Short Takes

Warren Industries unveiled several new adult and youth puzzles bearing the artwork of Bev Doolittle, Terry Redlin, Harry Wysocki, and Josephine Wall, as well as Susan Wheeler's Holly Pond Hill designs. The puzzles range in price from $4.99 to $7.99. For those who like their art in pieces. Warren Industries Inc., Lafayette, IN. (765) 447-2151.

Also on the puzzle front, Buffalo Games is widening its collection of licensed Audubon puzzles. Four new 1,000-piece introductions focus on parenthood in the animal kingdom. Penguins, pumas, and polar bears are among the cuddlies chronicled. And two new 500-piece puzzles focus on Audubon birds. The offerings range in price from $9 to $18. Buffalo Games Inc., Buffalo, NY. (800) 832-2331.

Fanimation signed on as a licensee of The Ernest Hemingway Collection. The Lebanon, IN-based company, which creates palm-leaf ceiling fans, will introduce fans that evoke the "romance" and "faraway places" of Hemingway's life. The fans will have cast metal bases and will be mountable on ceilings, walls, floors, and desktops.

The 2001 housewares program for Coca-Cola will be focused around six new themes. The "Coke Speak" theme employs various Coca-Cola slogans; the "Red White and Coke" theme has a patriotic Midwestern appeal; "Timely Traditions" pairs the famous beverage with nautical notes; "Arctic Celebration" features Coke's polar bear mascots; "Pause For Refreshment" evokes flowers and gardens; and "Pop Fizz" is playful and full of color. Look for product introductions by manufacturers such as Indiana Glass, Shadle Ents., Anchor Hocking, Packerware, In Zone, Gibson Oversees, and Kay Dee Designs.

For golf aficionados and their offspring, Eden is introducing a new plush Paddington Bear. The classic character comes decked out in plaid pants, a yellow golf shirt, a golf bag, and, of course, his distinctive hat and Wellington boots. The 8" plush retails for $12. Eden LLC, New York. (212) 947-4400.

Viacom Consumer Products brings the Bubblegum characters, first seen on cards from American Greetings, to a variety of products ranging from stationery to candy. Characters such as Disco Diva, Cool Dude, and Groovy Chick will adorn buttons, magnets, and magnetic picture frames from Hot Properties; cels and lithographs from C2 Studios; gift books from Simon & Schuster; calendars and journals from the Cedco Publishing Company; stickers, temporary tattoos, and jigsaw puzzle clocks from Art Box Entertainment; school supplies from Plymouth Inc.; and quite a bit more.

Stationery breaks away from the writing desk and heads to the kitchen with Brownlow's new collection from artist Cheri Blum. Called Tuscan Harvest, the line includes a recipe box, blank recipe cards, a ring binder recipe book, and a package of apple cranberry gourmet tea. All of the products bear images inspired by Italian villas, antiques, and old quilts. The line ranges in price from $4.99 to $14.99. Brownlow, Fort Worth, TX. (800) 433-7610.

A pair of French manufacturers teamed up with their American distributor to create a line of stationery wares inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. The leather and faux leather items, which include sketch books, photo albums, guest books, and accessories, each bear a geometrical pattern from an art glass panel Wright designed for the Lake Geneva Inn in Wisconsin. Retail prices are in the $22 to $65 range. New Wright lines will be unveiled over the course of this year. Exacompta and Mignon through Exaclair Inc., New York. (800) 933-8595.

All prices retail