Wrap It Up

Break away from the usual gift ideas this season with these must-haves—or at least must-sees. We even made room for the outrageous: How about a $100,000 all-electric sports car for that special someone on your list?

Wrap It Up
Offer tidings of peace with this handcrafted wreath of natural olive branches, $50. Profits support Second Harvest. Available from Lindsay Olives, 1-800-801-1469, or www.lindsayolives.com.

for the style maven

Photo by Maki Strunc

Areaware Banana Bowl | From designer Harry Allen’s acclaimed “Reality” series, the resin bowl is cast using real bananas, $128, available at Walker Art Center Shop, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, 612-375-7633.

Eva Solo Tea Brewer
| Add tea to the built-in strainer and brew. Each pot comes with a knitwear sweater or a neoprene “teashirt” to keep tea hot and hands not, $99. Available at Fitzsu Society, www.fitzsu.com.

J Schatz Buff Humpty Nightlight
| A glazed ceramic Humpty Dumpty, all together again, sits on an illuminated plexiglass wall, $525, available at J Schatz, www.jschatz.com.

Blomus Chino Fireplace by Floz Design
| This stainless steel fireplace requires no chimney and takes only eco-friendly ethanol fuel. Perfect for roasting marshmallows, $1,549, available by order at Tangletown Gardens, 5353 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612-822-4769.


for the party girl

High Heel Cake Server | Dessert never looked so sexy. This stainless steel server from Wild Eye Designs has a magnetic “heel,” $15 to $15.95. Available at Uncommongoods, www.uncommongoods.com, and Patina Stores, 2057 Ford Parkway, St. Paul, 651-695-9955, and three other metro locations. See www.patinastores.com.

Jessie Steele Apron | Vintage tongue-in-cheek style waltzes back to the kitchen with the new “Half Ava Pink Paris” hostess apron by Jessie Steele, $35. Available at Corazon, 204 Washington Ave. N., Minneapolis, 612-333-1662. See www.jessiesteele.com for additional locations.

Photo by Maki Strunc

Chocolat Céleste Artisan Bonbons
| The newest creation from
St. Paul’s renowned chocolatier: square truffles ornately decorated with fluffy puppy designs, polka dots, colorful stripes, and more, $35 for a box of 15. Available at France 44 Wines & Deli, 4351 France Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612-925-3252, or online at www.chocolatceleste.com.

Photo by
Maki Strunc

Dot Margarita Glass | Party in style with this hand-blown glass with sandblasted polka dots, $12. Available in pink, green, amber, and gold from Impulse Enterprises, www.impulseenterprises.com.


for the outdoorsy type

Big Woods Moose Head | From the Swiss design firm of Augustin Scott de Martinville, this dimensional animal head is made of plywood plates that fit together like a puzzle. Comes shipped in a flat package, $299. Available at Generate Design, www.gnr8.biz.

Filson Fly Case | Made-in-the-USA fly case has a vegetable-tanned-leather and twill exterior with cushy shearling inside, $74.50 for the large case, $69.50 for the small. Available at Joe’s Sporting Goods, 33 County Rd. B, St. Paul, 651-488-5511.

Lexon Mini Dolmen Radio | Elegantly designed AM/FM radio with electronic volume control and a telescopic antenna. Runs on AA batteries, $61. Available at Walker Art Center Shop, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, 612-375-7633.

Pop Ink Plates | From the same company that makes melamine plates for the U.S. military comes the north woods-inspired “Fawn Due” collection, $40 for a set of four. Available at Evoke Gallery, 355 Wabasha St. N., Suite 140, St. Paul, 651-224-6388.


for the green thumb

Appelsiini Watering Can | Created by designers Maija and Kristina Isola, this fruit-inspired watering can features a generous handle and bottom-aligned spout for a virtually spill-proof garden accessory, $24. Counterpoint Home, 111 South Broadway, Rochester, 507-280-6419, www.counterpointhome.com.

Droog Birdhouse | Fine dining is now for the birds with this sleek, recycled-plastic and porcelain-plated feeder by designer Marcel Wanders, $69. Unica Home, www.unicahome.com.

MUMZ Adult Print Canvas Gloves | Mumz the word when it comes to bugs. Buzz Off, the first-ever line of insect repellent garden apparel and accessories, features sizing and style options for the whole family. Gloves, $19.85. The Garden Sampler, 4301 Upton Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612-925-4859, www.thegardensampler.com.

Hanahana Flower Holder | Designed by Kazuryo Sejima and distributed by Driade Kosmo, this polished stainless-steel flower holder is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, $1,369. Unica Home, www.unicahome.com.


for the gadget guru

Sony Ericsson MBW-100 Bluetooth Watch | Integrate this smart watch with your cell phone, and you can check your wrist to see who’s calling your cell, ignore the call, or even control your phone’s audio, $399.95. Available at Sony Ericsson, http://shopwireless.sonyericsson.com.

iPod Shuffle | Apple makes waves again with its matchbox-sized Shuffle, which weighs less than the original and holds more than 200 songs, $79. Available at Apple Store, Mall of America, Bloomington, 952-854-4870, and two other metro locations.

Leica Digilux 3 | All the amenities of a world-class camera—digital SLR system, 7.5 megapixel sensor, optical viewfinder, and real-time LCD preview—housed in a classic-look Leica body, $2,499. Available by order at National Camera, 9300 Olson Memorial Hwy., Golden Valley, 763-546-6831, and five other metro locations. Check www.natcam.com.

Tesla Roadster | Our luxury gift pick of the year: an all-electric car that accelerates from 0 to 60 in about 4 seconds, can reach 130 mph, yet travels 250 miles on a single electric charge. The ultimate choice for the eco/sports car enthusiast on your list, $100,000, excluding special options, taxes, and title. Available by reservation at www.teslamotors.com.

Like these gift ideas, but interested in more? Read our additional Online Gift Guide.


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