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Stockings-a-Stuffing

Friday, December 15, 2006

Be daring. Be unexpected. Be unpredictable. The stocking stuffer is your opportunity to buy a special somebody that little gift that may just end up being the best – or weirdest - thing they've ever received. With that in mind, here are some places to shop and ideas for things to buy:

Homewerx (1055 Davie Street, www.homewerx.ca) - So many options here from martini glasses to tea towels. Or try something from the hilarious line of Koziol office supplies. These unorthodox designs turn everyday, boring items into coloured-plastic reasons to smile, like the Woody CD holder, a big woodpecker whose beak just happens to be  perfect for holding CDs.

Lin (1038 Hamilton Street) - In addition to some amazing jewelry at this Yaletown fixture, we're absolutely in love with their darling ceramic doggy photo holders ($29.90). With models available for a huge assortment of breeds, you can get one that matches your real pet and create a potent one-two punch of canine cuteness.

Designhouse (1110 Mainland Street, www.designhouse.ca) - Bizarre designer housewares abound, including the ever-unique line of products offered by the Italian company Alessi. We like the Mr. Suicide bath plug ($31), a little cartoonish corpse who floats to the surface whenever your pour a bath. Other, less morbid items are also available.

Cherry Bomb (841 Granville Street ) - Belt buckles and sunglasses are stocking options, but the real gems are the retro buttons ($1 to $5) featuring everybody from the Sex Pistols to Batman to Betty Boop. Alternatively, check out the rock n' roll buttons and stickers at The Rock Shop (1076 Granville Street).

Momentum (1237 Burrard Street, www.momentumgrooming.com) - This boutique of grooming supplies is stocking-stuffer heaven for anyone shopping for a guy. You can be safe and pick up any of their amazing soaps, skin creams or body sprays. Or you can be memorable and pick up a pack of Marvis toothpaste ($12), an Italian gourmet teeth-cleaner that comes in an awesome old-style metal tube.

Next week we've got some very, very big gifts (by which we mean expensive) and some ideas for giving away some of your money to a good cause. If you've still got lots of shopping left to do make sure to check out our previous gift guides for great ideas:

• Girls-a-Making-up
• Cooks-a-Cooking
• Thumbs-a-Thumping
• Readers-a-Reading