A Dozen Gift Ideas

A dozen gift ideas to inspire
BY John Meing

Still shopping for Christmas gift ideas? We've come up with a dozen for a spouse, best friend, mom or other recipient who's trying to improve his or her health. Who knows, you might even find something for yourself. Happy shopping! (A caveat: If you don't know how the person will react, giving one of these "it's good for you" gifts might not be a good idea. You could be sending a message he or she doesn't want to hear.)

SMALLER PLATES

Why give it: Smaller dishes provide a visual reminder to eat less. One company markets the Diet Plate, marked off into serving areas, and a bowl with "fill to here" rings. But a salad or luncheon plate in a beautiful design would serve the same purpose.

Price: The Diet Plate sells for $35; a set of simple salad plates is about the same amount.

Where to shop: Where dinnerware is sold; online for the Diet Plate.

HEART RATE MONITOR

Why give it: WichiTalk reader Barbara Eklund says the Polar F6 she got for Mother's Day has inspired her to work harder at the gym, whether she's in a cardio class or doing weight training. A heart rate monitor is used to track your heart rate, one way of monitoring how hard you're exercising. Hers also tells her how many calories she has burned.

Price: The Polar F6 sells for $120, but other models are available for less -- and more.

Where to shop: Sporting goods stores.

PEDOMETER

Why give it: It's a constant reminder to be more active. Pedometers count how many steps you take; fitness experts say that taking 10,000 steps a day is one way to stay fit. Some pedometers also display distance, calories burned, speed and other statistics.

Price: $15 to $60.

Where to shop: Sporting goods or discount stores.

PERSONAL TRAINING

Why give it: Working with a trainer can provide motivation, instruction or help in reaching a goal. And you don't have to be a gym member: Online training is available, perfect for the person who needs 24-hour access.

Price: $30 to $65 a session at a gym, depending on the facility, the trainer and the number of sessions you get. Online programs are $15 to $50 a month.

Where to shop: Local fitness facilities or online.

JUMP ROPE

Why give it: Jumping rope burns fat, increases stamina and firms muscles. It's portable, so it's great for people who travel. Choose one made of plastic or plastic beads for durability; look for a swivel turning action.

Price: $8 to $15; weight-training ropes are about $50.

Where to shop: Discount or sporting goods stores.

DIGITAL SCALE

Why give it: They're sleek, decorative and a reminder of where you are and where you want to be. Some measure body fat; some track previous, current and goal weights for multiple users; some are solar-powered; others handle 400 pounds.

Price: $35 to more than $400.

Where to shop: Discount or sporting goods stores; Finest Linens and Things; Bed, Bath & Beyond.

DIET OR FITNESS JOURNAL

Why give it: Studies have shown that people who track their workouts or what they eat are more successful than those who don't. WichiTalk reader Karen Ryno designed her own after not finding one that included all the features she wanted; she now sells her Body Balance Nutrition and Fitness Tracker. A blank journal or small notebook would be a way to get started.

Price: From 79 cents for a pocket notebook on up. Many fitness and nutrition journals, including Ryno's, sell for about $15. Online versions are about $40 per year.

Where to shop: Bookstores, discount stores. Ryno's is at www.bodybalancetracker.com and other places listed there.

RESISTANCE BANDS

Why give it: A set provides an easy way to work out for someone who travels a lot or adds variety for regular gym-goers. They're appropriate for all ages.

Price: $6 to $20, depending on how many you get. Many come in sets of three.

Where to shop: Sporting goods and discount stores.

SOMETHING TO LAUGH AT

Why give it: Laughter is the best medicine. It helps relieve stress, boosts levels of endorphins and may even protect you from a heart attack. What you choose depends on the recipient. One idea: a title from the American Film Institute's 100 funniest films. The top 10 include "Some Like It Hot," "Tootsie," "Blazing Saddles" and "Airplane!"

Price: Depends on what you choose. A video is $10 or less.

Where to shop: Again, it depends on what you choose.

COOKBOOK

Why give it: To inspire someone who is trying to lose weight or who has recently gotten a new medical diagnosis. You'll find a variety: for the reality-show fan, "The Biggest Loser Cookbook"; for someone with celiac, "The Gluten-Free Gourmet Cooks Comfort Foods: Creating Old Favorites With New Flours"; for the vegetarian, "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World: 75 Dairy-Free Recipes for Cupcakes That Rule."

