Over the next couple of weeks I'll be highlighting some of our favorite gifts. We've made an extraordinary effort to source inexpensive yet beautiful, quirky, and well-designed items this season. So when shopping for coworkers, carpool buddies, teachers, and others who may not merit high-dollar presents, we urge you to spurn run-of-the-mill coffee mugs, cheap ornaments, and chintzy tchotchkes. Instead, give the people you care for something truly special. Herewith, about 20 of more than 100 gifts that cost $10 or less:
1. Fortune Folio, $9.50
Is any ephemera more charming than the slip of paper inside your fortune cookie? Frankly, we doubt it. That's why we're so fond of Lunalux's Fortune Folio, a letterpressed booklet that acts as a repository for all of your pseudo-Zen cookie pronouncements. There's room to note the date, place, and any notes ("First date with Brian," "Excellent moo goo gai pan," "Crazy server").
Also pictured: Chilewich pressed vinyl table mat in citron, $6.50
Fake sushi, $2.00-3.00 each
Fake fortune cookies, $2.00 each
2. Vintage mid-century modern dollhouse furniture, $3.00-5.00 each
These adorable pieces are from the Finnish company Creative Playthings. They're the epitome of everything great about digging around in flea markets and auctions and garage sales--yesterday we'd never heard of or seen these miniatures, and today they're rocking our world. In great vintage condition, especially considering they've been played with (when we were looking over the set we found a teeny tiny doll dress stuffed into one of the dresser drawers).
3. Alphabet Tin Candles, $8 each
These generously sized travel candles come in three of Mine Design's most popular scents: lemongrass, Belgian berry, and gardenia.
There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who appreciate patterned packing tape and those who don't. It probably takes both to make the world go 'round, but frankly? We feel sorry for the latter sort.
5. Opaline Bottle Vase (Small), $10
6. Cube Tube Vase, $8
Two great options for when you want a lovely gift that won't break the bank. Choose between the Opaline's milky glass and the the Cube Tube's answer to the bud vase. We also like the Opaline vases in all three sizes (the medium and large cost $14 and $20, respectively) and the Cube Tube vases in groups of three.
7. Beeswax Twist Tapers, $4 each
We think these handmade beeswax candles are the perfect twist (ahem) on the classic taper. Dripless and smokeless, they burn for about five hours.
9. Jumbo Desk Clip, $10.50 (okay, we cheated a little on the $10 and under thing)
10. Pencil Tin, $8.50
These desk accessories from Susy Jack are printed in the USA on recycled paper using vegetable-based inks. The jumbo desk clip--which we're sort of obsessed with at the moment, which is why we stretched the parameters of this gift guide a bit--is made of reclaimed wood and backed with cork. Each piece is available in a number of bright colors and different hand-drawn designs (and the line also includes sets of studio clips and desk notebooks). We absolutely love putting a selection of them together, but they make great stocking stuffers singly, too.
Also pictured: Vintage Scissors, $8.00 each
11. Recycled Bicycle Gear Keychain, $8.00 each
This handy key ring is brought to you by the folks at Resource Revival. Because, like your great-aunt Mindy always said, you never know when you might have to open a beer bottle. (Okay, you probably don't have a great-aunt Mindy. But you can't dispute the sentiment.)
12. Knit Fruit & Ice Cream Cone Rattles, $9.00 each
These tasty treats are designed by Yellow Label Kids, a Fair Trade company that gives artisans a fair wage to produce these hand-knitted rattles and other knitted toys (the knit cupcakes and donuts really do have to be seen to be believed). So you can feel good about giving a gift that's insanely adorable and produced under humane conditions.
13. Porcelain Feather Ornaments, $8.00 each
Our favorite new ornament of the season, these handmade feathers come in five different shapes. We like how they echo our current bird obsession.
14. Hangover Chill Pill, $8.00
15. Pill Boxes, $3.00 each
We're not big fans of gag gifts, but the Hangover Chill Pill works both ways: We can think of at least of dozen people who would find it hilarious, but it's also a fully functional morning-after tool (just pop it in the freezer and then slap that sucker on your temple or over your bloodshot eyes). Less gag gift-y and more adorable-yet-practical, these little pill boxes are great for carrying around vitamins or aspirin.
16. Laser-cut metal ornaments, $5.00 each
These ornaments have at least two great advantages: a) They make brilliant packaging decorations, as on the above superbly wrapped present; and b) The ornaments come packed flat, so if you really want to wow the folks on your Christmas card list, it's easy enough to include one of these babies. Or just send one (or three) to a friend who needs a little pick-me-up.
18. Chilewich Pressed Vinyl Table Mats, $6.50 each
Place mats aren't exactly competing with scented candles for go-to gift of the century, but no one seems to be able to resist these dotted mats by Chilewich. Though high-tech, they're also surprisingly lace-like. Simply put, they freshen up a table like nobody's business.
Also pictured: Antique Spoon napkin rings, $4.00 each
That's it for this edition of our holiday gift guide. We hope it gives you a few ideas for your holiday shopping list.
I am a proud owner of a Creative Playthings dollhouse, which you are welcome to use as a display if you wish. Creative Playthings had a store in Dallas when I was growing up and it was one of my favorite places to visit. Your post brought back some very fond memories.
Posted by: Kris Schindler | November 12, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Is the dollhouse furniture still available???
Posted by: Naomi | December 01, 2008 at 07:20 PM
Better to reign in hell, than serve in heaven.
Posted by: Victoria Amateur | May 01, 2011 at 12:00 AM