One-of-a-kind finds
Consignment stores and antique malls are excellent places to forage for one-of-a-kind items that say, “The thought counts — and I put in a lot of thought.” We were instantly drawn to this distressed plaster lion face, (at left) which makes a bold adornment to a door or wall, when we stopped by Lula B’s in Oak Cliff; over in the Design District, we got to choose from any number of vintage tree ornaments (far left) to brighten up your holiday décor. There’s always something to find at Lula B’s, if you put some thought into it.
Lion face ($68) available at Lula B’s
1982 Fort Worth Ave. 214-824-2185.
LulaBsDallas.com.
Ornaments (from $2–$14) available at Lula B’s, 1010 N. Riverfront Drive. 214-749-9236.
LulaBsDallas.com.
The container story
Pandora had a famous one. So did Schrodinger. And pirates. Santa places them under a tree. There’s something exciting about opening a box … and something alluring about the box itself. A custom-made, local-artist-crafted steel gift box is both a container and the present itself — full of promise and hope. Jones Walker Home offers these custom creations in a variety of colors that will pop on Christmas morning. $80.
Available at
Jones Walker Home, 1531 Dragon St.
JonesWalkerHome.com.
Thar she blows!
You know when you hear that a piece of art glass was “mouth blown”? Well, whose breath gave it that shape in the first place? It could be yours. Dallas Glass Art in the Design District sells its own handmade ornaments to gift your friends, but will happily teach you how to make it your own, if you’d rather. Sign up for a class — solos, couples or private parties of six or more — to learn how it’s done, and make your own piece of glass art, where you can choose the color, style and shape under the guidance of an expert. It’s amazingly fun. Classes from $50.
Dallas Glass Art
1820 Irving Blvd. 214-741-1442.
DallasGlassArt.com
Be a collector
The sign of a serious amateur art collector involves knowing what you like, and amassing great iterations of that preference. And if you want to show some style, consider an original piece from local painter Naomi Butler. Her original designs — acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas — are colorful abstracts that will surely speak to any number of art lovers. $295.00
Available from Abstract Art by Naomi 214-274-5060.
AbstractArtByNaomi.com.
Let the genie out
I don’t know about you, but I could use a bottle. Yes, whiskey would be cool, too, but what about a decorative piece of art? These shiny, distressed mercury glass bottles are topped off not with liquor but with one-of-a-kind minerals like quartz crystals and coral. Appeal to the art lover, the decorator and anyone who enjoys uniqueness. $750.
J. Douglas Design
3301 Oak Lawn Ave. 214-522-8100.
JDouglasDesign.com.
Letting the dog on the furniture
You won’t let Fido on the couch because he’ll make a mess, and you don’t let water glasses on the coffee table cuz they leave a ring. But you can fix the best of both worlds with these adorable Dog Is Good coasters by High Cotton. Amusing designs profess messages like “Welcome diversity” and “Make time for play” while reminding us of our four-legged friends. Available in a range of colors, styles and sayings. $3.29.
Available at Hollywood Feed
3425 Knight St. 214-774-9488, and
21 other DFW Hollywood Feed Locations
HollywoodFeed.com.
Art for art’s sake
Gay people like to say, “Pets are our children,” but some people can’t handle the dander and dirt, the feeding and walking. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an exotic pet that was, literally, zero maintenance? We have the answer: The “porcupine” sculpture from Dulce (below). OK, so it’s not as cuddly as a cat, but when you’re looking to give a gift, you want to stand out. And Dulce can help you stand out with its selection of unique consignment items.
Dulce Interior Consignment Showplace
2914 Oak Lawn Ave.
MyDulce.com.
Door décor
What could be a more festive gift than a symbol of the holidays you are celebrating? North Haven Gardens has a variety of living gifts, and those derived from nature, like this wreath made of fiber, twigs and berries — it’s like a breakfast cereal you can look at! $89.99.
North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Road. 214-363-5316.
NHG.com.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition November 18, 2016.