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Gift Guide 2008

40 great finds for the discriminating on your list

PUNCH UP THE CELEBRATION

Jeweled martini glasses from Artland, $49.50 for set of four, and glittered “Indochine” hanging ornaments from Accents de Ville, $20 for set of six.

For buying info, please see our Buyer's Guide.
 

UNDER $15

CHOC-O-CHEER

Yummy “Poinsettia” and “Cherry Chip Blossom” holiday chocolates from B.T. McElrath, $10.50 per box; Amy’s Classic Confections, Minneapolis, 612-436-0016, www.amysclassicconfections.com.
 

ITALIAN JOB

Imagine al fresco dining on cobblestone streets with this Italian Glass Water Bottle, $10; Design Within Reach, Minneapolis, 612-827-0990, www.dwr.com.
 

COLOR DELIGHT

What Pantone are you? Choose from 20 classic shades on these clever mugs, $14.95; Walker Art Center Shop, Minneapolis, 612-375-7600, www.shopwalkerart.org.
 

METRO MOTIF

Local artist Adam Turman hooked up with Brooke Hipsher of Giraffe Art + Utility to design these MN-inspired coasters, $10 each; No Coast Craft-o-Rama, December 5 and 6, Midtown Global Exchange, www.nocoastcraft.com. To find out more about the Giraffe Art + Utility, visit www.longneckmammal.com.
 

NATURE'S CALL

This classic birchwood and metal Audubon Bird Call from American Bird Products attracts an array of wild songbirds, $9; Design Within Reach.
 

SLINK AROUND

Go back to the days of good, clean fun with this timeless toy from Poof Slinky, $3.95; General Store of Minnetonka, 952-935-2215, www.generalstoreofminnetonka.com.
 

CANINE CLIPS

Liven up a dog-lover’s office with these bone-shaped paper clips by Kikkerland, $4.95; Patina, Minneapolis, 612-821-9315, www.patinastores.com.
 

UNDER $30

HELPING HANDS

The “Edward Salad Hands” by Totally Bamboo scoop up field greens in a snap, $19.99; Linden Hills Natural Home, Minneapolis, 612-279-2479, www.lindenhills.coop.
 

RAMEN DONE RIGHT

The ultimate gift for the college kid, this ergonomic “Ramen” bowl by Flavour Design includes its own chopsticks and comes in an array of fun colors, $28; Roam, Minneapolis, 612-377-6465.
 

HONEY DO

“Tupelo” honey is one of the most coveted varieties, with notes of melon, crème brûlée, and dried pears. Savannah Bee Company packs it in a stunning flute, $28; Victory, Minneapolis, 612-926-8200, www.shopvictory.com.
 

WOK AND ROLL

This kiwi-colored stoneware server from Le Creuset is the perfect home for your latest Asian creation or your Pad Thai takeout, $29.99; Kitchen Window, Minneapolis, 612-824-4417, www.kitchenwindow.com.
 

TREE TO BE

Once cultivated, the ginkgo tree can survive for 1,000 years or more—now that’s a gift that lasts! The gingko gift bag includes everything you need to get growing, $28; Shop in the City, Minneapolis, 612-825-2808.
 

KLUTZ PROOF

Try as you might, you cannot break or dent this ultra-modern, lime green rubber vase by Menu, $28; Walker Art Center Shop.
 

BEAUTIFUL RECYCLING

Inspired by the work of celebrated Indian folk-sculptor Nek Chand, these snappy coasters are made from discarded glass bangle bracelets, $19.95 for set; Patina.
 

LIGHT IT UP

Chuck your Bic in favor of this sleek “Queue” lighter by Pearl Lighters, $24; Martin Patrick 3, Minneapolis, 612-746-5329.
 

UNDER $50

WEIGHTY DECISION

The “Italian Job” kitchen scale by Typhoon keeps food measurements precise and looks ravishing on the counter, $39.99; Kitchen Window, Minneapolis, 612-824-4417, www.kitchenwindow.com.
 

STAR BRIGHT

Handmade by Thames Glass of Newport, Rhode Island, this sparkly globe ornament will delight the eye all season long, $32; Three Rooms, Edina, 952-926-1774.
 

JACKSON POLLOCK PLACEMATS

To make their “Spun Vynyl” placemats, Chilewich pours liquid vinyl through tiny holes onto a moving belt, $33 per set of two; Roam, Minneapolis, 612-377-6465.
 