Price: $15 and up.

Where to shop: Bookstores, online, organizations such as the American Diabetes Association.

DAWN ALARM CLOCK

Why give it: These clocks simulate sunrise, providing a kinder, gentler way to wake up. They don't take the place of light boxes, used to counteract "winter blues," but some people say that waking to light makes them feel better mentally.

Price: $70 to $180.

Where to shop: Online. We couldn't find any sold locally, but if we missed a source, let us know: We'll pass along the word.

NEW PILLOW

Why give it: Sometimes, that's all that's needed for a good night's sleep. Know whether the recipient is a back, side or stomach sleeper. Then, you can choose from foam, polyester, down or some combination.

Price: $5 to $140 (you tend to get what you pay for).

Where to shop: Department stores; Bed, Bath & Beyond; Finest Linens and Things, www.finestlinensandthings.com

KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED

This one might be on our list -- but it won't be available until late February or March, and it costs $300. Still, the Yamaha BodiBeat sounds pretty cool. You upload your favorite music, then head out for your workout. It finds the songs that match your tempo: Speed up, and it switches to a faster song. Slow down, and so does the music. Or you can set your target heart rate and it finds the songs to get you there. Or you can just listen to music. Watch www.bodibeat.com for updates on availability.

William Yeoward, Cristal Designer & Maker, Promoting His Book

by Cary Sommes for Finest Linens and Things

Let's be honest, How often do you use your fine crystal? William Yeoward uses his every day, from morning until evening.

Of course, Mr. Yeoward would. He designed more than 1,000 pieces in the William Yeoward Crystal line, a handmade collection inspired by the 18th- and 19th-century Georgian designs that once graced the tables of the great country houses in England and Ireland.

But Mr. Yeoward cautions that one need not wait for an invitation from the queen to pull out finery.

"A number of people ... hide away their things for the best [day], but then the best [day] doesn't come, and the next thing that does come is that they're dead," he says.

Mr. Yeoward follows his own advice, starting his day with juice in a large crystal highball and winding down the day with glasses of wine.

"I drink huge quantities of wine," he says with a laugh.

Surrounding himself as he does with such beauty – along with crystal, Mr. Yeoward is known for his home furnishing, linen, lighting and sterling silver designs – it is no wonder Mr. Yeoward's book Perfect Tables: Tabletop Secrets, Settings and Centerpieces for Delicious Dining is in its fourth printing in only a year's time.

"This is a journey about looking at everyday objects in a new way while showcasing our work," he says.

For instance, he suggests skipping napkin rings and substituting children's bracelets or binding table linens with twine knotted around lily blossoms. (Cut off the stamens first, he cautions, because lily pollen stains cloth.)

But for those hostesses who lack today's required chutzpah for party planning, Mr. Yeoward will be in Dallas to provide design directives at Kappa Kappa Gamma's 13th annual Tablescapes by Candlelight.

The annual fundraiser for the Dallas alumnae association's charitable efforts will host the posh tastemaker at the Dallas Country Club on Monday and Tuesday. The Tuesday luncheon is sold out, but there is a champagne preview at 6:30 p.m. Monday ($150) and a cocktail reception at 7:30 p.m. ($110).

For tickets, call Anne Patton at 214-668-1902.

Expect Mr. Yeoward to expound on the joys of mixing china patterns and styles, motivating the crowd to move beyond the matching sets grandmother handed down. Mr. Yeoward is an advocate for spicing up the formal table, setting vintage next to retro next to contemporary next to antique.

But most of all, be prepared to be moved by Mr. Yeoward's exhortations for moxie, something hostesses today need more than anything, he says.

A perfect party, he claims, is really about mastering psychology.

"What do you really need? You need nerve."

Perfect Tables

William Yeoward

(Cico Books, $29.95)

JANNA home Textile Ltd- from CHINA, FAKING ORIGINAL EUROPEAN PRODUCTS FROM USA WEBSITES

JANNA HOME TEXTILES with its websites http://http://www.home-bedding.cn/ is stealing images from American and European sites and lying saying it is being manufactured on their facilities.

This is another SCAM from Chinese companies, that only serve to produce the worst of the worst products and delivery to American thru dishonest business in here.

