UncommonGoods Holiday Gifts and Giveaway by Robin Gorman Newman

I recently learned of the website UncommonGoods, and am excited to share my cool discoveries with you.

Especially at this time of the year, when you are likely on the lookout for unique gifts for those on your list, it’s such a relief, so to speak, when you find the perfect items.

Look no further than UncommonGoods.

All prices….whether for babies, kids or adults……they feature a virtual wonderland of choices….and how fun to peruse the offerings.

It’s not typical that I feature a blog post dedicated to one website, but this one is so unique, that it warrants the solo coverage.

I’m a book junkie.  I don’t have a Nook or Kindle, and refuse to go electronic, at this point, for my book reading.  I love to hold a book and make it my own.  That said, over the years, I’ve accumulated quite a wealth of titles.  And, my son, age 11, is getting there as well.   With the new year approaching, and with an ever-constant eye toward organization and decluttering my home, and especially home office, I stumbled upon a beautiful pair of metal books ends.  And, as a bird collector as well, these were totally up my alley. These perching bird-and-branch bookends are made of durable, laser cut steel painted black.  They are designed by Mahtab Pedrami in Brooklyn; Fabricated in Lilburn, GA.  They are both functional and eye-catching and make a definite shelf statement.  Priced at $90.  Looking for other special Christmas or Hanukkah gifts for women?  Click here.  

These are a totally innovative discovery!!  Available in two colors, the Uubano Eco Trash Can is a cool find.  Winner of the 2005 Pratt Product Design Competition, designer Kevin McElroy’s clever trash can allows you to store and reuse the plastic bags that you collect from shopping in a neat, organized way. You loop trash bags around the cut-out sides and push them all the way down, creating a visual of stacked handles all along the side. When you are ready to use one, just move it up to the handles and hook so that it won’t fall in on itself. Made in the USA.  At $19, these are a fun, yet highly functional and affordable gift, whether for yourself or anyone.  I have the green one in my kitchen, and couldn’t wait to fill it up with all the supermarket and drugstore bags we regularly accumulate and use for bottle and can recycling.

My 11 year old son has always been a fire engine/fireman enthusiast.  He aspires to potentially be a volunteer firefighter one day. I was thrilled to stumble on the Fire Hose Wallet (who knew?!). 

Marrying a fireman had more than safety perks–it sparked Lori Holliday’s design inspiration, too. Enticed by the unique texture and action-packed stories behind fire hoses, Holliday transforms spent pieces into one-of-a-kind accessories. Each wallet ($36) is handmade and often bears distress marks from being in service and passing quality testing. Handmade in Colorado.  Due to the recycled nature of this item, each is unique and will vary.  They are a bit on the stiff side, but I imagine with use, will ease over time.

 Looking for gifts for the man on your list?  Click here.

Also for my son, I couldn’t resist this Super Magnetic Putty.  $15 — for age 8+. 

Made with micron-sized iron-based particles distributed throughout, the astonishing moldable magnetic putty takes on the properties of a magnet itself when placed in close contact with the included Neodymium Iron Boron magnet.

Put it near the magnet and within five seconds, the putty will stretch itself out to reach the magnet almost as if it were alive. Press the magnet into it and the whole piece of putty becomes magnetic, able to lift tacks and paperclips on its own after charging in a magnetic field.

It’s perfect for science-loving kids, or for any adult that loves intelligent play! Use the magnet to do the “snake charmer” trick. Or leave the magnet on your ball of putty and watch it engulf that magnet in about an hour!  Made in Pennsylvania.  Comes in an attractive round tin.

Need some stocking stuffer ideas?  Click here.

Since Hanukkah is not as yet upon us, I have yet to gift these items to my son, but I know he’s gonna go nuts for both!

Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, UncommonGoods is an privately-owned retailer that endeavors to feature unique designs and handcrafted gifts created in harmony with the environment and without harm to animals or people.   They run their operations out of the historic Brooklyn Army Terminal, including a warehouse where the lowest-paid seasonal worker starts at 50% above the minimum wage.  Their mission is to support and provide a platform for artists and designers, and half of what they sell is made by hand. Most of the products are created in the USA, and about one-third of their entire collection incorporates recycled and/or upcycled materials. At the core of the company is a great respect for the integrity of the creative individual and a desire impact the world in a positive way. Through their Better to Give program, they connect their customers with charities around the globe. With every purchase made, they donate $1 to the non-profit of your choice. Since they started the Better to Give program 12 years ago, they’ve donated over $700,000.

 Non-profits served by UncommonGoods:
• RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.
• American Forests protects and restores forests worldwide, helping to preserve the health of our planet for the benefit of its inhabitants.
• Women for Women International provides women survivors of war with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency.
• Reach Out and Read’s thousands of doctors and nurses promote early literacy, language skills, and school readiness to young children and their families in all 50 states.

GIVEAWAY: MotherhoodLater.com is pleased to give away, courtesy of UncommonGoods, $75 toward spending on their site. To enter, write [email protected].  Put UncommonGoods in the Subject Line, and please share what you like about their company and why you’d like to win.  Winner will be notified via email.   Please note: If you’ve won this prize elsewhere, you are not eligible to enter here.  And, we invite you to LIKE them on Facebook.

Note: Thanks to UncommonGoods for supplying the featured products and generous giveaway.

Tags: Christmas, Hanukkah, holiday shopping, mom blogger, Uncommon Goods