STYLIN' AT THE GROCERY STORE

The environmentalist will love these fun, graphic shopping bags by Envirosax, $42.50 per set of five, Walker Art Center Shop, 612-375-7600, www.shop.walkerart.org.

BLING, BLING!

Your cousin in Vegas is gonna love this: a frosted glass bottle of highly purified water studded with red Swarovski crystals, $40; Bling H20, 888-254-6414, www.blingh2o.com.
 

FREE FORM

Straight from France, these ingenious knife blocks use bamboo skewers to hold cutlery, rather than preordained slots, $49 for the small; Viva Terra, 800-233-60111, www.vivaterra.com.
 

SUPER FOXY

“Taika” means magic in Finnish, and this imaginative pattern from Iittala lives up to its name, with owls, foxes, and dancing trees; $38 per gift set of two mugs, other pieces available. Finnstyle, Minneapolis, 612-333-2127, www.finnstyle.com.
 

UNDER $100

STRING OF PEARLS

Homemade Christmas cookies would look stunning on this pearled, sandcast aluminum cupcake server by Mariposa, $98; Sticks & Bricks Co., Medina, 866-585-5034, www.sticksandbricksco.net.
 

CANDY COATED

Sleek and colorful, the spun bamboo bowls by Ekobo are hand-painted and hand-polished to a high shine, $79 for the salad bowl with servers, Viva Terra, 800-233-6011, www.vivaterra.com.
 

HOLIDAY TRAVELER

A travel bag with true panache, the “Leslie” by Stephanie Johnson is filled with beauty essentials, including a mirror, loofah, and toothbrush holder; $64; Ampersand, Edina, 952-920-2118, www.ampersandshops.com.
 

WORTHY MANTELPIECE

An understated and truly elegant gift, the “Jasper” clock in chocolate has classic cream Wedgwood detailing, $75; Five Swans, Wayzata, 952-473-4685, www.fiveswans.com.
 

MELTING POT

Designed by Carsten Jorgensen for Bodum, this 14-piece stainless steel fondue set will have design aficionados swooning, $69.95; Crate & Barrel, Edina, 952-920-2300, www.crateandbarrel.com.
 

ORGANIC IMAGERY

Agnes & Hoss of Chicago is known for its sumptuous designs on silk. Start a friend’s collection with the “Cape Seaweed” heavyweight silk charmeuse scarf, $80; Agnes & Hoss, 773-318-7183, www.agnesandhoss.com.
 

BEST GIFT BOX EVER

Inside the box are six coveted confections from a noted San Francisco chocolatier. And the box ... well, that’s edible, too. “Winter” edible box, $60; Max’s, St. Louis Park, 952-922-8364, www.stylebymax.com.
 

DON'T ASK

FAUX & FABULOUS

It’s actually made of microfiber, but the Pierre Frey “Lynx” pillow looks (and feels) like downy fur, $274.50; EuroNest, Minneapolis, 952-929-2927, www.euro-nest.com.
 

CHEEKY VESSEL

For that special someone who will appreciate Jonathan Adler’s unglazed matte porcelain of “Kiki’s Derriere,” $195; Roam, Minneapolis, 612-377-6465.
 

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

Simply elegant, this glass menorah by Simon Pearce makes a memorable gift, $195; Ampersand, Edina, 952-920-2118, www.ampersandshops.com.
 

GIFT WITH HEART

Minnesota artist Jessica Rust gives the American Heart Association 100 percent of the profits from The Heart Bowl, $120; Jessica Rust, 612-718-9883, www.rustdesigns.com.
 

MARINO MAGIC

Wrap them up in Sferra’s butter-soft marino wool “Sandoval” throw with knotted fringes, $150; F&B Specialty Linens, St. Paul, 651-602-0844, www.fblinen.com.
 

FROSTY CHIC

Perfect for Kate Spade aficionados, the “Belle Boulevard,” 10-inch cylinder vase with frosted ribbons shows off its contemporary cool, $125; Macy’s, Minneapolis, 612-375-2200, www.macys.com.
 

PEN FOR A PAL

Guarantee fan mail by giving a friend this Acme Studio ink pen designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Richard Meier, $300; Art Materials, Minneapolis, 612-872-8088, www.artmaterialsonline.com.
 

PETAL PERFECT

Alvar Aalto’s four-piece flower vase by Iittala never needs watering, $1,760; FinnStyle, Minneapolis, 612-333-2127, www.finnstyle.com.