Beware for not make business with these Chinese company. Just another company from china to deceive to the world wide people.

JANNA HOME TEXTILE, DISHONEST, THIEF OF IMAGES FROM TRUE PRODUCT COMPANY BUSINESS.

BY FINEST LINENS AND THINGS which does not do ANY business with JANNA HOME TEXTILE and other dishonest companies from China or anywhere else.

Sofa Throw Styles by Finest Linens and Things

It's fall. It's getting chilly. We're in no mood to go out. Time to hunker down with the remote control, a bowl of popcorn and a fancy sofa throw that costs more than some sofas.

American households with incomes of $75,000 or more spent an average of $4,000 on luxury bedding and linens last year, a 37% increase over 2005, according to Unity Marketing, a Stevens, Pa., research firm. Retailers are selling updated versions of the humble afghan at prices in the triple and even quadruple digits.

This week's Best Value is the soft, $249 baby-llama throw from Finest Linens and Things, woven in a sophisticated Irish Cashmere pattern. Best Overall cashmere throws money can buy.

For more information on Irish Pure Cashmere throws please visit Finest Linens and Things online.

How to Choose Table Linens by Finest Linens and Things

How to choose a table linens?

First of all, when buying table linens you need to know the necessity of the new tablecloth will serve?

1) Do you want a formal and luxurious table linen?

2) Or you need a Casual or everyday table linen ?

3) Easy to take care or you don't mind ironing?

4) How much you want to spend on your new tablecloth?

Elegant and Luxury Table linens you not be what you need if you will not serve banquets or very formal dinners.

If you need it, there are several styles and material of table linens you should consider before purchase it.

- Linen is one of the most luxurious materials, as well as Silk, Egyptian cotton, Cotton Blended (linen, cotton, silk..) , Lace, Embroidered, Monogrammed. Colors: White, Beige, Patterned, other Solid Color.

For Casual table linens or everyday table linens, consider:

- Cotton, Cotton blended with polyester for easy care, machine embroidery. Colors: Multi Colors, white, solid colors

- Usually casual table linens are blended with synthetic materials for easy to care maintenance.

You can also select your table linens by Holiday occasion, for example:

a) For Valentine's Day - choose a romantic solid color for exemple: White, Beige, Pink, or Red.

It can be casual or formal table linens.

b) For Christmass e Holiday - choose table linens with the theme that will coodinate with your tabletops and dinnerware.

c) For ThanksGiving - also choose table linens that will coordinate with the theme and colors.

It doesn't matter what do you plan to buy as table linens, just buy what you like and you think it will coordinate with what you have as dinnerware, serverware and so on.

Table linens that you enhance your mood and your dinner room and have a good time.

By Finest Linens and Things

The Passion for Handmade Dinnerware by Finest Linens and Things

The Passion of Handmade table tops, specially dinnerware is going strong. "I guess people realize that ordinary mass producttion dinnerware just don't do it" says Finest Linens and Things Store manager..

We couldn't agree more... Handmades are special and it can worth in value for the future generations.

Italian Ceramic Vases

Nothing bits the poweful creativity of handmade and hand painted Italian Vases.

Sunshine is available excluively by Finest Linens and Things

The Company Store Changing retail boundaries

By Cindy Hall for Finest Linens and Things

More casual furniture manufacturers are moving into retail roles. In addition to Brown Jordan International opening two Elegant Outdoors model stores in Houston, Laneventure is partnering with retailers in California and Florida while Summer Classics' licensed stores are opening this month in Nashville and St. Louis. A few outdoor furniture makers have stores in or near their headquarters, like Ebel in Jacksonville, Fla., and Kettler in Virginia Beach, Va. Other manufacturer/retail operations have shared owners for years.

Webb Carter, Carter Grandle chairman and CEO, is among the manufacturers who oppose the migration. "I think it's very greedy for a manufacturer to try to go sell his goods against the people who feed him," Carter said. "To me, it's a desperate situation if I'm going to cross the bridge and cut out the people who have made me what I am."


Ken Ehrlich, president of Harrow's, is among the retailers alarmed by outdoor furniture manufacturers moving along the company-owned store path blazed by residential furniture makers, such as La-Z-Boy. "The challenge is to try and find out where the mind is of the manufacturers that they're supporting and advertising with their retail dollars," Ehrlich said. "Are they looking to go forward? Are these the first steps in a very bad trend of manufacturers deciding to compete with retailers?"


