More Locally Made Gifts For Christmas

A great couple who I used to go to church with has this neat little business going on making soaps, salt and sugar scrubs, silk scarves and jewelry.     They also have a blog, Images in Bloom, which is great because it means I get to learn about more places to buy locally made gifts this holiday season.  Here’s 3 more that I discovered thanks to the post, “Restocking, Reenergizing and ready for Winterfest.”

• Collective Upcycle Pop Up is located on Shaker Square between Fire REstaurant and Yours Truely REstaurant in the space that once was the wine shop. Over 30 artists with amazing products, most of which were recycled in some way.
• Cosmic Bobbins Pop Up is in the heart of downtown Tremont, and in fact is the storefront of the building owned by Tremont West Development Corp. A lovely small retail space, but well organized, and more high end on products…
• Winterfest – Check out the vendor tents on Public Square before the big celebration this Saturday!

Or check out their wares on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/imagesinbloom.

Until next time,

Lorelei

Local Gifts and Crafts Made in the USA

Going with my theme for the week I felt that I needed to add “Made in the USA” in the title, but these are actually places where you can buy some local goods, artwork or crafts that would make great Christmas presents.

Holden Arboretum’s Gifts from the Heart of Nature
Craft sale continues through Fri 12/30 from 9AM-5PM. Gifts from the Heart of Nature promotes regional artists with nature inspired works, and crafts made from environmentally responsible materials. Visit HoldenArb.org for event details.

Brecksville Center for the Arts Shoppe for Art
http://www.brecksvillearts.org/shoppeforart….html
Visit our Shoppe for Art, a small gallery in our Highland Drive facility featuring the works of area artists and BCA instructors. Works of art will be on display for one month or more and are available for sale. The Shoppe will also feature fine crafted gift items during special seasonal and holiday gift shows. The Shoppe for Art will be open during regular office hours 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 440-526-6232 for more information.

2011 Made in the 216 Holiday Shoppe at Room Service
http://madeinthe216.com/about.php
MADE IN THE 216 is a shopping event designed to tout the design community of Cleveland and to support those that have chosen to stay and base their creative endeavors right here in ‘the 216’. By showcasing the designers along with musicians and caterers in a setting merchandised and designed to look like a fun and engaging retail space, the guests are encouraged to explore and discover the products and shop and have fun!

Lake Erie Artists Gallery
http://lakeerieartists.com
Lake Erie Artists Gallery offers you the opportunity to browse and collect the finest local Cleveland art, photography, and memorabilia as well as wonderful jewelry from local Cleveland, Ohio artists. Please browse and bookmark our unique art gifts for yourself and your friends. We will ship your gifts just about anywhere in the world safely.

Cleveland Handmade at Winterfest! Sat Nov 26th or Buy Online
http://www.clevelandhandmade.com/
A new part of the festivities will be the Winterfest Village which will include artists and craftspeople (many from Cleveland Handmade Markets) selling their wares in a large, heated tent on Public Square from 3-7pm. Make visiting (and shopping with small business people) a new part of your Holiday tradition!

Can you think of more?

Until next time,

Lorelei

Step 2 Made in the USA

First of all, I am a big Step 2 fan, because it’s a local company like Little Tikes and Build a Dream Playhouses.    But I am now an even bigger fan, because they make it so clear on their website as to what is strictly “Made in the USA,” versus, kinda made in the USA (but by government standards could be labeled as “Made in the USA”, versus not made here at all.

http://www.step2.com/made-in-usa/

I’ve written a bit about Step 2 in the past:

• Step2 Store in Streetsboro
• Cleveland Holiday Shopping Tips and Toys R Us 15% Off Coupon

Visit the store itself at:

Step2 Store
10010 Aurora-Hudson Rd.
Streetsboro, OH

And, according to their Facebook page:

Don’t miss your chance to get additional savings for Black Friday Weekend!
If you come into the store now through November 23rd, you can receive a coupon for 25% off one product (excluding clearance)!

Until tomorrow,

Lorelei

Build a Dream Playhouses Made in the USA

If you’ve ever used an old refrigerator box to make a fort for your kids, you may want to check out Build a Dream Playhouses.  But Build a Dream offers more than just cardboard playhouses.   I’m actually town between the Cosmic Cruiser and the Dream Machine myself.    Oh yeah, and they another great Cleveland-based company!

http://buildadreamplayhouses.com/our-story/

Until tomorrow,

Lorelei

K’NEX Made in the USA

Ok, according to their website, 90% are Made in the USA, in Pennsylvania to be specific: 

http://www.knex.com/News_and_Events/American-Made.php

Apparently, motors and special parts are Made in China, if you read the fine print.   But, considering K’NEX makes the kind of toys my 5 year-old boy would like to play with (building toys, similar to Legos), I’m afraid I’m not going to do much better than that.  

