GIFTS FOR MOM

Until this one. It's called the Ultimate Parent Backpack, but we make no judgments here, so we're selling it to anyone who appreciates what separates it from the kids' versions. Made of water resistant nylon, the large main compartment is augmented by: a laptop and tablet compartment; cable management system; adjustable stroller straps, diaper changing pocket with changing mat and separate wet pocket; multiple phone and bottle pockets; key chain holder; luggage support strap; accessories pocket; wipes dispenser; and hidden security pockets on the back for tickets, passports and wallet, plus one on a front strap for cash or credit cards. Call it the ultimate travel/diaper bag/backpack that you won't leave home without. In fashionable and water repelling, stain-concealing black. Measures only 12.5" wide x 16" tall x 9.5" deep

Just like the classic Yankee drill, but for the kitchen. Has that “as seen on the television” kinda feel. You push the handle of this 10” long spring-loaded whisk and it spins clockwise on the push, and reverses when you let up on it. The 10-tine head is 2-1/8” dia at the bottom x 2-1/8” long, with a little center pin to keep it off the bottom of the bowl or jar or whatever. In stainless steel.

The smart cutters and choppers these days are using ceramic knives because they stay so sharp for so long, and who remembers to have their knives sharpened? Ours measure 7" long over all, with a red, green, or deep aqua handle, a 3" blade and a sheath. Don't go into the kitchen without one. Slice, dice, chop and mince, and forget about sharpening. Like you always do.

You supply the pot, we'll supply a dozen Venus Fly Trap seeds and a little sack of soil in a 4-3/8" x 2" dia plastic growing tube, plus an instruction sheet on the care and feeding of everyone's favorite meat-eating foliage. Gestation is about (14) weeks, so order early if you're planning a birthday surprise for someone.

Just the one, actually, but it’s been sliced in half so the pair is perfectly symmetrical and mighty pretty. Although ammonites have been extinct for 65,000,000 years, we’ve got their approx 1” dia fossils for you. Our each is a book-matched pair of polished ammonites fossils of a single critter halved and polished to a bright symmetrical shininess. The colors vary from light tan to dark brown and we’ll pick because we have impeccable ammonitical color-shade taste. And yes, they’re just screaming to become cuff-links or earrings.

The secret is ceramics. This newly redesigned 5-1/2" long precision cutter has a ceramic point that's as sharp as an X-actly knife, stays sharp 11x longer than steel, never rusts, is non-conductive, non-magnetic, non-sparking, chemically inert and is easier to maneuver in intricate cutting patterns. Cuts paper, card stock and more easily while being finger-friendly. Pencil-style ambidextrous durable nylon handle with a textured anti-slip grip and no-roll oval design has a cap and now features a replaceable blade. A boon for crafters, and a blessing for junior crafters.

What do rotary tools have in common with fashionistas? Yes, it really is all about accessorizing. This set includes (20) shading bands, (10) fiberglass cut-off wheels, (21) assorted grinding stones, (3) polishing wheels, (45) woolen wheels and points, (36) silicone cut-off wheels, (60) sanding discs, (6) brushes, (5) diamond burrs, (8) high-speed steel burrs and drills, (3) mandrels and some polishing paste, all have a 1/8" shaft and come in a dandy wooden case. Case measures approximately 12-3/8" x 5-3/8" x 1-3/4". Check out our best selling rotary tool here.

Take these (250) little translucent beads into the sunlight and they burst into assorted colors faster than you can say "assorted colors." How do they do it? Well, they're UV-reactive, that's how. Mostly pink, purple, rose, yellow and cream and they fade to a nice pearly color inside. Amaze your friends at picnics. Beads measure 5/16" dia x 1/4" with a 5/32" bore. Come with classroom application notes.

This isn't a book, but it's definitely book-ish. Looks like a leather-bound volume from the Bodleian but it's just a little wooden box, approx 8-1/2" x 5" x 2" (7" x 3-7/8" x 1-5/8" inside) that's perfect for stashing the jewels, cash, or whatever you need to stash in plain sight on the shelves.