Bill Echols, BJI president of retail and contract divisions, said the intent in opening Elegant Outdoors stores in the Houston market was to provide a model its dealers can visit, see how it operates and the potential profitability in following part or all of a turnkey plan. He said BJI does not plan to open stores outside of Houston.

"The purpose of these stores is to show at least one strategy to separate yourself from what the mass merchant's doing and to demonstrate the profitability of that strategy," Echols said. "So it's not a matter of Brown Jordan International wanting to go into the retail business as it is to create an environment to demonstrate the strategy we believe works for the retailer."


Too many casual specialty stores are filling their floors with a much higher percentage of import goods and offering fewer choices, he added. "We get very concerned when we see the number of products on a dealer's floor that a consumer cannot pick the fabric or the finish they want — that really is the main difference a specialty retailer has over a mass merchant," Echols said. "Every time they diminish the number of floor spots that enhance their difference, they're diminishing their ability to compete."


Summer Classics was among the first casual furniture manufacturers to test retail waters in the late 1980s in Birmingham, Ala. What started as quarterly sales of overstocks, returns and damaged goods at its factory showroom grew through consumer demand and lack of competition. Another company-owned store opened in April 2001 in a former nursery in Raleigh, N.C., followed by a store in Charlotte, N.C., and licensed stores last year in Mobile and Huntsville, Ala. Licensed stores are set to open this month in Nashville and St. Louis while four additional licensed Summer Classics locations will open over the next 18 months.


Summer Classics' No. 1 goal was to build its brand name and its secondary goal was to improve displays of its furniture on retail floors, President Bew White said.
"In our business, a lot of dealers do a great job with display, but generally display has been in the past not very good," White said. "It has to do with a lack of competition to some degree. As long as they're successful and can throw the stuff out there on the floor and sell some of it, they're going to be happy and do the same thing next year."
Smaller dealers didn't invest in their store to improve merchandising, even with as small a cost as painting the walls. "Now, I've seen the big dealers come in and open more stores, but those dealers are trying to build their own brand," White said. They buy less from manufacturers, remove labels or change them into their own logos and rely more on direct import programs.


On the other hand, nurseries that converted their stores to make room for casual furniture were amazed at the results. Summer Classics Vice President Harold Hudson recalled asking Dave Mansfield, owner of Mansfield Nursery in St. Louis, how many bedding plants he had to sell to equal his margins on his first sale of outdoor furniture. "From the first year, he doubled what he was buying from us," Hudson said. "He got in the Shops program four or five years ago and has been one of our top five Shops retailers. And here it is six years later, he's converting his store over to a Summer Classics store."


When manufacturers move into retail, other retailers often are angered. "Usually the ones who have had heated conversations with me have never bought from me so they don't understand what I'm trying to do," White said. "The fact is we all have a lot better chance of building a brand together than trying to build a brand by selling a lot of different products for a lot of different manufacturers. What I'm really doing is what has been done in a lot of other industries — apparel, furniture." He compares it to the Ralph Lauren business model.


Gary McCray, Laneventure vice president of marketing, has an inside view of dealer-owned stores in the residential furniture industry through parent company Lane. Ethan Allen and La-Z-Boy were among the first to try dedicated stores, but spawned vigorous movement from others including Ashley, Bassett, Broyhill, Drexel Heritage and Thomasville.


"The indoor furniture industry is being driven by what's happening with imports, and what's happening with companies trying to control and strengthen their brand," McCray said. "One way to do that is to have more of a retail presence."


Laneventure plans no company-owned stores, but will partner more with retailers in the same way as its first venture in 2002 with World of Outdoor Living in Dalton, Ga. Retail partnerships with Authenticity in Banner Elk, N.C., and Four Seasons in Memphis followed. Last month, Laneventure worked with a retailer to open a store in Irvine, Calif., adjacent to Lane, Henredon and Drexel Heritage stores. This month, Laneventure partnered with a long-time Port Charlotte, Fla., dealer who is opening a store adjacent to a Lane store.


