Handcrafted right here in Burque, tea is suspended in a cleansing glycerin soap that's deliciously fragrant with lemongrass, cedarwood and lavender essential oils. $5.
Want It: Chocolate-covered espresso beans
Java Joe's roasts its beans onsite for the freshest, peppiest little chocolate bites in town. $5.
Furniture pieces come in unpainted from the Mexican state of Michoacán; the store then custom finishes them to fit your color whims. $125 (unfinished) to $165 (finished, green with red patina pictured).
Want It: Oaxaca black clay vase
Fill with your heart's desire; a simple light fixture or dried blooms would fit nicely inside, too. $75.
--Laura Marrich
Sweet & Chic
4605 Menaul NE, 881-4477
Need It: TOMS canvas buffalo shoes
Cute and kind. For every comfy pair of shoes you buy, TOMS gives a pair to a child in need. Many styles in children's sizes 6 to 10, $34.
Want It: Kaiya Eve zebra pettiskirt
Rows and rows of bright, flouncy ruffles spell p-r-i-n-c-e-s-s. In children's sizes 18 months to 6 years, $80 (one color) to $88 (two colors).
Discover why people all over the world risk arrest to express themselves via spray paint. $19.99.
Want It: MF Doom's Operation Doomsday
This is the rerelease of eccentric MC MF Doom’s first album. Raw, gutsy and driven by instinct, the record lays the groundwork for the rhyme spitter’s lengthy solo career. $14.99.
--Simon McCormack
Abitha's Herbary
3906 Central SE, 262-0401
Need It: Llewellyn’s 2009 Green Living Guide
Use simple tips to reduce the wear and tear we put on our planet with this easy to follow guide. $9.99.
Want It: Cucumber and lavender essential soothing oils
Calm your nerves with warm, inviting scents. Both oils can be used in a relaxing massage, although the lavender should be diluted with water first. $6.99 each.
By a company that used to make saddles in Franklin, Tenn., these straps are sturdy, supple and butter-smooth. $28 (2-inch-wide suede) to $48 (2 1/2-inch-wide finished).
Want It: Baden acoustic guitar
This auditorium model beauty has solid mahogany back and sides and a solid cedar top. Even light strumming rings clear and lovely. $1,299.
Traditionally hung near front doors and windows or worn as jewelry, these are said to ward off the evil eye. $1 (small), $6 (medium), $15 (large).
Want It: Doumbek
This hand drum is made of spun aluminum, has a Mylar head and was etched by hand. $30 to $250 (pictured: $175 with carrying case).
--Marisa Demarco
Fixed and Free Bike Shop
114 Tulane SE, 255-0586
Need It: Bellwether leg and arm warmers, Pearl Izumi gloves
Slide these warmers on under your clothes and slip them back off when you get to where you're going. $25 (arm warmers), $35 (leg warmers), $45 (gloves).
Want It: Aerospoke five-spoke wheel
It's stronger and stiffer than your average bike wheel, and it comes in every color of the rainbow. $350.
Need It: Create Your Own Japanese Garden by Motomi Oguchi
If you're gonna have a Japanese garden, this picture-filled primer is the perfect place to start. It'll take you step-by-step through design and maintenance and give you ideas of what other tools and accessories you need from Hanayagi. $29.95.
Want It: Bamboo fountain
Easy-to-assemble water features can be rigged to empty into pools, ponds or decorative stone bowls, giving your backyard oasis just the right touch of Tokyo. $48 to $55 (small), $89 to $99 (large).
A handcrafted metal box by Dallas artist Jan Barboglio is an essential holiday gift for homeowners. Inside is a decorative card, a guardian angel icon and a nail with which to hang it (preferably near a front door for continued protection). $73.
Want It: Carved wooden saint
Arteriors' "Old World Mexican hacienda eclectic" style is reflected in its range of statuary, which goes from a detailed, life-sized Christ (at $1,500) to simple, unpainted 2- to 3-foot santos. $80 and up.
Need It: Blade mCX RTF radio-controlled helicopter
Thanks to its tiny size (one ounce!), swappable parts (see below!) and newbie-friendly control system (based on cutting-edge cell phone technology!), Hobby Proz has had a hard time keeping this crazy-fun indoor helicopter from flying off its shelves. $129.99.
Want It: Glow-in-the-dark upper main blade set
One cool thing about the Blade mCX is it can be customized with loads of cheap parts, including glow-in-the-dark accessories. $3.99 and up.
Any amateur or professional seamster or seamstress would be thrilled with the modern, decadent and “hip” fabrics available at Hip Stitch. $4.99 to $14.90 per yard.
Want It: Amy Butler’s In Stitches
Features more than 25 original patterns by celebrated designer Amy Butler. $24.95.
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