Hang it all with this set of (10) magnetic hooks. The 1-3/16" long x 9/64" hooks screw into 1-3/8" dia magnetic bases with an approx 8-lb pull, which is lighter than most jackets and keys. Good for horizontal or vertical mounts, and dandy for adding hooks to gym or school lockers.

Looks like a cheap kid-sized tennis racket, but brother, this ain't for the kids. It's actually a fine way for adults to work on their upper-body strength and kill bugs at the same time. 18" long, with a 6" wide paddle lined with metal grid. A coil in the handle sends high voltage through the paddle when a button is pushed, hit a bug with it and the bug will bug you no more. We've seen these in other catalogs for about twice the price, so buy it from us.  2 AA batteries, not included.

Steampunk alert! Also…model and jewelry maker alert! This pair of 10X acrylic doublet loupes is mounted on black eyeglass frames and flanked by LED lights powered by (2) included CR1620 button cell batteries. These are for close work only, from 1" to 1-1/2", and can focus only one lens at a time (not both on the same object) so if you’re a steampunker looking for a new accessory, plan on perching this rig on your pate or chapeau.

This whimsical pack of (30) postcards measures, unsurprisingly, post-card size 5-3/4" x 3-15/16", with non-duplicating images of gravy and bacon, Nikola Tesla, narwhals, spontaneous human combustion, boxing kangaroos, infinity and taxidermy, among many others of that ilk. Those ilks. Whatever--just buy 'em and stop asking so many questions. Blurbs on the back.

Yes, the sun already lights your yard, but with this set of (100) solar-powered white LEDs, it will light up the yard at night, too. On a 36-foot cord attached to a solar cell and a NiMH rechargeable battery, it operates in steady-on or flashing modes. Recharges in the day and illuminates at night. Eight-hour charge cycle. Internal sensor detects ambient light and only turns on at night. Includes mounting hardware, mollies and a 7" mounting stake. Perfect for the holidays in remote locations. Great for modeling or doll houses.

Stethos is Greek for chest. Indeed you can scope your stethos with this stethoscope, or your friend's or your dog's. But it works equally well for picking up any sound being transmitted through a solid medium. Listen to the air flowing through the heating ducts, the water in the pipes, the sounds of machinery, the termites munching on the floor joists!! The color does vary so we will select from what's currently available. We've had blue, teal, red, black, burgundy, green and purple, but there may be other colors yet to be seen! A great discovery device whether for biology or other pursuits. Not of professional quality, but not just a toy.

This is an excellent starter kit for learning the rudiments of Chinese brush painting. Includes a lavishly illustrated 47-page instruction booklet, an 11-1/8" x 8-1/8" pad with (36) practice sheets and a few sheets of xuan, the vellum-like paper that brush-painting artists use, plus 5ml tubes of Chinese watercolors in white, indigo, burnt sienna, carmine and gamboge, a saffron color. Also includes (2) brushes, an ink stone and ink stick, all in a nice boxed set.

Who doesn’t? Try this set of (5) low-profile white, red, green and blue LED accent light pucks. Measure approx 2-3/4” dia x 1” deep, they’re powered by (3) “AAA” batteries each, included and you’re welcome. Turn them on manually to switch between colors, or use the wireless remote. Also has bright or dim white settings, 4- and 8-hour cycles, and (12) color permutations for your color morphing pleasure. Remote includes a replaceable coin-cell battery and has a 15-foot range. Lights come with foam tape for mounting.

Stainless steel mortar and pestle set. Mortar measures 5-1/4” dia x 3” on a 4” dia attached saucer-like base. Holds approx 250ml. Pestle is 6-3/4” long with 1-1/4” and 2” dia heads. Nice for the lab, or for folks who want everything in their stainless steel kitchen to be stainless steel. You know who you are. And we salute you.