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Gift picks for the home: blankets, bowls, birdhouses and more

The usefulness of an oversized jewel is debatable, but the amusing design of this piece of textured clay makes it a novel gift for the home. It’s part of a home decor collection from Michele Quan, founder of the Me & Ro jewelry line, that also includes porcelain and stoneware bells.

$245 for 6.5-inch white jewel, $375 for 7.5-inch jewel in rainbow-colored glaze, MQuan.bigcartel.com (MQuan.com)

The Pasadena curiosity shop Gold Bug has the hand-blown glass of local artist Evan Chambers. Some of his vases have a finish that evokes traditional Tiffany glass but come in forms that pleasingly depart from convention.

$120 to $280, Gold Bug, 22 E. Union St., Pasadena, (626) 744-9963 (Gold Bug)

For some of Gold Bug’s goth goodness at lower prices, these claw candlesticks, magnifying glass and crown dish have the heft of brass, so they feel substantial as well as novel.

$40 to $75, Gold Bug, 22 E. Union St., Pasadena, (626) 744-9963 (Gold Bug)

For someone who likes their decor to be handmade and humorous: The foxy tooth fairy pillow, at left, has a little pocket to hold the overnight payoff. And how’s this for a narrative? In the pillow at right, a female horse and male donkey have made a baby mule, who emerges from a heart-shaped pocket stitched with a lucky horseshoe.

Fox $84, mule $108, Gold Bug, 22 E. Union St., Pasadena, (626) 744-9963 (Gold Bug)

Even if cute isn’t your thing, it’s hard to resist mice that add a little Bohemian chic to the Christmas tree. We gave this pair an ethereal tree of their own -- handblown glass grapes, actually, that we stood up in planter of pebbles.

Mice $12 a piece, glass tree $38, Colcha, 1416 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, (310) 392-3600 (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

It certainly makes a splash: The silicone Dropp! bowl by the design firm Menu. It’s 10.5 inches in diameter and available in gray, milk white, lime green, hot pink and baby blue.

$50, A+R, 171 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, and 1121 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, (800) 913-0071 (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Organic Modernism has a limited run of these bronze “working woman” statuettes.

$150, 315 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 525-0911 (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Cotton scraps from a T-shirt factory are sorted by hue and reloomed into throw blankets in great color combinations. Drape one on the sofa or stretch across the foot of the bed for a pop of color. $159.99, Kellygreen, 2149 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 353-0488, and 2525 Main St., Santa Monica, (310) 450-6464 (Kellygreen)

For tabletop baskets with a more refined look, we love these from Haus Interior: restrained in color, streamlined in design and accented with stitched details for a crafty touch.

$70 (7-inch diameter) and $95 (11-inch), Haus Interior, 8211 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, (323) 951-0151 (Haus Interior)

Out of Print licenses vintage book cover artwork for use in note cards, tote bags, T-shirts and more. A set of eight coasters includes covers for “Catch-22,” “On the Road” and “Brave New World,” plus a storage box that looks like a hardcover novel.

$20, outofprintclothing.com (Out of Print)

Humble Ceramics, the line by Los Angeles artist Delphine Lippens, includes these earthy, modern jars with rustic cork lids -- a fresh look at an affordable price for locally crafted ceramics.

$40 to $49, depending on size, DeKor, 2145 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 375-7627. (DeKor)

It¿s amazing how a pattern enters the design zeitgeist (first the Greek key, now the chevron) and suddenly are repeated everywhere. For a geometric design with some fresh angles, wool throw blankets from Haus Interior could do the trick. They come in two neutral, gift-friendly color combinations.

$175, Haus Interior, 8211 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, (323) 951-0151 (Haus Interior)

There’s no place like home, especially a well-lighted one. These charming candlesticks from Ladies & Gentlemen Studio are handmade from fir and copper tubing.

$48 for the pair, two candles included. (Ladies & Gentlemen Studio)

Giant snail shells play host to a different bit of life: air plants that even a brown thumb could keep alive.

$29.99 including wire hanger at Kellygreen, 2149 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 353-0488 (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

This printed wood tray keeps a steady eye on any drinks or bowls your carry out to guests. The store has 14 other designs to choose from, too.

$74, Spitfire Girl, 1939-1/2 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 912-1977. (Spitfire Girl)

Made from reclaimed cedar, this 10-inch-long planter from Andrew’s Reclaimed comes with nonskid pads. Plant teacup succulents or cactuses, and you’ve got a modern indoor garden in miniature. $28. (Andrew’s Reclaimed)

Matte-glazed, speckled stoneware birdhouses by the design firm Roost hang from rope and are topped with recycled teak roofs. They’re available in three styles: Chalet, Bungalow and Tower.

$79 to $89, Digs, (360) 306-8301 (Roost)

Hand-thrown stoneware trays from Terrafirma resemble textiles with a porcelain glaze. Bowls and platters are also available, all dishwasher safe. $80 to $212 at NK Shop, 7221 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 954-9300. (Nickey Kehoe)

Ceramic artist Jen Kuroki creates these stoneware vessels out of her home studio in Los Angeles. Each piece is handmade and painted but still can be used in the microwave and put in the dishwasher. An herb or succulent planter, perhaps? Kuroki also makes lovely ceramic pendants, vases and bowls.

