Short Takes
Staff -- Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 11/1/2000
For the Green Thumb
Chinese lanterns never go out of style, and the lights go out less often when they're battery-powered. The Chinese lantern assortment from Boston Warehouse includes four each of three classic shapes: square, ginger jar, and round. Matching tablecloth weights come in lantern style, as well as lawn gnome, lobster, and tropical fish. There are also garden stake votives are in two styles, dragonfly and bamboo, and in two sizes. A fireplace candle screen continues the Dragonfly theme and brings it inside when the weather turns cold. Other new offerings include backyard tableware for the barbecue set, along with aprons and olive bowls. Boston Warehouse, Norwood, MA. (888) 923-BWTC. #551
Have a garden party to celebrate the new line of pottery featuring designs by Challis & Roos. The collection includes planting pots, patio lanterns, and herb pots with terra-cotta supporting saucers. Functional and decorative, the line crosses over to appeal to both fans of Challis & Roos and the gardening set. Cross merchandise! Emerson Creek Pottery, Bedford, VA. (800) 666-1977. #552
Shoes and hats are hot for spring. These echoes of a Victorian garden party can be cross-merchandised with your garden themes, or displayed separately for collectors of porcelain miniatures to note; they even have crossover appeal to dollhouse enthusiasts. Many styles and colors are available to satisfy most decorative styles, including high- buttoned shoes, ladies' slippers, and hats on hat-stands. Penco, New Bedford, MA. (508) 999-6484. #553
Indoor conservatories in a tabletop-sized Wardian case, popular in the reign of Queen Victoria, are perfect for the apartment dweller to cultivate special plants year round. Larger cases can be used for store display; halogen spot lamps will keep plants thriving to show off the cases in their best light. A number of styles are available for many decorative tastes. H. Potter, Lincoln, NE. (402) 486-1455. #554
If you've got customers coming to you with rough hands from working in the garden, Crabtree & Evelyn has hand therapy in a bottle, The Gardeners Hand Therapy, which is now offered in a new 250-ml pump version. This popular gift item for the garden enthusiast allows more continuous use at a significant value over existing sizes. Retailing for $18, the Gardeners Hand Therapy lotion is still available in 100-ml and 50-ml sizes. Add a further boost to your personal care sales with the combination gift including the new pump, as well as After-Work Scrub Grains for a post-gardening treat. Crabtree & Evelyn, Waltham, MA. (800) CRABTREE. #555
Flower power can be yours, with the Flowers That Last line. In elegant silver holders, this primarily rose-focused line comes in a variety of color combinations, with fruit accents or hydrangeas. Heights range from a petite 6½" to a towering 39". Rusty pedestal bowls are also available in many of the same styles as the silver. Flowers That Lastthrough Ann Cichon and Co., Dallas. (214) 340-1707. #556
Do fence me in! Fence off your gardening section for the feel of the English countryside. The new Metal Garden Edging from Green City Designs may well sell itself. With simple lines and repeating patterns, the 3/8" diameter stands up to weather and wear. The 24" long, 20" high pieces can be painted to match a garden or decor theme, or left to rust artistically. Green City Designs, Kansas City, MO. (800) 598-4274. #557
Original art from Julie S. Dermansky has been adapted to create a line of garden stakes. Familiar figures from her work, like the urban angels, cats, birds, deer, stars, and sea life of all varieties, including mermaids and seahorses. All styles are available in three heights: 4', $67; 5', $72; and 6', $76. When displayed outdoors, the stakes will earn a rusty patina and create a silhouette look. Julie S. Dermansky Inc., Deposit, NY. (607) 467-2303. #558
Garden stepping stones were popular with the Victorians, and they're making a comeback with the trend to classical garden settings. The Aunty June's Butterflies collection features a range of garden products, including 11-7/8" stepping stones, in a variety of durable resin hues. Butterflies with widespread wings point the way toward a garden utopia, or just toward the tool shed. $10 each. And to brighten up an interior is a 10½"x18" resin plaque and other accessories based on Melanie Rupert's book You Can Never Over Garden. The plaque is $30. Geo. Z. LeftonCo., Chicago. (800) 938-1800. #559
Popular themed garden stakes decorate displays and brighten up the garden. Stake designs include mermaids, sleeping cats, cows, dolphins, flamingos, trout, and winged animals. These garden delights can also be supported by a welded base. Base styles include bunny, happy frog, dog with butterfly, cat with bird, and snail designs. All products are available painted or in a rust-only finish. Metalmorphosis, Nevada City, CA. (530) 478-0710. #560
Add a classic touch to gardens with solid brass sundials. Flat-bottomed styles include a peacock figure, a sun theme, flowers, angels, and zodiac. Many styles are also available in cast iron. Pedestal bases, to be introduced in 2001, will include styles with built-in plant holders, as well as those designed to hold celestial topiary spheres and armillary sundials for a more three-dimensional look. Sundials range from $40-$60, and bases from $30-$50. Rome Industries, Peoria, IL. (800) 818-7603. #561
Home Sweet Home
If your customer doesn't have a place for an outdoor birdhouse, show one that can reside indoors. The new miniature collectible birdhouses designed by Brian Day play favorite tunes. The birdhouse is crafted by music box makers in Sainte-Croix, Switzerland. For added appeal, a different bird pops out of each birdhouse. Designs include The Nutcracker's Seed birdhouse, which plays "Waltz of the Flowers," and the Flycatcher's Bug Exterminator birdhouse, which plays "Circle of Life." Limited edition of 1,500. $65.25 each. Reuge Music USA Ltd., Culver City, CA. (800) REUGE-4U. #563
An ideal item for the animal lover. The Sweet Pea collection of birdhouses features whimsical styles. Cat and dog faces in weathered brown polyresin gape open-mouthed to admit the feathered friends. 11". $20 each. The smaller 9" Jester and Jake polyresin birdhouses feature silly faces. $16 each. Dedo, Auburn Hills, MI. (248) 340-7215. #564
In Tune
Asli Arts introduces Bambinos, miniaturized wooden versions of its hand-carved line of wood and bamboo chimes. The designs are include a basset hound, a swan, a wood duck, a toucan, a pelican, swallowtail and monarch butterflies, fish, a cat, a duck, a sunflower, and a snail. 21". $14-$16. Asli Arts, Clinton, WA. (800) 950-2754. #565
All prices retail
