Tabletop 'jewelry' for every season

Nora Fleming dresses up plates and platters with ceramic icons, or "minis." She offers 30 different minis (like the Easter egg and bunny, shown), which fit into a hole in the rim of her serving pieces. She offers six of those, including the candy/garnish dish, shown.
See the Nora Fleming website for all the minis.
With one basic serving piece, a hostess can change the look for every season, holiday or special event (from bridal and baby showers to Super Bowl parties).
Nora Fleming introduces a new mini every few months, and she offers a 12-slot box to keep the collection organized.
Retailers: See Nora Fleming at the Atlanta and New York gift shows.
Shoppers: Can't find it? Ask your favorite retailer to order this product.

Stylish decanters

Vellum's decanters are hand-blown by artisans in Romania. They range in height from 15 inches to 17 inches, and they hold about 32 ounces. Their obvious use is to decant wine. But how about serving orange juice? Wouldn't that make mornings a little more stylish? Or place the set on the bathroom vanity and fill with stems. See more at the Vellum website (trade only).
Retailers: See the company at markets in Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York.
Shoppers: Can't find it? Ask your favorite retailer to order this product.

Aunt Mary Mary Wants You!

Uncle Sam might want you, too. But for sure Chicago gift and home retailer Mary Mary does. The sign outside its store says, "Shopping is your Patriotic duty! It stimulates the economy."

Metallic-finish candles for spring

I thought these animals were mercury glass when I saw them at the Living and Giving gift show at Chicago's Merchandise Mart. Instead, they are candles from Seda France's La Menagerie collection.

Easter bunnies, spring chickens and gnomes have a vivid metallic finish in silver, electric pink, springtime green and aqua. The collection includes dogs, deer and trees. The company recommends them for decorative purposes only, not for burning.

Shoppers: can't find it? Ask your favorite retailer to order this product.

"Weight" a minute

Packed too many souvenirs for the trip home? Just how much does that suitcase weigh? Don't be surprised at the airport and pay a hefty excess baggage fee. Travelon's Stop-N-Lock luggage scale has the answer. See other scales and more travel gadgets and accessories at Travelon's website.

Shoppers: can't find it? Ask your favorite retailer to order this product.

Reed diffusers in 20 fragrances

Jodhpuri Collections' new 6-ounce Essential reed diffuser line uses non-alcohol based fragrances. Each bottle is adorned with a decorative silver neck ring and comes with 12 10-inch-long reeds. The line consists of 20 fragrances. See the Jodhpuri website for more information about potpourri, incense, fragrant oils and related products.

Shoppers: can't find it? Ask your favorite retailer to order this product.

Stylish Swiss floor fan

Swizz Style is in the habit of giving its products human names. Meet Otto, a 13 1/2-inch-diameter wood-veneered room fan. It has three speeds and height-adjustable feet. Swizz Style, with an office in the U.S., is an affiliate of Stadler Form, an award-winning home furnishings firm based in Switzerland. See more at the Swizz Style website.

Shoppers: can't find it? Ask your favorite retailer to order this product.

Child's night light

Adam Nelson's son was getting out of bed too early. So dad invented the Good Nite Lite and told his son, "Stay in bed until the moon changes back to the sun." The behavior modification technique worked, and now father and son are getting the rest they both need. The 6-inch-diameter nightlight fits into a standard socket. More information at the Good Nite Lite website.

Shoppers: can't find it? Ask your favorite retailer to order this product.

Portable espresso maker

The Handpresso travel kit holds an espresso maker, carafe, four cups, coffee pods, sugar and spoons. The portable espresso machine won the 2008 Formland Design Award from Formland, Scandinavia's most prestigious trade show. The travel kit was introduced at the 2009 International Home and Housewares show in Chicago.

The maker is a bit like a bicycle pump. The user creates pressure in the pump and pours in hot water from a carafe. The water is forced through the grounds into a cup. The new travel kit is an ideal gift for picnic-goers. More at the handpresso website.

Shoppers: can't find it? Ask your favorite retailer to order this product.