A weekly offering of trivia questions. Today is a Valentine’s Day special. 1. What is the estimated percentage of women who send themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day? 2. Besides the U.S.Ah, the holiday shopping season.
We know you have your list, and you’re checking it twice – trying to find your loved ones something mighty nice.
You could always go to the big-box stores. But why not make this year’s gift for the kids, grandma, your significant other or Uncle Bob just a little more special by shopping local.
Here are some offerings from locally owned stores:
10,000 Villages
A locally owned fair-trade gift shop that works with more than 130 artisan groups in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Location: 6603 Stellhorn Road (www.tenthousandvillages.com)
Phone: 486-8394
Gift ideas:
•Kaisa baskets. Kaisa grass grows wild in Bangladesh and, when dried and woven, becomes a phenomenally strong, pale-colored basket. The baskets come in all sizes, from tiny gift baskets to planters to large laundry hampers. Prices range from $4 to $44.
•Newspaper placemats. Made in the Philippines, these sturdy placemats are made entirely out of recycled newspaper. Customers at the shop say they also use these placemats as a base for their laptop computers. The placemat keeps heat from your lap and allows a small amount of air underneath the computer. Price: $16.
•Galimoto. A toy made in Kenya out of recycled wire and fabric. The toy is attached to the end of a wire. When the wire is pushed, a man on the end of it rides a bicycle, wheels turning, legs pumping up and down. Price: $6.
The Flower Gallery
Jaesoon Martin’s locally owned flower shop, now in its 21st year.
Location: 3442 Stellhorn Road
Phone: 485-3500
Gift ideas:
•Poinsettias. Early in December, the store is filled with these traditional Christmas flowers, but not just red ones. The store also carries white, pink and marbled (pink, white and red) plants. Prices range from $8 to $50.
•Holiday centerpieces. Using fresh evergreen and flowers, Martin traditionally designs centerpieces with pillar candles, red and white berries and red velvet ribbons. Price: $30 and up, depending on the size.
•Fresh wreaths. All season long, Martin makes wreaths out of fresh pine, juniper and four varieties of green fern. These don’t have to be decorated for Christmas – just for the winter season. Hung inside – above a fireplace for instance – they stay fragrant and release a pine aroma for weeks. Prices: $30 and up, depending on the size.
D&M Apparel
Mose and Denise Butler’s shop for motorcycle enthusiasts (or anyone who just wants to look a little tougher). Basically, they sell everything but the motorcycles themselves.
Location: 1012 Wells St.
Phone: 422-1794
Gift ideas:
•Belt buckles. The store has a big variety of buckles, including the classics (Harley-Davidson) and the ironic (skulls, baby!). Prices: $15.99 and up.
•Boots. Big, black, thick-soled cruiser boots, sporty street boots, dirt riding books full of buckles. The store sells boots for both actual motorcyclists and men who just want to look tough when they’re out buying a box of Kotex for their wives. Prices: $119 and up.
•Jewelry. For women who are not fans of earrings with dangling little silk bows, pictures of Zac Efron or whatever else they’re selling 12-year-olds these days, the store sells earrings featuring logos from motorcycle companies such as Harley-Davidson and American Biker. (Price: $9.99.)
DK Jewelry Designs and Fashion Boutique
Location: At Cindy Friend Lifestyle Studio, 4203 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Phone: 260-705-5024
Gift ideas:
•Bling bags. Put a little sparkle in her holiday with these oversized sequined totes by Nicole Miller. Red, blue, black, bronze or purple; $108; smaller sizes available.
•Initial pendants. A pendant with her initial shows you thought only of her. To have her think only of you, get two, one with your initial; they look super-trendy worn together. Sterling silver with a rhodium finish, Swarovski crystal accents; $29.
•Oh, faux. These Lap of Luxury faux fur throws make a ride in the car on a cold winter’s day a luscious treat. Also suitable for curling up in front of the fire, trimming the bed, or tossing over a party dress; $149; goosebump-raising scarves also available; $49; pillows for $79.
Neuhouser Garden & Gifts
Location: 4605 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Phone: 436-8538
Gift ideas:
•Lovely for Local-vores. Neuhouser’s has a new line of private-label, seldom-seen condiments from an Amish farm in Ohio. Choose from flavors including strawberry rhubarb, seedless blackberry and gooseberry preserves or bread and butter pickles, pickled baby beets and sweet red pepper relish. Available singly or in gift packs of two or three; $4 to $8 each.
•Rain, rain, stay awhile. What a dedicated gardener wants – this Raincatcher 6000 rain barrel kit that will allow use of up to 75 gallons of rainwater for garden watering on hot, dry days. Marked down! $219.
•Sunshine and birdies. Even in the dead of winter, some seed on this welcoming sun wall hanging should draw the pretty chickadees. And who won’t smile year-round at Mr. Sol’s contented expression? $25.
•Keepsake Garden Stones. A great project for grandkids – design your own garden stone kits. Give the kit or the finished stone; refills for the molds available. $21.95.
Ropa Vaquero (Cowboy Clothing)
Location: 3414 Fairfield Ave.
Phone: 745-2229
Gift ideas:
•Boots made for dancing. Straight from Gaunajuato, Mexico, come these alligator, ostrich, snakeskin or sting-ray leather dress boots in just about any color or color combination imaginable. For men, women and children; not all styles in every size. $55 to $100 for children’s; ladies’ and men’s are $200 to $390.
