Designer brings new line home

Designer brings new line home

Laura Kirar, a native of the Chicago area, will appear at Macy's to introduce her new collection of furniture and accessories.

The event will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday on the eighth floor of the store at 111 N. State St. in Chicago.

Kirar's collection for Baker was inspired by late 19th and early 20th century design and arts.

A native of South suburban Oak Lawn, Kirar attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

She has started two companies, one that does interior design and the other that designs furniture.

Attendance is free, but requires an RSVP by Wednesday. Call (800) 329-8667.

Here's a heartfelt way to be useful

Are you looking for some useful Valentine's gifts?

Sawbridge Studios in Chicago and Winnetka offers hand-crafted items made in America.

Glass heart-shaped candy dishes from Simon Pearce of Vermont have a hefty charm for $20 each.

The pewter spice spoons with heart-shaped measuring bowls are more expensive but very utilitarian at $44 for four. They are from Beehive Kitchenware in Massachusetts.

The company also makes a matching coffee scoop for $28.

If you're a real romantic, Sawbridge even has a tiger maple bed with a heart-shaped headboard. But these will cost you about $3,000 plus shipping for a king or queen size.

The Chicago store is at 153 W. Ohio St., (312) 828-0055; the Winnetka location is at 1015 Tower Court, (847) 441-2441.

It's bright pink and supports a cause

Here's a new flower that might get you out digging a water garden if you don't have one yet.

Hybridizer Pairat Songpanich of Thailand named his new hardy water lily Pink Ribbon at the suggestion of a New York gardener who is battling breast cancer.

Joyce Grigonis wrote a moving essay.

"Water gardening is my sanctuary from cancer," she wrote. "When I am working in my ponds, I forget about the serious battle I am fighting."

And she expressed hope that someone would name a lily Pink Ribbon to honor and support those with breast cancer and their loved ones.

Most important, this would spread awareness of the disease that both men and women can get, said Grigonis.

The Pink Ribbon lily's velvet petals are fuchsia pink like the breast cancer ribbons.

Lilypons Water Gardens is selling the flowers exclusively for $49, with $10 for each lily donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Call (800) 999-5459 or visit www.lilypons.com.