Find real art for home and gifts this season
It's time to get shopping, but it's still early enough that it can be fun, too.
In that vein, check out the One of a Kind Show and Sale at the Merchandise Mart, which has developed quite a following.
Five hundred juried artists and artisans from across North America display paintings, sculpture, glass, photography, ceramics, jewelry, wearable art and furniture.
Shown here is a limited edition sculpture by Pete Zaluzec of Lake Villa that is called Bee Eaters. It is 2 feet wide and priced at $4,800.
Organizers promise there will be a wide range of prices, but you can also visit The Artist Project where 100 independent artists take the opportunity to show their work.
A ticket to both shows is $10. Hours are noon to 9 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 4; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7.
Visit oneofakindshowchicago.com and theartistproject.com or call (312) 527-4141.
Special friends love a bit of the tropics
Here's another idea for a spectacular gift.
The Hawaiian Volcano plant is a red anthurium especially bred as an indoor plant. It is planted on a responsibly harvested piece of lava, says Byron Martin, owner of Logee's Tropical Plants in Danielson, Conn.
The lava sits in a shallow saucer of water and soaks up the liquid like a sponge. The catch is you need bright, indirect light to make the plant continue to bloom. That could be scarce in a Midwestern winter.
Each is $20. Visit logees.com or call (888) 330-8038.
A green way to sleep in stylish splendor
Jill Salisbury, guru of stylish green furniture from Barrington, introduces two new beds through her company, el: Environmental Language.
We like the Crescendo, a modern interpretation of the ever-popular sleigh bed, made of bamboo and ebony-washed walnut veneer.
The wood is sustainable, and the core materials are certified by the Forest Stewartship Council. The retail price is $10,679 for a queen size and $11,230 for king.
The other choice is the Zen bed. It is also walnut veneer with a harlequin-inspired pattern crafted of tagua nut from Ecuador.
You need to work with a designer to purchase the beds through Modern at Design Atelier in the Merchandise Mart. Visit el-furniture.com.