Daily Find
Even if your January 1-to-December 30 wardrobe is decidedly conservative (is your black cocktail dress as festive as it gets?), style mavens will likely beg you to try something a little more daring, even if only for an evening.
December 26, 2006
Daily Find
This Ballard store, which carries an eclectic mix of home, gift and novelty items, has stocked its shelves with festive hats ($25 each) by Glitterville. Choose from several holiday-themed varieties, which sport glittery stripes and white fringe, or opt for one that features the New York City skyline -- the Empire State Building and all.
December 22, 2006
Daily Find
Remember when olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette gift sets were all the rage? Fast forward to Christmas 2006, and you'll want to know about artisan salt -- especially if you have a foodie on your gift list.
December 15, 2006
Holiday 2006
The key to giving good host/hostess gifts, according to hospitality experts, is purchasing something slightly novel – a luxury your gift recipient wouldn't likely buy for themselves. When it comes to deliciously scented soaps, candles and lotions, Fremont's Essenza has you covered. Check out its ample supply of L'artisan candles, 1.2 ounces for $16 each, in flavors as varied as wild blackberry and fig tree. A dainty package of black and white Maria Evora soap is another great option, particularly the $12 set of eight soaps in alternating scents of carob/sea salt and beach rose. Cote Bastide body cream is also a delicious gift idea, available for $20 in amber, fig and rose.
December 12, 2006
Daily Find
Available in 11 vibrant shapes and sizes – hearts, flowers, birds and circles, to name a few – these innovative magnetic-receptive metal pieces attach to almost any surface with their powerful adhesive-strip backing. Then, just pop on a magnet to display artwork, photos, grocery lists, etc. Our favorite placements? On bathroom walls, kitchen walls and car dashboards.
December 11, 2006
Daily Find
Knitting is a trendy hobby that's on the rise, especially among 25- to 34-year-old women, according to the Craft Yarn Council of America. If you're already a fan, or just thinking about picking up your first set of needles, you'll want to check out a new book by two Seattle-based knitting gurus.
December 8, 2006
Daily Find
Blustery rain, crowds, lines, parking headaches -- sure, there are plenty of things that make holiday shopping a real drag. But who says it can't be fun? Grab your girlfriends and head to University Village Dec. 5-7, from 5 to 7 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., for a "Holidate with the Girls," a unique event designed especially for gift givers (the female ones!).
December 4, 2006
Daily Find
Calling all foodies: Join the area's hottest chefs and cookbook authors at the Palace Ballroom on Tuesday, Dec. 5 from 4 to 7 p.m. for the "Ultimate Holiday Cookbook Social."
December 1, 2006
Daily Find
With your shopping list in mind, we spotted several terrific stocking stuffers from The Container Store.
November 27, 2006
Daily Find
The shop is the brainchild of a Ballard resident and mommy of two, Sarah Furstenberg. She is a textile designer and illustrator who managed a toy store in Berkeley, Calif., before moving to Seattle to open Clover. "The concept is to engage and amuse children, to wean them away from television with dress up, musical instruments, science projects, games, and many other activities," explains Furstenberg, who has packed her whimsical store with play kitchens, little wooden animals, classic toys such as jacks and rubber balls, and futuristic remote-controlled robots.
November 22, 2006
