World's Smallest Postal Service

i can't get over how creative the world's smallest letter by leafcutter designs is. this is the best gift for the person on your list who has absolutely everything. how will i use my six sentences? maybe it will be a little note from santa to my son, or a letter from the cat to my husband. such a cute stocking stuffer that everyone will be talking about! [update, just noticed that they have notes from the tooth fairy available too, great idea]

pongo baby diaper bags

as someone who has proclaimed much disdain for all of the diaper bags currently on the market, i am so happy to see by these messenger style beauties from etsy seller pongobaby. the designs are simple, yet they pay amazing attention to detail [no metal rings, zippers, magnets and 9 pockets for organizing]. i love the cool modern fabrics she chooses--these bags are definitely cool enough for both mom and dad. they would make a such a stunning and much appreciated gift for the parents-to-be.

i'm back!

about a month ago i got a very unexpected phone call from television host deborah duncan of khou out of houston, texas asking me to appear on her morning show to talk about the importance of buying american-made toys and about my toy store. To say that i have a fear of public speaking is an understatement so the preparations for appearing on the show took a lot longer than it would for the average person. thanks to the help and advice of many people i got on the plane to texas (heading towards a hurricane no less) and successfully filmed the segment. i plan on posting a video here soon, and will be back with lots of great new gift ideas!
{image via flikr}

recycled cotton wastebaskets

wow. these recycled cotton wastebaskets are such a great find. normally i wouldn't advocate giving a trash can as a gift, but these special bins are handcrafted in india from recycled cotton rags leftover from the apparel industry, so i think you should get a pass on these ;) very cool gift!

avis bird tray

this beautiful tray from jayson home & garden makes for a stunning gift, don't you think? i really can't think of a room in the house that it wouldn't work in, or a person on my list who wouldn't love to own it. it has a great price tag too!

wii belong together

i love love love this print from artist and etsy seller elise towle snow. this cheeky print will make for a really fun and silly gift for the wii-obsessed guy in your life.

yummy cupcakes (and they are)

los angeles locals in-the-know have been flocking to yummy cupcakes for years now. they have the most amazing daily specials--think a "hot chocolate" or "frozen banana" cupcake, but my favorite is their classic vanilla/vanilla combo. i was so excited to hear about yummy's newest, shipping-friendly cupcake. it is called a cupcake-in-a-jar and it is...well..it is exactly what it sounds like: your favorite cupcake flavor layered in a mason jar, ready to eat with a spoon. i sent one to my very good friend in albuquerque for her birthday, and she loved it!

back to school: lunch sack

i have to get one of these sweet little lunch sacks a.s.a.p. for my little sister who will be starting sixth grade in a few weeks. it is eco-friendly in a subtle sort of way, perfect for the little ones who are resistant to carrying a reusable bag. these handmade cuties are priced so well that i just may have to pick one up for myself!

letterpress calling cards

theses 2 color letterpress calling cards will be a very special gift indeed for my good friend who is embarking on a new career. my hope is that knowing these beauties are in her bag will make her feel all important and confident while she is in her first big meeting--a gift that will surely be appreciated.

tall carafe

when i found this beautiful carafe the other day, i think my heart actually skipped a beat. i am constantly on the lookout for unique carafes to give to my father. he has quite the collection, and the ones on the market right now really all look the same to me...until now. this tall and handsome specimen is going to make the greatest gift and i can't believe the price tag. what a find!

the lazy sunday basket

one of my all-time favorite gifts to put together is what i call the "lazy sunday" basket. in the past, i have assembled it for an entire family with a special comfy item for each member alongside some delicious treats that can be prepared at the last minute. you can really be as elaborate as you want with this one...i have chosen the items here for my single guy friend who deserves a nice relaxing sunday in bed. i would also consider adding a favorite dvd and a great bed tray. clockwise from left: slippers, coffee, maple syrup, pancake mix

eyeglass case - palm leaves

i just found this eyeglass case and can already think of tons of people to give it to...you really can't go wrong with this one--everyone needs a pretty place to put their glasses, and this handmade pouch definitely fits the bill.

felt cake

this felt cake was one of the first items that i picked out for my toy store and it remains to be one of my favorite items in the entire shop. decorating this beautiful cake is a creative activity that keeps kids entertained and entranced for a nice long time...which, of course, is a sweet treat for parents and kids alike.

woodgrain squirrel square plate

this whimsical plate designed by popular children's book illustrator jesse hartland is the perfect kind of gift--the one you would love to own but would probably never buy yourself. top with a batch of these martha stewart cookies and the cute blue squirrel at the bottom will make the recipients feel a little bit better about actually reaching him.

$0.49 dish towels!

dominomag.com recently did an awesome feature on $1 design items, check it out here. i already own a ton of these simple dishtowels from ikea and hadn't thought much about them, but now i see they would make a nice gift...maybe for the hostess...a small pile wrapped with some pretty ribbon. it could be taken up a notch given along with a nice bottle of olive oil.

two people eco-friendly letterpress print

this is exactly the type of card that i don't use as a card at all. i will frame it in a simple white frame with a white matte and give it to the most scrumptious two year-old on my list. even better? frame the entire 5 card-series to be lined up neatly on a playroom wall.

italian glass water bottle

how can something so simple conjure up such images of rich sophistication in my mind? i will give this to the ones in my life who entertain often and enjoy great food and late nights.

animal alphabet print

the second i saw this print by artist lorena siminovich, i was completely redesigning my son's nursery in my mind. i am head over heals in love with this clean and modern animal print and i will give it to the ultra-hip parents-to-be on my list

nostalgia paperweight

this gorgeous gift is amazingly inexpensive, and i think it packs a big punch. don't just think office for this paperweight--give it to the cook for holding her cookbook pages in place or the collector to add to her shelves of knickknacks. how would i use it? mine would be in my [imaginary] guest bathroom holding a stack of tissues down.

monogram tiny bowl

a dainty little personalized bowl that can be used in so many places quite functionally--try ring holder, salt cellar, paper clips. i feel a monogram lets someone know that they are special to you and that you thoughtfully planned their gift.

painted birdhouse

this perfect little birdhouse is constructed from reclaimed wood taken from the aftermath of hurricane katrina. i would love to give this to someone in the middle of winter...a gift that they will look forward to hanging up a few months later, ceremoniously welcoming in the spring.

not a paper cup cup

stopping at the coffee shop on his way to work is one of my adorable husband's little pleasures in life. i think that this ceramic "paper" cup will be the perfect gift for him that i will pair with a gift card to his local shop so that he doesn't have to dig through my wallet for change in the mornings anymore!