TDmonthly's Top-10: California Gift Show

Baby Gear and Cuddly Friends Vie for Attention

By Julie L. Jones
August 2007

At this year’s California Gift Show, held at the Los Angeles Convention Center July 20-23, 1,200 exhibitors showcased their gift items — jewelry, stationery, housewares, fashion, food, toys, books and more. Here are some standout gifts spotted by TDmonthly Magazine:

To find even more of the newest gifts, check out our Notable and New Toys.

FreshWearHouse™ - Cute Cow Baby Romper in Milk Pack by BABYGAGS

This short-sleeved black-and-white bodysuit is packed in a milk carton, designed in Holland. FreshWearHouse is also available in Fruit/Veggie bibs in baby food jars in flavors peas/carrots and oranges/strawberries. The 100-percent organic cotton line comes in sizes small (0 to 6 months), medium (6 to 12 months) and large (12 to 18 months). Launch date: October 1, 2007. 7/31/2007 (MSRP: $15.99; Age: 0 to 2)

Nursery Rhyme Cards by EDELEN WILLE

Nursery Rhyme Cards by EDELEN WILLE This precious collection offers 10 snippets of favorite traditional nursery rhymes, paired with signature vintage images. Each is printed on a thick, two-sided 4" x 6" card. On one side of each card is the illustration, and on the other is the nursery rhyme. The cards come nicely packaged in a keepsake box that opens like a book. They are sturdy and the surface is stain resistant. “This product is ideal for the specialty toy market due to its beautiful vintage artwork and careful attention to detail. Although it carries a very reasonable price point, the look and feel of the product is decidedly specialty,” Cheryl Clegg of Edelen Wille told TDmonthly. 7/31/2007 (MSRP: $12.95)

Blooming Clip Card by BLOOMING INC.

Blooming Clip Card by BLOOMING INC. Blooming Clip Card has a continuous message delivery effect as it grows plants while attached to a greeting card. It makes a fantastic thank you, marriage proposal, wedding invitation and celebration card for special occasions. Since the card is made from organic materials and contains plant seeds, it blossoms much faster while maintaining its small size and fit. Launch date: March 2007. 7/31/2007 (MSRP: $4.99; Age: 5 and Up)

Pirate Set by JOOJOO

This pirate set, featuring the first and only plush pirate ship in the world, is professionally designed and finely made. It includes a 32” pirate ship and six pirates, all of which are also available individually. “Due to the extremely high demands for pirate items, the pirate collection has become our No. 1 seller in 2007. Due to the lack of plush gifts for boys, this item could be a great gift for boys,” Sales Manager Makan Hashemieh of JooJoo told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2007. 7/26/2007 (MSRP: $166.00; Age: 3 and Up)

Charm Somebody Greeting Cards by CHARM SOMEBODY

This fresh line of greeting cards offers wishes for everyday life experiences. Each of the 48 cards, printed on 50 percent recycled paper, includes a jewelry-quality pewter charm engraved with an inspirational wish. The cards and charms are made in the United States, and 1 percent of net profits is donated to children’s charities. Each tiny trinket contains a sprinkling of stardust, a fragment of magic and a jot of juju. The cards are “brightly illustrated with artfully executed text and corresponding charms,” Karyn Servin of Charm Somebody told TDmonthly. “They cross over from greeting card to true gifts.” Launch date: November 2007. 7/31/2007 (MSRP: $4.95; Age: 13 and Up)

Wooly the Sleep Sheep - Small by WARM BUDDY COMPANY

Wooly the Sleep Sheep is the newest addition to the Warm Buddy family. Every Warm Buddy plush animal comes with a removable inner heat pack that can be warmed in the microwave. Wooly is the perfect bedtime companion, as his gentle heat calms children and helps them sleep. A large size (MSRP: $34.95) is also available. “We pride ourselves on creating the highest quality and cutest warm-up plush animals available,” Jason Cave of Warm Buddy Co. told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 2007. 7/31/2007 (MSRP: $24.95; Age: 3 and Up)

TOTSPOT Hands-free Childcare Light by GOO-GOO BABY INC.

This patent-pending portable LED light clips onto most items up to 1-inch thick and has a special ball-and-socket-style rotating head that pivots like an “eye” in any direction, enabling the user to direct the light. The ergonomic design incorporates safety features such as a countersunk low-voltage LED bulb, screw-on battery cover, secured clip and push-button on/off switch. The LED allows parents to see safely in the dark without creating night blindness, and it can be used for diaper changes, feedings, giving medication, reading and more. It is safe for children 3 and up to use with supervision as a nightlight or for camping or sleepovers. An optional matching lanyard is available. Launch date: June 2007. ( Watch Video) 7/31/2007 (MSRP: $8.99; Age: All Ages)

Finger Puppets Party Crackers by ROBIN REED

Each party cracker in this set of six contains a finger puppet along with a paper party hat and a joke. The wrapping is decorated with Christmas-type hats and scarves. “The gifts inside these crackers are unique to this type of product,” Betty Roland of Robin Reed told TDmonthly. “Normally, they have a novelty gift such as a horn, small ball or balloon. Christmas Crackers have been an English tradition for over 155 years.” 7/31/2007 (Age: 6 to 10)

Pirate Hand Squeaker by ALIMROSE DESIGNS

Pirate Hand Squeaker by ALIMROSE DESIGNS Alimrose Designs has bought its very popular squeakers, bibs and rattles to the United States. The Pirate Sqeaker, like the others in the line, is easy for baby to use and supplies plenty of fun reactions from little captains. Each squeaker has matching rattles and bibs that make it easy to retail as a package. “Our toys are a return to simple lines that have been staples for children for many years. Our products are baby safe and allow children to be inspired with their imaginations and senses,” Tracey Vieira of Cute-ture, the exclusive U.S. distributor for Alimrose, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2007. 7/31/2007 (MSRP: $19.95; Age: 0 to 4)