Great Design Made in the USA

Hello again! As you consider your holiday shopping, did you know that we carry over 30 designers who make their wares right here in the USA? From jewelry to birdhouses to messenger bags, we have lots of great ideas for American-made gifts.

Kristin Loffer Theiss is the smart woman behind kltworks. Working from her studio in Mount Vernon, WA, she makes meticulously-crafted plush toys. Our favorites are the Kiki Kitties (pictured below) and her Northwest Slug Lovey. Kristin is passionate about fabric and always finds special patterns to use in her work. Keep in mind these kitties aren't just for kids - they look great as accent pillows, too.

klt works Kiki Kitties, $40 each

Bauer Pottery's beautiful stoneware was a staple in many homes during the 1930s and 40s. Bauer has been reintroduced by a ceramics studio in Los Angeles, closely following the original forms and glazes. We have a wide selection of colors and sizes of vases. Check out the lovely salad bowl, as well, also available in white.

8" Bauer Pottery Madagascar Vase, $40

Bauer Pottery Salad Bowl, $60

Mother/daughter team Shelly and Mary Klein are the dynamic duo of k studio in Grand Rapids, MI. We love their embroidered pillows and pouches - Shelly's drawings are irresistible. She and Mary manage each product from start to finish using sustainable fabrics.

k studio Thoughts Pillow (10 x 18"), $98

k studio Everyday People Pouch (7.5 x 4"), $34

Alchemy Goods uses upcycled bike innertubes to make bags, belts, and wallets. Made in Seattle, all of their products are highly water-resistant, built to last, and just plain cool. Below is just a sampling of the many bags and wallets we currently have in stock: 

Alchemy Goods Belt, $44

Alchemy Goods Elliot Dopp Kit, $35

Alchemy Goods Madison Backpack, $140

Alchemy Goods Pine Bag, $110

Nearly all of the jewelry we carry is made in the USA. Here are just a few examples - stop by to see the full range of talent in the shop:

Lulu Smith (Seattle) hand-tints and pours resin to make her beautifully saturated necklaces and earrings. She's a true colorist and we love the way her work brightens our jewelry case.

Lulu Smith Prose Pendant, $162

Iris Guy Soffer (Seattle) works in sterling and oxidized sterling. Her sophisticated designs hint at organic forms such as rocks and branches.

Iris Guy Soffer Branch Necklace, $175

Grain Design (Bainbridge Island, WA) - Chelsea Green uses hand-knotted, reclaimed electrical wire to make her striking Electric Love bangles and rings.

Grain Design Electric Love Bangle, $30 each

Mon Bijou has been a shop favorite since we opened. Made in Los Angeles, these pewter pieces are silver plated and then varnished so you never need to polish or clean them. 

Mon Bijou Maite Cuff, $130

Fruitsuper Design (Seattle) has a ring you can't ignore. The SBiR (So Big it's Ridiculous) is brightly-colored silicone in a scale fit for a superhero! Comfortable to wear and a fun pop of color. 

Fruitsuper Design SBiR Ring, $32

How about something made right here in Bellingham? Western Washington University Industrial Design students recently designed and produced the Path Series of jewelry. A limited edition of each piece was made using a 3-D plastic printer. 100% of proceeds go to WWUIDSA to help fund scholarships, travel expenses and other student needs. 

Path 1 Ring, $12; Path 3 Necklace, $28

Know someone (or yourself) who needs a hand keeping her jewelery drawer tidy? Steph Mantis (Brooklyn, NY) has a witty solution. Her Pack Rack keeps necklaces tangle-free. Also works great for keys by the front door.

Steph Mantis Pack Rack, $58

Ladies and Gentlemen Studios (Seattle) make beautiful, clever designs with a touch of nostalgia. Their Superior Servers are stainless utensils with coated handles, inspired by the dipped ends of hand tools. The Homestead Candlesticks are made from solid hemlock with copper tube.

Ladies and Gentlemen Studios (set of two), $60

Ladies and Gentlemen Studios Superior Servers, $40

Chelsea Heffner of PlainMADE screenprints these beautiful Unwound Wraps in her Portland, OR studio. This piece features imagery of thread and tangled yarn - a tribute to the creative process and scraps left behind in her studio.
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PlainMADE Unwound Wrap, $78

A favorite or architects and designers for decades, the Stendig Calendar (published in Nashville, TN) has been in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art since 1966. Designed by Massimo Vignelli, the large-scale black and white pages become an exploration of positive and negative space. 

