2015 Heights Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts less than $50
Find something for everyone on your list at the many independent merchants in the Heights. Most will gift wrap or ship your items, too. Here are some of our favorites:
GIFTS LESS THAN $50
One-year subscription to Funny Times. ($26.00 for 12 issues)
Poinsettias, amaryllis, potted succulents, Austrian crystals, fashion scarves, paperwhite gift box, natural wreaths, Bohemian watches and starry night wraps. (Bremec on the Heights Garden Center)
Paper calendar. Each month features one of Cleveland Heights artist Kate Snow’s original linoleum block designs. Printed on a 1950s Vandercook letterpress. ($24.00, Heights Arts)
Hand-printed Ohio themed adult cotton tees and baby onesies. Wear that hometown pride up front and center. ($15.00 to $28.00, Heights Arts)
Etch-A-Sketch. This hall of fame toy has been produced by our state's own Ohio Art since 1960. Creative fun for the whole family. ($18.00, Big Fun)
Wine Sock Monkey. Next time you're heading to a gala soirée or a neighborhood potluck, slip a wine monkey onto your bottle of red or white (or even champagne), and you're covered! Wine monkey is made from all-American red-heeled socks. Buy two and you can wear them anywhere! ($11.00, Big Fun)
Prayer for World Peace by Jane Goodall. A beautifully illustrated inspirational message from the beloved naturalist. ($16.95, Mac's Backs)
Finding Home: Shelter Dogs and Their Stories by Scott Traer. Striking photographs, accompanied by moving stories. ($19.95, Mac's Backs)
Trashed by Derf. This entertaining graphic novel about a year Derf spent working on a garbage truck, is interspersed with facts about trash. ($18.95 paperback; $24.95 hardcover, Mac's Backs)
Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas. A collection of posters from the noted graphic artist. ($35.00, Mac's Backs)
A Stitch in Time: The Cleveland Garment Industry by Sean Martin. This new Cleveland history book is about the warehouse district's garment industry. ($34.95, Mac's Backs)
Arrow's End Earrings are reminiscent of mid-century modern design, with a nostalgic chevron shape. The material used to create these earrings may surprise you--brass from bomb casings is collected from the fields of Cambodia--and the artisans of the Rajana artisan group transform these bomb shells into jewelry. ($24.00, Ten Thousand Villages)
Bike Chain Wine Rack. In Moradabad, India, artisans transform ordinary bike chains into extraordinary pieces of art. The Noah’s Ark group works with more than 40 independently operating workshops and provides resources such as free education for children and water filtration services for artisans’ homes. Metalworking has been a tradition in the village, since the 16th century, and developed over time to include such innovative metals as recycled pieces of bicycles. ($49.00, Ten Thousand Villages)
Browns candles, made by Colleen Smith, mixed media artist. ($13.50, In The 216)
CLE Print on wood, made by Colleen Smith, mixed media artist. ($45.00, In The 216)
Items for the house or your favorite dogs or cats, including amazingly absorbent Soggy Doggy rugs and placemats, dishes for dogs and cats, collars and leashes, challenging and rewarding interactive puzzles for dogs, and framed pet photos. ($21.99 to $50.00, Animal Zen)
Usborne Fingerprint Activities book. This book is perfect for pre-schoolers to fill with inked fingerprints using the attached rainbow stamp pad. ($15.99, Pinwheel Kids)
Modarri Cars. These toy cars feature modular parts that kids can interchange to create custom cars, and a real suspension system for the feel of the road. ($22.00/each or $55.00/three-car set, Pinwheel Kids)
Knit hat with antlers for your littlest reindeer; available in infant sizes. ($28.00, Pinwheel Kids)
Nostalgic Graphic Tees capture the spirit of Christmas; available in children's sizes 2 to 8. ($32.00, Pinwheel Kids)
Music Mixdeck. Inspire a budding DJ with this toy that plays six different musical genres. Press the button to play, then spin the turntable to mix up the tempo and warp the track. ($18.00, Pinwheel Kids)
Cleveland is Magical! T-shirt in children's sizes 2 to 8. ($30.00, Pinwheel Kids)
Andrea C. Turner
Andrea C. Turner is the Heights Observer E-news editor.