$35 to $55, www.etsy.com/shop/lovebugkiko; www.leifshop.com. (Jen Kuroki)

DOG PILLOWS---For the canine-inclined: dog pillows from Naked Decor, whose designs include the classic Doxie Silhouette in Technicolor splendor and the new Daschund Balloon designs. $49.95, www.nakeddecor.com Credit: Naked Decor (Naked Decor)

For the canine-inclined: dog pillows from Naked Decor, whose designs include the classic Doxie Silhouette in Technicolor splendor and the new dachshund balloon designs. $49.95 (Naked Decor)

Roger Lee, an apprentice to potter Adam Silverman at Heath Ceramics, has been finding an audience for his own designs, which include serving bowls and hanging planters with great palettes and textures. The vase pictured here was $68 at Platform, 5027 York Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 793-9037. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Roger Lee’s vase shown with a bowl and hanging planter in the same finish. All the pieces shown here were bought for less than $100 at Platform, 5027 York Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 793-9037. The store also carries painted ceramics that Lee makes with Kat Hutter, who blogs under the name Paint + Clay. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Altadena ceramist Sharon Mann Garrett’s work includes glazed mugs that, when grouped together, have pronounced variations in shape and size that emphasize their handcrafted charm. You can find her varied designs in some local stores, but Garrett also books private showings of her dinnerware in her home.

Mugs $30 apiece, OK, 8303 W. 3rd St. and 1716 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles, and Workshop SK, 3129-1/2 Glendale Blvd., Atwater Village (Mann Handmade)

Mod potter Jonathan Adler’s latest additions to his ceramic menagerie are matte stoneware figurines accented with colorful, glossy glass. You can choose from owl, fox, lion and koala, all made by hand in Peru. But our fave just might be the 10.5-inch baboon. $78 to $198, Jonathan Adler, 8125 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 658-8390, 1318 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, (310) 458-4545. (Jonathan Adler)

Pauline Boyd’s handmade quilt is made with a wonderful mix of cotton and linen fabrics sourced from the U.S., Cambodia and Myanmar. It measures 80 by 59 inches and is machine washable.

$750, dust bag included, Counterpane (Counterpane)

This graphic throw pillow by Barbara Perrino has a tangerine-colored design on one side, complemented by an oversized brown houndstooth on the back. Each is made to order.

$60, plus $14 for a down insert, B Perrino Quilts (B Perrino Quilts)

K Studio’s new ‘Places’ pillow series details some of the designers’ favorite cities including San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Chicago and Los Angeles. In white organic cotton or hemp with black stitching. Feather/down insert with zipper closure. Dry-clean only.

$152 to $160. K Studio and Modern Folk Living. (K Studio )

Anyone can dress up a party easily with Cake Vintage’s disposable table wrap, part of West Elm’s new market collection. The runner is made with 100% recycled paper and measures 30 inches by 50 inches.

$34.95, West Elm (West Elm)

The cast-iron Pipe tea light holders by Menu are surprisingly hefty little things that can be configured in any number of ways.

$35 each, A+R, 1121 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice, 171 S. La Brea Ave. in Los Angeles, (800) 913-0071. (From A+R)

The just-released Bento cutting board, designed by Atlason and manufactured by Umbra, has a raised bamboo work surface with bowls stowed underneath. The clever design lets you chop and slide food directly into BPA-free bowls.

$40, Umbra (Umbra)

Red ribbons on the canine card holder hint at the holidays, but the reality is that when Christmas has passed, it could be used for photos -- an alternative to a multi-window picture frame.

$59, Wisteria (Wisteria)

As a beachy alternative to cut flowers or a potted poinsettia, the Juicy Leaf garden shop in Venice suggests an arrangement of coral or dried sea fan set atop waves of decorative rock.

Small arrangements, $34.95; large arrangements, from $79.95. 1140 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, (310) 907-5019 (The Juicy Leaf)

The Juicy Leaf also lets customers bring in their own container and design their own arrangement using coral pieces and decorative rock sold at the store.

Pieces of coral for DIY arrangements start at $3.95 each. 1140 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, (310) 907-5019. (The Juicy Leaf)

Bluehaus Interiors’ accessories include leather-trimmed metal mesh trays, $58, and leather caddies for cocktail napkins, $24.

169 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 931-4300 (David A. Keeps)

Old 35mm slides form the lampshade for this photogenic fixture at the Green Gypsie. The store uses vintage bases to create lights with shades in three sizes.

$95 to $165, the Green Gypsie, 526 1st St., Claremont, (909) 260-5542 (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Angela Rossi gives vintage china amusing, hand-painted updates that run from the surreal (wildlife in Victorian garb) to the kitschy (pop culture icons such as Mr. T surrounded by floral frills).

$20 to $200 per plate, the Green Gypsie, 526 1st St., Claremont, (909) 260-5542 (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)