OK, it's about a week before Christmas and you've already got the big present your spouse has been hinting for: maybe a Vespa for him, pearls for her (or perhaps something more practical, alas).
Still, that's the entree´, the main course for Christmas morning; the gift you've hidden behind the tree (or in the garage) to bring out last. But you still need an amuse-bouche ... something to whet the appetite and set the stage for what's to come. A stocking stuffer with pizzaz, in other words. Try one of these gifts we found downtown:
This unusual watch is 'Buster Bones,' a limited edition trapezoid that comes in a collector's case from California artist Sonya Paz. These watches were included in last year's Academy Awards gift bag. $75, from Northern Lights.
Fun jewelry always works, and you never have to worry about size. Molly MaGruder has pretty Firefly crystal and bead necklaces, starting at $20.
Prefer the practical? Then how about Life is Good cotton socks, ultra soft, washed cotton in soft colors and many designs. $10 at Copacetic.
Here's something we had to see in use to really understand. It's a small metal insert that turns a wine bottle, or any decorative bottle, into a distinctive candelabra. Note the built-in bobeche to catch melting wax. It's called the Bottlelabra, and is available for taper and tealight candles, $11, at Artistry Furniture.
Finally: riotous colors! Decorative and artistic glass boxes (yes, they fit into a stocking!) by Mark Lewanski. They're fashioned in an Italian glass technique, and hand-painted to maintain a contemporary look. From $32, at Monfort's Fine Art.
Previous Artful Shopper excursions:
A gift for teacher is HERE.
Unusual hostess gifts are HERE.
Dec 13, 2007
The Artful Shopper finds stocking stuffers
Nov 29, 2007
The Artful Shopper: A Gift for the Teacher
Every day, here in Racine, we collectively send our 26,000 children off to school -- 21,000 of them to Unified, 5,000 more to private, parochial or charter schools. The big yellow bus picks them up, in most cases, and Mom breathes a sigh of relief because the kids may (will!) learn something and, let's be honest, because they're someone else's responsibility for seven hours. That same sigh of relief can be heard throughout the county, indeed throughout the country.
Now it's time to say thanks to the teachers responsible for your kids' education. No disrespect, but an apple doesn't cut it any more. We looked downtown for a few gifts.
The gift that made us well up was a print at Northern Lights Gallery. by artist Brian Andreas, with the message: "I hope it will be said we taught them to stand tall & proud ... the future was made new & whole for us all, one child at a time." Matted print is $30. There's also a Story People book by Andreas, with stories and drawings about making sense of this wild place we live. 
Our second suggestion is a Tiny Treasure or other photograph of a Racine scene, from Brad Jaeck and Carol Hansen, whose Photographic Design Ltd. studio is on Sixth Street. Tiny Treasures are under $20.
Wandering into the Racine Art Museum Gift Shop, our eye was caught by pencils. Not your everyday pencils, of course, but these Jumbo Pencils in a tube, with brightly-colored lead and a nice solid heft. 36 pencils in a tube, $25; 12 in a tube, $9. Also, a Break-Off Pencil Block, graphite black or colored lead, just $4.25 each for five pencils. 
Finally, let's be honest: teachers are just like the rest of us. Take them out of the classroom during a Wisconsin winter, and their ears get cold. So how about this innovative, yet practical, set of Ear Mitts, bandless ear muffs? This revolutionary design fits securely on the ears. Specially engineered so teacher can wear them on her ears just like a pair of gloves. One size, many colors, $17, at Copacetic.
Artful Shopper earlier went downtown seeking a hostess gift. That story is HERE.
Nov 15, 2007
The Artful Shopper Explores Downtown Racine
Shopping. We all do it, some of us better than others. One of the tricks is going to the right stores: not the same-old, same-old. And being open to new things.
Are you the person who's always giving great gifts? Well, the doctor is in! RacinePost to the rescue, as it were. We'll scour local shops for purchases you won't find everywhere.
This week we'll help those of you traveling for the holidays. You want to bring a special hostess gift, right? Not the usual bottle of wine (do your hosts even drink wine?) or flowers that may or may not be welcome. Not that we have anything against either of those, but this year you want something more original. Well, try these:
with warm cedar and sandalwood; $10-$67, at Artistry Furniture.
Will O’the Wisp glittering ornaments are hand-made by Patricia Lee Raichert. Each comes with its own stand, $45. Available at Monfort's Fine Arts Gallery.
