Twelve tiny treasures I was challenged to find.
In shops and boutiques — even online.
So I hunted and searched
Our coastal communities.
From Delray to Lake Worth.
I sought with impunity
Objects diminutive,
Either in price or in size,
Perfect for stuffing in stockings
oh my!
In this season of giving,
May the spirit burn bright
With these 12 little items
Of Coastal delight.
— Scott Simmons
1. Vera Bradley Stockings, $22
Pink Hibiscus, 223 E. Ocean Ave., Lantana.
Phone: 202-0092
You’ll hang these stockings by the chimney with care, and Santa won’t believe that you have such flair. Everything is perfect in paisley with Vera Bradley’s Symphony in Hue and Blue Rhapsody stockings. You can stuff them with Bradley’s pretty paisley pens ($19) and purse hooks ($12), all popular sellers, according to Pink Hibiscus owner Donna Keil.
2. Silvie Goldmark Design Butterfly and Flower salt and pepper shakers, $85
Maryanne Webber Gallery, 709 Lucerne Ave., Lake Worth.
Phone: 585-0003
Their sparkle and glitter had us all atwitter. But these Silvie Goldmark salt and pepper shakers lend the right bit of whimsy to any décor. German-born artist Thomas Leiblein designs the molds for each of these figures, and each piece is carved in clay, then cast in pewter and plated in either silver-color or 24k gold. Perfect as a hostess gift, or for yourself.
3. Shell purse, $75
Beachcomber Fine Arts, 112 S. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach.
Phone: 315-5717
Debbie Brookes wants you to keep the style of the beach within easy reach. Her shell clutch purse is perfect for evenings out. It’s just the right size for lipstick, a compact and credit cards. And it will fit comfortably on any restaurant table, from the Banana Boat to The Breakers. Also worth checking: Debbie’s shell-encrusted votives ($10) are a perfect hostess gift.
4. Save Florida: Eat an Iguana, by George Cera, $8.95
Hand’s, 325 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach.
Phone: 276-4194
Leaping lizards! Iguana hunter George Cera has the recipe for ridding our region of an invasive visitor. Buy this book for the chef in your life; better yet, buy it for a chuckle. That has to be at least as good as iguana soup any day.
5. Laser Top, $4
Mercer Wenzel, 401 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach.
Phone: 278-2885
It tweets and it twirls, and it lights with profusion. But if you need a quick gift, there’ll be no confusion. This friction-driven top is a hit with boys and girls of all ages, and Mercer Wenzel no doubt will need to order more before Christmas. Give it a whirl.
6. Mandela Bracelets, $19.99-$12,900
Available at www.theBangle.com
or at (866) 984-6664
Gulf Stream resident Julie Murphy has a mission. Her Nelson Mandela 46664 bracelets raise money for HIV/AIDS prevention worldwide. What’s with the number? It was Mandela’s prison number, now used as an icon for his humanitarian efforts. The bracelets, which bear the 46664 mark, as well as a digital imprint of Mandela’s hands, are made of copper, silver, gold and platinum, and have a serial number that allows owners to see how their bangle purchase helps others. They’re made in South Africa and provide jobs there. And, with the range of materials, from basic to deluxe, almost anyone can afford one.
7. Laughing animals and talking figures, $20 and up
Evelyn & Arthur, Plaza del Mar, 277 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan.
Phone: 585-1122
The stockings are hung, but you need a laugh. So what do you do? You head over to Evelyn & Arthur for one of these figures. We were partial to the Chuckle Buddies — one of them was a monkey that rolled around on the floor. “They’re a bona fide pain in the neck,” laughed a store staffer, who said they’re popular with kids from ages 9 months to 90.
8. Geodesis candles and sprays, $47
Excentricities, 301 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach.
Phone: 278-0886
These scents make the most sense, if you’re looking for something elegant but practical. Nothing holds a candle to Geodesis. Made in France, the candles last about 60 hours. And the fragrances? They’re intoxicating without overwhelming a room. Pink Grapefruit evokes Florida with a citrus zest. Tuberoses offer an old-world touch.
9. Shell-handled magnifier, $22
Boynton Beach Postal Center, 562 E. Woolbright Road, Boynton Beach.
Phone: 738-6002
Here’s a tropical twist on a household necessity. These shell-handled magnifiers are perfect for reading the fine print with style. And they’re popular with men, the store says. Also magnified: the giant wristwatch alarm clocks ($85), which look like vintage timepieces on steroids.
10. Bite o’ Blue blueberry dog treats, $8
Golden Bone, 14 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach.
Phone: 274-7666
A Bite o’ Blue is a bite o’ green. These dog treats are baked in Maine with wind-generated electricity, store owner Marcy Albin says. They’re loaded with antioxidants and are a treat your dog could share with you, Albin says. After all, they're made with human-grade ingredients. While we don't recommend them for humans, they are reason enough for that pooch in your life to “Sit! Stay! Enjoy!”
11. Wooden belt, $26.95 and up
The Trouser Shop, 439 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach.
Phone: 278-5626
A waist is a terrible thing to mind. But you won’t mind showing yours off when you’re wearing a cool belt like this. It’s made of tropical hardwoods and is fully adjustable. Good style, good fit. That notion doesn’t go against the grain at The Trouser Shop. “The biggest thing is making things fit,” says shop owner Bruce Gimmy. Also a great buy: Gimmy’s cloth belts, priced at around $20.
12. Christmas baby booties, $8
Snappy Turtle, 1100 E. Atlantic Ave., #A,
Delray Beach.
Phone: 276-8088
“Bring home holiday bootie,” my editor cried, and suddenly it was upon me she relied to find something to treasure, that rare object of pleasure. But, alas, I hunted both low and high for something exotic, something wondrous to buy. And when I unearthed these booties of red, it was then I remembered what often is said, that there’s no finer treasure than a wee, tiny babe. So with a smile in my heart, these booties I gave to our newspaper’s own sweet baby Jade (soon-to-arrive daughter of photographer Tim Stepien.)
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