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