subject: Monogram Gifts: The Coolest New Thing [print this page] Gift giving can be fraught with perilGift giving can be fraught with peril. For those you know best, finding the perfect item might be even more difficult than picking something out for mere acquaintances or perfect strangers. At least with those you don't know well, you can get away with something politely generic and no one will think any worse of you. Hitting the jackpot of gift giving means that you have found something that will work for all categories of giftees while allowing you look thoughtful and sophisticated in the process.
Monogram gifts are just such an item. It is said that the sweetest sound anyone can hear is their own name (except for harassed mothers, who become somewhat immune), so providing the visual equivalent of your recipient's sweetly whispered name makes a beautiful monogram both personal enough to be considered thoughtful and not so intimate that you risk offending someone you don't know very well.
Monograms are initials. Most often, a monogram will emphasize the first letter of your last name, placing it in the center in a larger font. On the left is the first letter of your first name and on the right is the first letter of your middle name. Obviously, monograms don't work as well for those who don't have three names, but as most parents enjoy providing a first and middle name to their newborns, two-names make up less of the population.
A woman with two names who gets married and takes the last name of her spouse can then use her maiden name as a middle name. Once you are armed with the right letters, your biggest hurdle is to identify what and where to monogram. This is when you can tailor the intimacy of your gift to reflect your relationship with the giftee. Monogrammed sheets and pillowcases make a very different statement than a monogrammed notepad.
A cook might enjoy a set of canisters with his or her initials painted brightly on the front. Monogramming a handbag or attache cases make a somewhat neutral but useful gift. Small pieces of jewelry or accessories like cuff-links, necklaces, bracelets, or tie-pins are just begging to be monogrammed. Metal monograms worked onto bookmarks or on multiple fly-leaf inserts would thrill a bookworm. A monogram stamp makes a quick and easy method of identifying possessions.
If you can't find what item would be best, you can always just give the gift of the monogram itself. Created as wall stickers or hangings, the letters of your name become artwork in whatever material you desire. Plastic, wood, and all kinds of metal and metallic finishes dress up your initials with personality and shine. The next time you're stuck for a gift for the host who doesn't drink or the co-worker you don't know that entire well, look to a monogram gift to fill the purpose.
