Short Takes
Staff -- Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 11/1/2000
Valentine's Day
The classic-size Precious Moments figurine is called I'm Completely Suspended with Love, and features a blond boy wearing suspenders with heart-shaped clasps. The figure comes with a heart-shaped crystal box, packaged as a gift-to-go set for Valentine's Day, when the figurine retires. $28.50. Enesco, Itasca, IL. (630) 875-5300. #613
Be My Baby, from the Artist Studio Collection, is the perfect Valentine for a doll collector. The open edition doll is dressed in a pink and white seersucker romper, appliqued with hearts. She is 19" long and sells for $184. Lee Middleton Dolls, Grand Rapids, MI. (740) 423-3121. #614
Father's Day
Transportation themed prints from Arts Uniq' are available just in time for Father's Day gifting. These prints feature classic pedal-cars, racers, and hot rods. True Blue, Red Racer, Green Glide, and An Old Flame by Gay Talbott-Boassy lovingly depict these classic beauties in rustic settings. 8"x10" unframed print, $4.80; 10½"x12½" with black molding, $25; and single-matted print framed with molding, about $40. Arts Uniq' offers other prints suitable for spring holidays, including "This I've known right from the start: that I love you with all my heart!," an open edition framed print by Heidi Satterberg, $17.50. Also check out Mother and Daddy, $22 each, and This Heart of Mine, $45, by D. Morgan. Arts Uniq', Cookeville, TN. (800) 223-5020. #615
Hand-painted collectible masculine character wall masks from Legends of England make great Father's Day gifts. Figures from history and mythology join a nautical series and one based on the Old West. Service professions are also included. The line has a new U.S. distributor, Legends of England USA. The masks range in size from 4" to 9" and have a hook for ease of display. $47-$70. Legends of England USA, Berwyn, PA. (800) 222-1613. #616
Mother's Day
This year, let mothers know that home is wherever they are, with Housemothers. In this line of architectural fantasy sculptures, the skirts of a motherly figure are literally a house, and home to smaller friends. Housemothers are hand-sculpted by Kit Cropper, whose husband Warren then makes the casting molds. The cold-cast porcelain figurines are hand-painted using Kit's original model. No two pieces are exactly alike, and each uses at least six molds to produce. Kit's signature, the bearflower, can be found on every model. Styles include Abigail reading a bedtime story, Hattie hawking her bear wares, Calliope the nanny, and many more. Approximately 5" tall. $49. Kit Cropper Studios, Trinidad, CA. (800) 972-9884. #618
Don't forget Grandma on Mother's Day, especially when there's a charming line just for her. Packaged with Grandma's seal of approval, these dainty figurines are based on the art of Susan Reader, and show grandmothers gardening, reading to grandchildren, pouring tea, praying, or snuggling a grandchild. Most are open edition, but Grandma Reader retires on December 31. $20-$27. Reader Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA. (888) 996-6060. #617
Easter
Dress up that basket with a collectible Easter bunny gift tag. The tag can also be used as a Christmas tree ornament, and comes with an adhesive magnet and either cord, tassel, or ribbon. $4.99. Gloria Duchin Inc., East Providence, RI. (401) 438-5400. #621
All prices retail