"It's an opportunity for us to build our distribution or enhance and build a stronger display," McCray said. He predicts the industry impact will depend on how manufacturers go about moving into retail. "In our case, we're looking at it on a limited scale, where it makes sense to increase distribution and be able to do more business," McCray said. "There's a place for it in the industry. I think it will make the industry better and stronger. What we want to do is take the things we learn in these partnerships and be able to spread it to the independent stores that we work with as well. It's certainly not our position that we want to move into areas where we already have distribution, we just want to enhance our company in area we don't and enhance our business with independent retailers where we do."


Paul Varshney, president of Suncoast Furniture, sold its retail store in Fort Myers, Fla., about three years ago. "The reason we sold was it was taking some of our time away from manufacturing," Varshney said. "We thought it was better for us to stay in manufacturing, which we do best, instead of us doing retail. The other thing was retailers were not feeling good about us. They thought that if we were doing retail in Fort Myers, it can happen that after a few years down the road we would be doing retail in their territory. We thought it was better to just get out of retailing so that way the retailers would have more confidence."


White realizes retailers who have sold 20 lines for 20 years will find it more difficult to change their way of thinking about working with manufacturers. "If I were a smart retailer, I would go and look at them all and say: Do I need to do this? Or can I compete with this? If you're comfortable that you can compete with it, then don't worry about it. But it's available for you to do it. Still almost no retailers, other than the ones who buy in excess of $300,000 from me, are looking at it. Frankly, it doesn't work very well for people who are in the business and don't have an open mind."


Hudson said he was surprised recently during visits to retailers when they asked "Are you bringing a Summer Classics store to California?" rather than seeking information about the licensing program itself.

Echols said he doesn't see dealer-owned stores being the strategy or marketing push of casual furniture manufacturers. "What I hear from my fellow manufacturers is: How do we make our retailers better? I think that's the overall goal for all of us."
Brown Jordan International recently opened two Elegant Outdoors model stores in Houston.

Laneventure plans to partner with more retailers like it did in 2002 with the World of Outdoor Living. The Dalton, Ga., store features Laneventure products in several vignettes.

Sponsored by Finest Linens and Things

Home Textile Colors by Finest Linens and Things

What color schemes will Finest Linens and Things toward in 2008? What are the rationales behind the choices? What kinds of textures, patterns and materials will accompany these directions?

Finest Linens and Things store owners will focused its team of ten experts in the areas of home living and lifestyles on the task of defining the future look and feel of home textiles. Their conclusions are captured in the company’s Home 2008 presentation, which reveals color palettes, textures, patterns, and the inspirations behind it all.

The Pure color plan reflects all things natural, of the earth or that mimic earthy elements. The colors are soft and “barely there,” and project a feeling of serenity. The materials are lightweight and billowy. The inspiration for the actual colors comes from hard stone surfaces such as marbles and granites.

The fabrics in this grouping have extreme textures, a way to differentiate products without print. White-on-white matelasse effects are gaining popularity with low-twist yarns for loftiness in towels, and towels with puckering for a searsucker effect.


"Multi-cultural influences and interpretations or updates of aboriginal motifs will be key.The blues will continue strongly into 2008. White, and white on black will be “big” in 2008, says Finest Linens and Things owners.

The Stability category fabrics are made with precision and strength. Qualities of architecture interpreted into fabrics will be present, along with a masculine color palette. The colors are serene with structured, restrained, small-scale patterns and textures, some rendered with sophistication and elegance. For example, pinwale corduroy with embroidery.


Upholstery is sturdy, and fabrics contain hints of fuzziness and pile.


Fabrics here are hand-made or hand-touched, but not crafty or kitschy.

Today, people aren’t acting or dressing the way they used to at the same age. The average age of a video gamer, for example, used to be in the teens, while today it is 37. People are living longer. More have the ability to travel and experience adventures. There is also a trend among young people not only to be rebellious, which is an expected trait, but to take on works of philanthropy. These changes produce agelessness, and sense of wonder and playfulness.
The qualities of fantasy and imagination come into play as textiles are designed as though the creator is looking through the eyes of a child. Whimsical Asian patterns, conversational prints, and motifs consisting of an animal repeated are examples of this direction.


The children’s textile market has skyrocketed. Offerings in that category will be more stylized. The horse will take center stage among animal motifs.



