Good Design for $10 or Less!

Happy December! Did you know we have dozens of well-designed, creative, and interesting gift ideas for $10 or less? These great picks will provide enjoyment long after the holiday decorations have been put away. Here are some ideas for stockings and beyond...
Worldwide Co origami and bobble-head kits make creative fun for kids and adults alike. The origami sets come with 100 sheets of paper and a 28-page instruction booklet. Bobble-head kits include 16 full color sheets plus detailed instructions.

Paper Robot Bobble-Head Kit, $10

5 Minute Origami Set, $10

Hungry Animal Stencil Set, $7

If you loved the boxed stencil sets we had last year from Worldwide Co, we have a few of those back in stock as well  - Facebox, Zoobox, Hypotrochoid (like a mini-Spirograph), and Fingerprint Art Box as well as the Hungry Animals set pictured above.

Traditional coloring books can sometimes be a drag, having to stay inside the lines and all that. Not so with Roz Streeten's Rosie Flo and Johnny Joe Coloring Books. Now your budding artist can customize the costumes and scenes with characters of their choosing.    

Rosie Flo Coloring Book, $8.99

Johnny Joe Coloring Book, $8.99

Sample Pages of Rosie Flo

Sunprints are popular with both scientific and artistic types. Place any object on the paper (leaves, flowers, small toys), briefly expose to sunlight, rinse with water and watch intriguing compositions appear in shades of blue. As the set comes with 12 sheets of paper, you have many opportunities to experiment. 

Sunprint Kit, $6

Nippon Work Gloves from Japan protect your hands in style while gardening, tinkering, or heavy lifting.  We have several vivid patterns to choose from.

Nippon Work Gloves, $6

 These Japanese Wooden Tops are like lovely little sculptures, and spin really well. Also from Japan, Kamenoko Tawashi scrubber, made of 100% natural palm fibers. Designed in 1907 and still widely used, this scrubber has stood the test of time. Perfect for cleaning root vegetables, washing pots and pans, and more.

Wooden Tops, $8 each

Tawashi Scrubber, $8

The original Audubon Bird Call makes a sweet little gift that we've found appeals to everyone from baby to grandpa. Handmade in New England by the Eddy family for over fifty years, the bird call's sound is produced by twisting the cast zinc plug against the wooden cylinder. You'll be surprised by the wide range of chirps and tweets this classic call produces.

Audubon Bird Call, $8

These handy Flip and Tumble bags have long been a shop favorite because they tuck so compactly into their own little pocket. Stash a present inside the bag and the recipient will be grateful for "wrapping paper" they don't need to recycle.

Flip and Tumble Bags, $10 each

Field Notes are the perfect notebook to have on hand for making lists or when creative inspiration strikes. Made in the USA, these slim little books have quite a following. We have the original 3-packs (one of each notebook with ruled, graph, and blank pages) or the newest limited edition set - The Northerly Edition - which features a coated, embossed cover and interior pages of light blue/grey with white grid.

Set of Three Field Notes, $10

Unwind the colorful crepe paper ribbon on these Holiday Surprise Balls to discover five fun holiday trinkets hidden between the festive layers. These make great table favors, as well. Made in Oregon.

Holiday Surprise Ball, $10 each

Hooray! A new sweet treat from Chocolate Editions! Salted Dark Chocolate Bars from Chocolate Editions by Mary and Matt. As always, these two chocolatiers have a very visual approach to their work and we love the beautiful marbleized paper on these bars almost as much as the tasty chocolate inside. Handmade in Brooklyn, NY.

Salted Dark Bar (1.5 oz), $5

The iStand is like a handy kickstand for your iPod or iPhone. Suction this to the back and prop it up to watch a video hands-free. Available in orange, green, and black.

iStand, $6

These clever X-Shaped Rubber Bands from Museum of Modern Art go far beyond the humble bands you may be using. These not only help organize your desk, but also work beautifully to wrap a small box. Each set contains an assortment of four different colors and sizes.

Rubber X-Bands, $6 for set of 16

Sandy Chilewich's pressed vinyl Dahlia Circles not only function as a stylish placemat, they also look festive under a centerpiece or vase on an entry table. Best part of all...simply wipe clean.

Chilewich Dahlia Round Placemat, $8

Alchemy Goods business card holder made from upcycled bicycle innertubes is great for cards and also works as a mini-wallet. 99% recycled material and made in Seattle.

Alchemy Goods Business Card Holder, $10

Also from Alchemy, set of two zipper pulls made from pressure valves:

Alchemy Goods Zipper Pulls, set of two $8

Marimekko paper napkins are available in several patterns and sizes. $5.25 for cocktail size; $6.75 for dinner size.These are perfect hostess gifts and also fit nicely in a stocking.

