SANTA’S LITTLE HELPER: holiday decorations

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With tree trimming parties in full swing, what does the considerate guest bring? Booze and potluck specialties are always welcome, but a keepsake ornament can be a continued reminder of your good taste. One impeccable choice is the Everest Ornament, a byproduct of metalworker Jeff Clapp’s reclaimed oxygen tanks, which are collected as part of a campaign to clean up the debris left behind by expeditions to Mt. Everest. The Brunswick, Maine, artist uses a lathe to carve castoffs into decorative bells and bowls that are sold on his website, Bellsfromeverest.com. The tinsel-like metal shavings from the process are encased in a glass bulb, $18.95, finished with a red-and-white ribbon for hanging. They are available from Zerominusplus at Fred Segal in Santa Monica, 500 Broadway, Santa Monica, (310) 395-5718. Below, a selected list of other destinations for out-of-the-ordinary ornaments.

-- Stats Floral (www.statsfloral.com), 120 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, (626) 795-9308. A veritable winter wonderland, with its own Ornament Room, dedicated to glass bulbs. Searching for Santa poised to throw a Super Bowl spiral for the football fan in your life? Look no further.

-- Nickey Kehoe (www.nickeykehoe.com), 730 N. Highland Ave., (323) 957-0370. This new home decor shop has a stash of cool vintage glass and beaded ornaments.

-- Rolling Greens (www.rollinggreensnursery.com), 9528 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City, (310) 559-8656. Known for its orchids and other indoor plants, this nursery boasts a selection of glamorous danglers, including hand-blown orbs and mercury glass ornaments with a decidedly European flair.

-- Urban Outfitters, all locations. If you absolutely, positively must decorate your tree with glass robots and Diet coke cans or Hello Kitty and South Park effigies, UO can hook you up. Naturally, the retailer also has a framed Elvis (Vegas Sun King period) ornament.

-- Moskatel’s (http://www.latimes.com/features/home/la-hm-wanted16oct16203418,1,1216471.story), 733 San Julian St., (213) 689-4830. If you think the art hobby chain Michaels stores is a great resource, check out its downtown cousin in the flower district. It’s massive, and for DIY ornament designers, it offers a vast selection of clear glass bulbs in many shapes that can be customized by the crafty.

-- Retroholiday.com stocks Christopher Radko collectibles and directs shoppers to EBay auctions offering vintage lights and baubles from the ‘50s to the ‘70s, including classic Shiny Brite designs.

-- David Keeps