Stendig Calendar, $34.95

This minimal wooden chess set was designed by Lanier Graham in 1966. Graham later became curator in the Museum of Modern Art's Department of Architecture and Design. We love how the pieces interlock for compact storage.

Lanier Graham Chess Set, $67

Vital Industries (Denver, CO) screen prints these colorful bicycle glasses. Perfect for sipping whiskey or dipping cookies in milk.

Vital Industries Old Fashioned Glasses, $11 each

If you are planning on using the Old Fashioned glasses for whiskey, be sure to also grab a set of Whiskey Stones from Teroforma. Stash the stones in your freezer and add them to whiskey for a chill without watering down your drink. Made of Vermont soapstone.

Teroforma Whiskey Stones (set of 9), $20

Iacoli and McAllister (Seattle) recently introduced this bottle opener fashioned from hex bar. A lovely little sculpture when not in use.

Iacoli McAllister Hex Opener, $48

Loll Designs (Duluth, MN) uses recycled #2 plastic milk jugs to make super-sturdy and stylish birdhouses. These beauties will not fade or weather over time, so the house will retain its vivid color for years and years.  

Loll Designs Pitch Birdhouse, $60

The Soda Bottle Bird Feeder (Rhode Island) is a versatile gift that appeals to a wide range of people. Simply fill an empty 2-liter bottle with seed, attach the zinc adapter and hang to feed your feathered friends.

Soda Bottle Bird Feeder, $12

So there you have just a quick sampling of American-made designs - there's even more to see in the shop. And don't forget a number of the under $10 gifts we wrote about last week, such as Audubon Bird Calls, Chocolate Editions bars, Holiday Surprise Balls, and Sunprints. All made in USA as well!

We'll be in touch very soon with more gift ideas, but until then here are a few reminders: 

• We will be extending our hours starting next week. December 12-17 (Monday - Saturday) and December 14-23 (Monday - Friday) we will be open until 8pm. Christmas Eve, December 24 we will be open until 4pm. 
• Free parking downtown all day Dec 12 - Dec 26! Enjoy shopping and dining without worrying about meters. Save those quarters for holiday treats.

  






               

Spring Arrivals

New Marimekko is Here!

It's always an exciting day in the shop when a new Marimekko shipment arrives. We just received several boxes direct from Finland and have been eagerly unpacking them.

We now have three styles of shower curtains from Marimekko. Transform your bathroom with one of these beautiful, machine washable curtains.

Kaiku Shower Curtain, $49



Tuuli Shower Curtain, $49




Blue Unikko Shower Curtain, $49



Marimekko trays are an ever-popular gift and we have two classics back in stock - the Silkkikuikka and the Kaiku. The trays make great "catch-alls" for the bathroom counter, entry table, or bedside table. They are also the perfect size to carry a cup of coffee and a treat:

Silkkikuikka Tray, $28

Kaiku Tray, $28

We also have several new bags, like this Clover style in a new Unikko color combination. Marimekko handbags are well-known for the quality and durability of their fabrics. Best of all, you can wash them.

Clover Bag, $79

And we are stocked up on cheery umbrellas to help chase away any dreary rainy days yet to come. There's more from Marimekko, as well. Stop by to have a look!

Rakastaa Umbrella, $44

Red Unikko Umbrella, $44



Meteori Umbrella, $44





Loll Designs
This week we are also happy to welcome Loll Designs to the shop. Based in Minnesota, Loll is committed to making outdoor furniture that is maintenance-free. Yes, that's right! You can leave these outdoors year-round without worry.

Loll Designs products are made in Minnesota from 100% recycled High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) which is the same material as the #2 recyclable plastics that you take out to curb every week. We now have the Cabrio Lounge Chair in stock...

Cabrio Chair, $399

...as well as two styles of bird houses - the Pitch and the Cube, in an array of colors:


Pitch Birdhouse, $69




Cube Birdhouse, $69



Also for the Birds
Audubon Bird Calls and feeders are back in stock from American Bird Products. The same family has been making these calls in New England for over fifty years. The call consists of a birchwood cylinder fitted with a zinc plug - see below how twisting the plug produces sounds which attract a variety of wild songbirds. At $9 apiece, these make a great addition to an Easter basket.

The cast zinc birdfeeder adapter converts an empty soda bottle into an elegant and economical bird feeder.

