her neck. She touched where the root lay. Perfect. Right at the base of her throat, where speech begins.”
(Page 160, Wild Conviction, print version)

I found heart-shaped Tiger Eye gem stone charms and looped soft brown twine through the bail already on the stone. To me, the brown and golden grained look of the Tiger Eye gems resembles a tree root.

I love making and wearing this important Wild Conviction talisman.

8. Skeleton Key

“By learning to read and write, she had found the key to unlock all locks. Even and especially the ones in her own mind.”
(Page 160, Wild Conviction, print version)

Skeleton keys, of course, are historical. In the passage above, I use the key as a figurative element. I bought a package of the decorative or cosmetic keys on Amazon. Onto each gift key, I tied a cardboard tag with a label printed with the above quote from my novel.

9. Moon

“By the full moon”—or some variation—is Twilight’s favorite exclamation phrase used throughout the story.

So, I added a moon sticker as a gift. (It is inside a plastic license or credit card pocket in the wallet. I didn’t stick the sticker on the wallet.)

Additional Gift Ideas that relate to the story of Wild Conviction:

10. Gunpowder Tea

“The water boiled. She went to the counter, measured gunpowder tea, dropped it into the teapot, the poured boiling water over it.”
(Page 56, Wild Conviction, print version.)

You can find gunpowder tea in tins, which would fit well with the era. The tea in my photo is the delicious Temple of Heaven Gunpowder Tea from New Mexico Tea Company. They offer the tea in tins, but my photo shows a small pouch of tea that I like giving as gifts.

This is an add from 1811 from the Boston Tea Store listing Gunpowder tea. This ad image is in the public domain and from Wikipedia. Sources below:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/1811_BostonTeaStore_Callender.png

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1811_BostonTeaStore_Callender.png

11. Teacup with Saucer

A vintage-style teacup and saucer for drinking the gunpowder tea is a lovely gift for one who reads novels set in the past.

While I have not given a teacup and saucer to anyone yet, I see many online and when I shop in stores that have a historical style or are vintage.

The teacup with saucer I used in my photograph was my grandmother’s.

12. Biscuits

“Cara is fixing vegetable stew, collard greens, fresh corn, biscuits, and two big apple pies. . .”
(Page 96, Wild Conviction, print version)

Baking baking powder biscuits and putting them in a small tin goes well with the tea and the historical time. Another gift I have not yet given, but I plan to.

I used my mother’s baking powder recipe and adapted it to gluten-free, since I am gluten-free. However, my biscuits neither look nor taste nearly as wonderful as my mom’s. Still, they are good, rather like scones, so perfect to go with tea.

I am going to continue to experiment until I achieve a yummy gluten-free baking powder biscuit recipe. Until then, for friends, if they are not gluten-free, I will make biscuits using wheat and my mom’s recipe.

13. Oil Lamp or Candle

Oil Lamp

Of course, being 1858 to 1861, oil lamps are essential in the world of Wild Conviction, and, in fact, they play a significant role.

Pictured is one I have owned for a very long time with a pottery base. I have not given an oil lamp to a friend, but they do make very functional and cool vintage-style gifts. If you live in an area where storms can knock out electricity, an oil lamp comes in handy. I used them a lot when I lived in Indiana where thunderstorms abound.

Also, to get the atmosphere of the 19th century, sometimes I turn off all my lights and walk around my home with just the oil lamp. Doing so, I can certainly understand why electric lights might have done away with “ghosts.” Oh, and I should mention, yes, there is a character in Wild Conviction that might or might not be a ghost.

Candle

“After lighting a candle . . . Twilight . . . closed her eyes, tilted her face upward, and said ...” (Page 41, Wild Conviction, print version)

Instead of an oil lamp, I prefer choosing a candle for a gift. Candles are always wonderful to receive.

In my photo, I am showing a candle in a candle holder of mine that I love—a mouse reading a book!

14. Letter with Wax Seal

Essential to the story is GrandMama’s letter, which Twilight cannot read until her sixteenth birthday. The opening scene of the novel in Chapter One is Twilight opening the letter then reading it, discovering both wondrous and dangerous information that ignites her into action. The letter in its entirety is Chapter Three.

I printed the letter, then folded in a fashion that was done pre-envelopes in the time period, and sealed it with a wax seal.

You can write your own letter and wax stamp it, giving your friend something fun to open.

Adding a wax seal to letters is a fun, elegant, and vintage touch.

15. Wax and Wax Seal Stamp

Your friend might like their own wax and stamp, maybe to write a letter back to you!

I had a custom wax stamp made especially for this, as the story reveals the seal is of a mystical, secret sisterhood. (It is also the logo for me, Mary Dezember, and Dezember LLC.) This seal is also shown at the beginning of every chapter.

However, as your gift for someone, there are lovely ready-made wax stamps and gorgeous colors of wax for melting.

And the Book from which All of These Gift Ideas Came

16. The Novel that Ties Together All of These Gifts—Wild Conviction

1858. When sixteen-year-old Twilight Adams learns secrets about her ancestry, she rushes in with wild conviction to help enslaved children at a wicked plantation, discovering what the captives know all too well—survival isn’t freedom.

Spanning three years, Wild Conviction is a socially conscious, richly historical epic adventure—sprinkled with magic and love.

For this novel, I created a scenario within a historical setting in which the terms Rich-tone and Pale are used for skin tone—and without historical or contemporary derogatory terms.

“Exciting and thoughtful. Masterfully written.” — Janet K. Brennan, Amazon 5-star review

“Author Mary Dezember is a scholar and a meticulous researcher, and it shows. The story brings attention to the important social issues around race, gender, and economic privilege that we unfortunately still contend with today.” — Leo Valiquette, Amazon 5-star review

“Mary Dezember’s style and historical research made this book one of the best stories I’ve ever read.”—Cyndi Bleicher, 5-star Goodreads Review

Find out more below:

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