Marimekko Paper Napkins, $5.25 or $6.75

We are stocked up on Japanese "mt" washi masking tape in many different patterns. Great for wrapping packages, sealing envelopes, and any creative project. 

Japanese masking tape, set of two rolls $9

There you have over 20 ideas for $10 or under and that's not all - we also have a selection of stocking-worthy children's books for less than $10. Stop by for a look!

We'll be in touch again soon with more gift ideas!


 




     

Holiday Treasures

Happy December! We have some lovely, calming treasures in stock to help you deck your halls...

Fleet Objects Ribbon Ornaments, $16 each. Made in Canada from aircraft plywood.

Fruitsuper Design Stackable Snowmen, $40. Made in Seattle.

Ladies & Gentlemen Studio Homestead Candlesticks, $60.       Made in Seattle.

Fleet Objects Eyelet Ornament, $30 (tree scene not included).       Made in Canada.

The Eyelet Ornament can also be used over a candle.

Finnish Snowballs, $28. These feel and sound remarkably like a true snowball when squeezed.

True Feelings Votives by Claydies for Normann Copenhagen, $26. These softly glow when lit.

With all the hustle-bustle that December can bring, we hope your home can be a respite. More news soon...

Back to School

Are there students in your life heading back to school? Or perhaps you are a student yourself? We've got some great ideas to make the transition back to campus a smooth one.

Dorm rooms nearly always lack sufficient storage. It's tricky to cram an entire wardrobe into that teensy closet. Rather than encroaching on your roommate's space, add a little extra with these clever storage hooks from Design House Stockholm. Mounted on the wall, these are perfect for coats, hats, bags, umbrellas, even hangers. They look great empty, as well.

Wave Hanger by Nanni Holen, $60

Arrow Hanger by Gustav Hallen, $40

Fall brings rain showers in the Pacific Northwest. How to keep your precious cargo dry as you trek across campus? Alchemy Goods makes waterproof bags that are as stylish as they are practical. Based in Seattle, Alchemy Goods practices upcycling when making their products. Using discarded bicycle inner tubes and seatbelts, they make bags and accessories that are built to last.

Haversack Bag by Alchemy Goods, $100

Struck by inspiration for the perfect essay? Sitting on the bus thinking about groceries? Needing to capture the song lyrics stuck in your head? Field Notes can help. Made in Portland, Oregon, these are the perfect notebook to always have on-hand for jotting down notes or making inspired doodles. Packs of three notebooks are $10. Pair with a Field Notes Sleeve in selvedge denim from MS&Co. to protect those important musings.  

Field Notes 3-Pack, $10; MS&Co Denim Sleeve, $32

Shred unwanted papers at all hours without disturbing your roommate! Simply turn the hand crank on the Bye Bye Handy Shredder and destroy those pesky documents while being quiet as a mouse. Needs no electricity and tucks away neatly on a bookshelf when not in use.

Bye Bye Handy Shredder, $45

Let your roomie know where to meet you between classes with this shark-shaped  chalkboard. Wipes clean with damp cloth or eraser.

Shark Chalk Board, $15

Spruce up your room by displaying your favorite photos, postcards, or drawings on this mobile. Easy to switch out images of friends and family to suit your mood.

Mobile Clip Photo Hanger, $17.95

8a.m. class? No problem waking up in a pleasant mood with this sweet Bird Alarm Clock from &Design. Forget the jarring "BEEP BEEP" of a standard alarm clock. With this beauty, your choice of two lovely bird calls will help you rise and shine. 

Bird Alarm Clock by &Design, $43

Music is a big part of college life and we have some well-designed ideas for quality listening.

Make your roommate happy by sharing this beautiful radio on a bookshelf. Tivoli Audio is well-known for making the best table radios on the market. Designed by hi-fi legend Henry Kloss, the Model One Radio sounds powerful and clear as a bell. Can also function as a speaker for your MP3 player. Available with black or white cabinet and silver face or walnut cabinet with beige face. 

Tivoli Audio Model One Radio, $150

 While it's still nice weather, studying outside is a great option. Connect an iPod or phone to this rechargeable Yuento Speaker and enjoy several hours of music with friends while hitting the books, headphone-free.

Yuento Balloon Speaker, $45

Finally, every student needs some downtime away from studying. Here's a great way to spark creativity and clear your mind when you need a break. 642 Things to Draw is just what it sounds like: a sketchbook with hundreds of suggestions, some more challenging than others. How would you draw the Bermuda Triangle? 

642 Things to Draw, $16.95

We hope this sampling of good designs brings you inspiration as fall approaches. As always, we have many more ideas and are happy to help you find the perfect piece for any occasion. Give us a call (360-752-5522) or email info@anidealshop.com with any questions.  Until next time, find us on   Facebook for the latest updates on new designs for fall!