Soda Bottle Bird Feeder, $12

So there you have just a few happy, colorful ideas to help you remember that spring is on the way. If you have any questions, please stop by, call (360.752.5522), or e-mail info@anidealshop.com. As always, remember to check our Facebook page frequently for the latest news about incoming objects and upcoming events. In the meantime, a few upcoming events to keep in mind:

•Ladies' Night Out, Friday, April 29 - We will be featuring a special trunk show of Mon Bijou jewelry at 20% off for the evening. Organized by Downtown Bellingham Partnership, this event features many downtown businesses open late with special sales, beauty services and refreshments. Proceeds benefit Womencare Shelter.

• Children's Art Walk, Friday, May 6 - 6-9pm. This is one of the years' most popular Art Walks. Businesses extend their hours into the evening and hang artwork from local schoolkids. We will be featuring the creations of Paula McGrath's kindergartners from Parkview Elementary.

Downtown Art Walk - Tonight, November 5 - 20% off Alchemy Goods!

Tonight we are spotlighting Alchemy Goods as our featured designer during Downtown Art Walk. Enjoy 20% off all Alchemy Goods designs from 6-9pm!


This wonderful company, based in Seattle, has been a shop favorite since we opened and we're thrilled to feature a number of new designs that were just released this week.


Alchemy Goods practices "upcycling" in creating their designs, taking discarded materials such as bicycle inner tubes and car seat belts and transforming them into highly functional products such as bags, wallets, and belts. The company got its start when the founder's bag was stolen and he began a search for the perfect messenger bag. Disappointed in what he found, he made his own. Friends loved it so he made more...and the rest is history. The bags are practically indestructible, waterproof, and just look really cool.


Here are a few of the newest designs from Eli and company at Alchemy:


The Pine is a smaller-sized messenger bag, distilled down to its essential functions. A zippered outside pocket holds your cell phone and it protected from the elements by a rain flap. Inside, there's enough room for your commute or day trip supplies. 68% upcycled materials.

Pine Bag, $110

The Mercer is a sweet little shoulder bag with a slightly retro look. Slip an iPad into the inside sleeve and zip your valuables into the large interior zippered pocket. Outside pockets accommodate a cell phone, journal or other accessories. 75% upcycled materials.

Mercer Bag, $120

The Westlake laptop bag cradles your computer inside layers of inner tube and foam. It features a shoulder strap and briefcase handle for easy transport. Elastic straps and a wraparound zipper allow you to quickly open the case and your laptop at the same time. 68% upcycled materials.

Westlake Laptop Bag, $75

The Elliot dopp kit is a sophisticated travel companion for carrying essential grooming tools. Exterior is constructed from truck inner tube, so any spills can be quickly cleaned up. The zipper features a shiny bicycle valve zipper pull. 92% upcycled materials.

Elliot Dopp Kit, $35

The Ad Bag is tote made from recycled advertising banners with seatbelt straps. 95% upcycled materials.

Ad Bag, $37

The Schrader bicycle valve, while being an excellent device to maintain your tire pressure, doubles remarkably well as a zipper pull. $8.00 for a set of two!

Zipper Pulls, $8.00 for two

We also have our usual selection of the Haversack, Pike, Union, and Magnolia bags, as well as Georgetown, Franklin, Night Out wallets and belts! Stop by to see us tonight - we'll be open until 9pm.

Join us for ReMade this Friday, June 4

We are honored to once again host ReMade beginning this Friday, June 4 during Art Walk.

ReMade is an annual design challenge for the junior class of Western Washington University's Industrial Design program. Each year students produce innovative products from consumer or manufacturing waste with a trained eye on recyclability, life cycle analysis, and design for production. By doing this, students get a fresh understanding of the designer's impact on the environment and the economy.

This year, twelve students focused on ReMade products for the kitchen. In a very short three-week timeframe, students found materials, designed, and manufactured fifteen products each. This year's collection includes soap dispensers made from discarded spray paint cans, aluminum bowls created from propane tanks, salt and pepper shakers constructed from skateboard decks, and paper towel racks fabricated from construction rebar. All the products can be purchased at Ideal beginning Friday, June 4th as part of Bellingham's Downtown Art Walk.                   

Please join us on Friday from 6-9pm to meet the designers and see their creations first-hand! Here are just a few:

Skater Shakers (salt and pepper shakers from skateboard decks) by Ryan Maloney

Fuse Bowls (from plastic crates) by Dieter Amick

Bloom bag (from accordian blinds) by Thomas Kloucek

Herrgron napkin rings (from plastic bottles) by Cecilia Forsgren