For more on Home 2008, visit Finest Linens and Things whose mission is to build the market for cotton through research and promotion .

Bedding Vendor Selection at Finest Linens and Things stores

For modern bedding with “bling” to retro pillow patterns inspired by British wallpaper, Dallas holds the golden ticket. At the peak of its year-long 5 of Finest Linens and Things stores.

Catherine Lillywhite’s strikes while the iron is hot on a trend the company sees in the home furnishings industry—flocking. This decorative velvet-like decoration is reflected in the fabric of Catherine Lillywhite’s new Davino & Damask Collection, a line of table runners, placemats, cocktail and square napkins, jewelry boxes, decorative boxes and wine bottle bags made of 50/50 poly-nylon blend. The collection is available in burgundy, green, brown and silver jewel tones.

Delicate beading and embroidery call attention to the new lines of decorative pillows and table linens from the Saro Trading Company. Its English Garden Collection makes use of fresh color and design with toppers and square pillows available in sage, mocha and caramel with embroidered Queen Ann Lace flowers. All are made of 100% polyester and available at Finest Linens and Things bedding department.

Catstudio adds whimsy and adventure to the dining table with the addition of placemats and napkin sets to its Geography Collection. Both are adorned with machine embroidery, mixed with silk-screened colors that depict most U.S. states and a variety of cities, regions, national parks and countries. They are 100% cotton, machine washable and are trimmed with a hand-dyed, multi-colored ric rac. The placemats are sold as singles and the napkins are sold in sets of four. Both come packaged in an organdy pouch; available at Finest Linens and Things Table Linens floor.

Lima Bean Baby looks to problem solve for baby in a playful style with multi-functional novelty products. The “Baby Cooz” was created to help prevent a child from throwing or dropping a bottle onto the floor. It is insulated with Insul-Brite to keep beverages warm or cold and adjustable to fit most bottles and sippy cups. The Baby Cooz’s fabric choices are 100% cotton, are available in five different colorways and decorated with grosgrain ribbons, metal d-rings and a suspender clip.

My Vintage Baby, the couture children’s apparel manufacturer, unveils its new luxury line of infant bedding. Collections blend both one of a kind vintage materials and “bling” for its new crib bedding collections by combining doupioni silks, rich velvets and Swarovski crystals. Sets include a bumper pad, dust ruffle and fitted crib sheet. Quilts and pillows are also offered as accessory items.
Pacific Coast Home Furnishings debuts a new bedding collection with apparel designer Jessica. Finest Linens and Things selection of baby crib bedding.

McClintock. Brighton, from the Jessica McClintock Home line, features soft palettes and patterns, and mixes opal-colored taffeta with black flocking and cream-colored dupioni silk and black velvet. Pearls and brochettes accent the decorative pillows for a chic finish.

Ten Bears’ Tea Party Collection opts for a more subtle, traditional palette with bedding and table linens that have been tea-dyed to achieve an antiqued effect, resulting in color variations unique to each piece. The collection is handquilted in India and features 100% cotton covers and fill. All bedding sizes are available, except twin, and the collection includes shams, dust ruffles, decorative pillows, throws, placemats, napkins and table runners.

Fashion bedding from Catfish Bite aims to liven up retro patterns with modern details. The inspiration for the colors for its new Urban Pad Collection came from popular chocolate bars in the U.K. during the ’60s and ’70s. The bedding is made of yarn-dyed woven textiles in espresso and wheat, surf teal and khaki accented with tomato red. Retro pillow print designs came from an old wallpaper document from around the ’50s and ’60s, but are updated with a new teal spa color and accented with metal washers and chains. All fabrics are 100% cotton.

New bedding from Ann Gish looks to appeal to both traditional and trendy markets with its Dynasty Collection, which features a popular shade of blue paired with taupe for a soft contrast alongside a traditional pattern. The collection is fabricated from poly-quilted diamonds on a cotton/poly blend and is available in duvets and shams, sold individually.

Finest Linens and Things Collection rugs also touch on both classic and modern with the introduction of an Oushak line. Its Yvette rug features elegant designs and sophisticated shades of vegetable dyed wool, depicting Old World sophistication and detail down to its brushed fringe and soft subdued coloring. Each hand-knotted rug is made entirely from imported wool which creates a naturally stain resistant and durable fiber that also achieves a rich texture.