•So you can’t afford to buy him a ranch? You can still make him feel like he just did. Molded straw cowboy hats made in Texas. Look for decorative hatbands and ornaments (perhaps the scorpion preserved in Lucite?) as a sure-fire go-with. $75 to $120.
•Wear your affection on your belt: There’s plenty of sparkle in these belt buckles labeled with Mexican towns, cities and states. Hint: Some double as last names. $7 to $30; some in sterling silver up to $112.
The Emporium at Joseph Decuis
Location: 151 N. Main St., Roanoke
Phone: 672-1715 or www.josephdecuis.com
The Emporium has just about everything on a foodie’s wish list, from soup to nutcrackers.
•The soup line ($6.95 to $9.95) includes Italian tomato, seafood gumbo and clam chowder, all from the restaurant’s kitchen. Other Joseph Decuis items include cheesecakes, quiches and sauces.
•The shop also sells cookbooks and plenty of food items produced in Indiana, such as Yoder Popcorn, Plyley’s Candies and Wayne Shive Hot Fudge Sauce. Can’t choose just one? Create your own Indiana gift basket. Or sign up for the Food of the Month club ($175) and enjoy the Emporium’s favorites year-round.
•The collectible nutcrackers, including a fisherman decked out in waders and holding his daily catch, range from $45 to $75.
The Monogram Shoppe
Location: 6410 W. Jefferson Blvd. in Covington Plaza
Phone: 436-3138 or www.monogramshoppe.com
From Lilly Pulitzer stationery to collegiate paper weights ($35), the Monogram Shoppe has a variety of gift ideas.
•The collectible Byers’ Choice Carolers feature tiny handmade singers ($60 to $70).
•Another hot item: “The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition ($32).” This book and doll combo tells the story about the elf that sits on your shelf. Every evening, he flies home to the North Pole to tell Santa if you’ve been good or bad. For ages 3 to 8.
•Julia Knight serving pieces are $20 to $200.
•And of course, the store has plenty of stationery, one of the largest selections in the region, which can be personalized. One option: Order 50 printed note cards ($24.95 to $34.95) or get 375 memo sheets in a holder ($23.95).
•Stocking-stuffer options include items such as lip balm and cell phone holders.
Green Dog
Location: 1321 E. State Blvd.
Phone: 483-1267 or www.greendoggoods.com
This eco-friendly pet store has healthy treats and organic grooming supplies for those who want to reduce their carbon paw print.
•Create a gift basket for that special pooch, with American-made rawhide treats and bones ($3 to $15). Or add stuffed toys made out of recycled pop bottles ($7 to $17), such as a squeaky reindeer and a pair of stars that read “Naughty” and “Nice.”
•The store soon will have calendars and greeting cards featuring Fort Wayne dogs.
Green Dog, which opened in October 2008, also offers obedience and training classes.
Mitchell Books
Location: 6360 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Phone: 432-2665
This bookstore has a number of gifts for both young and old.
•Playmobil Egyptian Pyramids set ($109.99). Think a “really cool doll house for boys (and girls).” This 16-by-16-inch pyramid is kind of like pre-put-together Legos, manager Sandra Gernheuser says. There is some assembly required, and though the box says it’s for children ages 5 to 100, Gernheuser thinks it’s more appropriate for children 8 and older, because of some small pieces.
•Dave Egger’s novelization of “Where the Wild Things Are” ($19.95 and $28). Dave Eggers, who worked with director Spike Jonze on the film version of Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s story, took Sendak’s story and turned it into a novel. It’s available in hardcover for $19.95 or $28 for the special edition fuzzy-cover book. Gernheuser estimates that the book is for those ages 9 to 12 and older; most of the gifts have been for 20-somethings, she says.
Vera Bradley
Location: Various locations
Contact:
The maker of those popular quilted handbags has gifts for even the pickiest fashionista.
All of these items are popular in two patterns: Symphony in Hue, a bright rainbow-colored floral pattern, and Blue Rhapsody, a blue floral print in black and shades of blue and green.
•Large duffle bag ($80). This item is popular among all age groups, says Melissa Schenkel, public relations representative for Vera Bradley. It’s especially common for a gym bag or an overnight bag.
•All-in-one wristlet ($32). This is a wallet that holds a phone, credit cards and cash. Women especially like it because they can throw it in their purse, and if they don’t want to take their handbag in somewhere, they can pull it out and carry it by the strap, Schenkel says.
•Zip ID case ($10). Students especially carry these around for their student IDs. It will also hold some cash and change.
Bowers Jewelry
Location: 3564 Commerce Drive, Warsaw
Phone: 574-306-0852
Nothing says love like jewelry under the tree.
•Diamond stud earrings ($99 and up). These are always a staple, sales manager Gynne Cotton says. The earrings range from 1/10th of a carat to 3 carats total weight. “Year in and year out, this is a best-seller. We always just sell dozens of pairs of those.”
•Lorenzo necklace ($540). This particular necklace is sterling silver and 18-karat yellow gold with green amethyst.
•Breuning ring ($1,015). This ring is made of white gold and has a citrine stone in it, framed by diamonds.
