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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2007)
EW ’s gift guide 2007 stuff stores make us happy WOOLYHOODWINK AT MODERN LITTLE GIFTIES FOR ALL, AND FOR ALL A GOOD NIGHT by Molly Templeton TEA AT PROVISIONS MINI CHAIR AT MODERN I am a creature of habit. One of those habits is that I like to admire a certain kind of stuff — elegant, interesting, quirky, charming, pretty or otherwise eye- catching — that, were I flush with both cash and available shelf space, I might like to purchase. There is no tidy catchall term for such items, and so mostly, I just call it stuff. Stores that sell these items are then referred to as stuff stores, and I love them like nobody’s business. Recently, the num- ber of stuff stores in Eugene has multi- plied, meaning there are more streets I cannot walk down without stopping. Conveniently, stuff stores often double as gift stores, full of things that people sim- ply don’t know yet that they really, really need. I spent an afternoon browsing through four of my favorite stops for rela- tively inexpensive ($30 or less) gift notions — a pile of things certain to be a hit with someone on your shopping list. To step into Modern (207 E. 5th Ave) is to be assaulted by an array of wonderful things, many of which require that you pick them up, coo over them and then set them down (gently) as you move along to coo over the next thing. Beautiful prints by Ashley Goldberg of Missouri! Deliciously scented candles! A map that will tell you what station you can pick up NPR on, no matter where you are in the country! A pug piggy bank! I limited myself to a few items like Kikkerland salt and pep- per dogs ($10), which are cute without being disgustingly so; My Ductbills DIY duct tape wallet kit ($22), for those of us who like the look but haven’t the craftiness to make such a thing without a kit; a Design International elry, perfumes, arts and crafts supplies or whatever your recipient’s heart desires; and a Woolyhoodwink ($30) — this one’s name is Reddy — who comes with surprises and, so far as I can tell, serves no other purpose than to be cuddly and adorable. Across the street from Modern, in the hallowed halls of 5th Street Public Market, you can find more than just food, wine and coffee in Marché Provisions ; you can also find practical items so prettily designed that they’re far more appealing than they have any right to be. Take, for instance, the For Life tea mug ($20), with its built-in strainer and heat-keeping lid that doubles as a coaster. Pair that up with a cute tin of Harney & Sons hol- iday tea ($3.50) and you’re set, right? Or pick up a set of melamine plates from Savannah College of Art and Design’s Working Class Studio ; at $7.50 a pop, the pretty designs are begging to be mixed and matched (slightly larger plates and a platter are Collection miniature designer chair ($15, available in many, many designs); a Queen Bee coin purse ($18), made in Portland and something I’ve been coveting since I saw it on www.elsewares.com, an online shop of nothing but covetable items; a Milano Series jewelry box ($25), quite roomy, full of handy dividers and ready to be used for jew- MILANO SERIES JEWELRY BOX AT MODERN DIY DUCT TAPE WALLET AT MODERN 10 • Eugene Weekly’s Gift Guide 2007 MELAMINE PLATES AT PROVISIONS PAINTINGS YARDSTICK AT LETTERHEAD MOUSTACHE CHARM AT AUGURIE
