Designist Dream

Only three days left until Hanukkah begins, so check out these four incredible gift ideas before shipping time runs out:

(Clockwise, from top left)

Do not doubt that your man will love this amazing chain link wine bottle holder by multi-talented Israeli designer Shahar Peleg. It’s great a great gift for him for so many reasons. First, it’s metal. Second, it’s a big chain that you have allowed him to display in public. Third, it defies gravity (men love that). And finally, and perhaps most important, it’s magic (big boys love that too). Peleg revisits everyday objects with a fresh perspective that combines optical illusions, new takes on material and sometimes even low-tech reinvention. This Hanukkah, inspire your man to make some art out of his hardware or pick up a new magic trick. In our house, we levitate. No joke. Available here.

These hand knitted blue metallic hoop earrings will have your woman sashaying down the street with joy dangling from her ears. Israeli jewelry designer Karin Dery mixes knitting techniques, with thin woven metals and the traditional hoop earring for a dramatic but fun look that will go perfectly with everything from dark blue jeans to a camel colored trench coat. Understated, elegant, funky and different. My kind of accessory. Available here.

Who knew that the internationally renown children and baby toy brand, Tiny Love, was made and designed in Israel? I didn’t. Nor did I know that the whole Gymini baby developmental play mat was their 1992 break out invention. “The careful design and high quality of the toys have won their products numerous awards and honors worldwide: ‘Gymini’ - the original ‘Tiny Love’ activity gym, has sold more than 4 million units - and was even displayed at Pompidou Center in Paris.” Wow. Imagine your child playing with artwork from the Pompidou Center. Now that’s more than Baby Einstein inspiring. It’s more like Baby Duchamp. Above, the new Activitot Tropic Isle developmental play mat. Available here.

You may think it impossible to decorate your home with ideas and beauty but that’s exactly what Israeli designer Tal Gur has done with his Zer 1 or bouquet (for or of) 1. This beautifully handcrafted aqua colored polyethylene vase is suitable for one flower, leaf, dried branch, stalk - well, you get the picture. Gur is one of Israel’s leading designers using the rotational molding technique - one that lends an individual and unique finish to each piece he creates. Which is amazing but also ironically, considering that Gur now lives on a kibbutz. The challenges of which - the ideology of sameness, shared property and collective identity - seem to express themselves in his artwork. I wonder if that’s even allowed… Gur’s 2000 journey to the Far East inspired many of his more recent works, which explains the pared down simplicity but wholeness of the vase. After all, even with one flower or branch or whatever, the vase still fulfills its purpose no? Ohm. Available here.