Must Have Unique Gifts: Delight With The Unexpected

When I first began shopping for holiday gifts for my family as a young adult, the first, and usually only, stop I made was to the local shopping mall or a nearby electronics store.   A few years later, I found myself tiring of the cookie cutter selections and began seeking out specialty local retailers in my desire to find just the right gifts.  Although I still like to support local small businesses, today I complete the majority of my holiday and gift shopping online where my gift options are only as limited as my imagination.

Now, in my middle Mom years, the adults in my family are certainly well stocked, with few real needs, leaving me often to my own devices in finding that well-suited gift.  Certainly the children in our extended family are able to provide a list of plastic needs and electronic wants, however the ability to both surprise and delight them with something unexpected is what seems to give both my recipient and I the most pleasure.

 I recently had opportunity to explore an online store new to me, devoted to a wide variety of kaleidoscopes and teleidoscopes, as well as other unique gift handcrafted and artisan created gifts.  I remembered being delighted with toy kaleidoscopes as a child and bemused that I had not thought of them as a unique gift option on mine own.  None the less, I enjoyed exploring the store, as well as a wooden teleidoscope.

At first, I was uncertain about the difference between kaleidoscopes and teleidoscopes, however after a brief inspection, I realized I had unknowingly picked up the later in the form of simple party favors for some child's birthday or another.  Kaleidoscopes contain various pieces of color within a rotating tumbler or interchangeable disc that when directed to a light source and turned, create a changing effect of colors and patterns.  Teleidoscopes are fitted with a special lens, allowing the user to create their own unique view by directing the lens at a variety of different sources.

With a long standing love affair with pieces crafted of wood, I enjoyed the smooth texture, vibrant colors and appealing lines of 5 1/2 inch Padauk Hardwoods Laminated Teleidoscope and was not surprised to discover it to be one of the most popular items offered by Kaleidoscopes For You.  Shipped in a nice gift box, with protective velvet drawstrings bags for both the teleidoscope as well as the wooden base, this piece retails at only $42.00 with modest flat shipping fee.  Certainly a unique gift idea for young to adult recipients.

I was surprised by the wide variety of kaleidoscopes, teleidoscopes and other gifts offered at this site, finding simple pieces very modestly priced that would suit a younger child very well, perfect for stocking stuffers, as well as artisan handcrafted models more suitable for collectors or kaleidoscope enthusiasts.  Although, as I mentioned, I have a fondness for simple pieces crafted of wood, I found myself enchanted by a few of the selections crafted of brass and stained glass.

Kaleidoscopes For You

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***GIVEAWAY***

Kaleidoscopes For You is generously offering That's What She Said readers an opportunity to win their own Padauk Hardwood 5 1/2 inch Teleidoscope Gift Set, ARV $42! 

 This giveaway is open to residents of the US, 18+ and will end on Thursday, December 13, 2012 at 11:59pm EST.   Winner will be selected randomly from all eligible entries.  Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond before an alternative winner is chosen.  If you email address is not available through your comment name, please leave it in your entry comment in anti spam format.

***MANDATORY ENTRY***

Visit Kaleidoscopes For You and tell me in a comment which of their offerings you find the most interesting or appealing and why.

***BONUS ENTRIES***

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*Share who you would gift the Teleidoscope to if you won and why in a comment below, 1 entry 

GOOD LUCK!

I  received a teleidoscope  to explore for the purposes of creating this feature.  The opinions above are both honest and of my own experiences.  Sponsor is responsible for supplying and shipping prize.  Facebook, Pinterest and Google+ are not involved in nor responsible for this giveaway in any fashion.