Until tomorrow,

Lorelei

Made in The USA For Christmas

Ok, so maybe it becomes “not Made in China” week, but there’s already a blog set up for that. 

After making some purchases for Christmas already, I have decided from this point forward I am only buying Christmas presents not made in China.   Unfortunately, the Fisher Price Trio Hot Wheels toys our 5 year-old had picked out are apparently made in China, as well as the entire set of my niece’s “American Girl” items.    This is officially my tipping point.   Since we’ve moved into our house, we’ve received several items made in China that we did not expect to be made in China.   Recently, landscape path lights from Kichler (based in Cleveland, Ohio), furniture from Hekman (based in Michigan) and furniture from Fine Furniture Design Manufacturers (based in North Carolina).  

So this week, with so many great toys Made in the USA, I am going to highlight one company each day of this week for you. 

Today I begin with Hudson, Ohio based Little Tikes.    I’m fairly certain we’re all familiar with Little Tikes, but what you may not know is, if there are large items you’d like to order from them but don’t want to pay hefty shipping charges, you can pick up the items at their facilities in Hudson.    We’ve done this before, and from what my hubby tells me, it was a fairly easy process.  Little Tikes has a list of all of their toys that are Made in the USA:

http://www.littletikes.com/made-in-the-usa-toys

Additionally, Little Tikes has a great email you can subscribe to that offers discounts on various toys throughout the year.

Will you be buying American this year for Christmas?   I just get so excited when I can actually find things made here, so I wanted to share.

Until tomorrow,

Lorelei

Lakeshore Learning Store Open in Beachwood Grand Opening Sale

Lakeshore Learning has opened a store in Beachwood!   Visit during the 3-day Grand Opening Sale, October 14-16.   Save 50% on grand opening specials, plus take advantage of free crafts for the kids, games and product demos and drawings throughout the day, plus $15 off your purchase of $50 or more with this coupon.

Location and hours are as follows:

27500 Chagrin Blvd.
Beachwood, OH 44122

216-378-9488
Fax 216-378-9617

Monday-Saturday 9:00-8:00
Sunday 11:00-6:00

Step2 Store in Streetsboro

After driving by the Step2 Store in Streetsboro every time I go to my sister’s house for as long as I can remember I finally decided to stop in.    Actually, I decided to stop in because my husband and I wanted to buy one of the heavy duty garbage cans that they make, in an attempt to keep the raccoons from eating our garbage, and an attempt to find something the garbage men can’t destroy.

The garbage can is awesome, and for $49.99 I certainly can’t complain about the price!  Our neighbors on both sides have them and the guys tell me that they hold up better than the other ones they’ve gone through.    This is the can, it’s called the Big 60:

http://www.step2.com/product.cfm?product_id=1082

Well, I obviously knew that Step2 sells toys, and I’ve purchased several from them in the past, having my sister conveniently pick them up for me.    What I didn’t realize until I went to the store is that, first off, you can get the best prices on their products by going directly to their store.    They have everything, out of the box, so you can see it.   They also have a clearance bin of half-off items, which are in good condition but the box may be banged up so they can’t sell it for full-price.   They also sell floor samples of some items throughout the year at a good discount.  And one last thing I didn’t realize, Infantino is a Step2 product, which means it is made in the USA.   It also means that if you go to the Step2 store, they have shelves full of Infantino products, and from what I could recall the prices were better than at other stores.

Step2 is really easy to get to, it’s right off of the Frost Road exit of 480, an exit away from I-80 (the turnpike).   I’d recommend that you stop by there if you are interested in getting some of their bigger items, Infantino baby toys, or need a really good garbage can!

Until next time,

Lorelei

(Toy) Kitchen Floor Model Sale Going on Now!

At Step2 in Streetsboro, right off of 480 at the Frost Road exit:

Save up to $70 on a Step2 Floor Model Kitchen. Sale price, regular retail price and total savings are posted under each pic in the album. There is only one of each. They have been gently played with in the store. Most accessories included. Plus, you don’t have to assemble it!

Check it out on their Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=43431&id=104932556207682

Relic 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway

Just wanted to pass along a special holiday giveaway to your readers from Relic (a Fossil brand) that I just found out about: http://bestfitcorp.com/relicpage/,  they are giving away watches, jewelry, handbags, etc and you will also get a coupon code to use on their site — 50% off!

Happy Holidays!