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18 GIFTWARE KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW n JANUARY 2014 n www.kitchenwarenews.com Giftware Jewelry Box Figurines from Artistique 5 Design Winter Tabletop Introductions from SPARQ Home BY LORRIE BAUMANN BY LORRIE BAUMANN Artistique 5 Design is launching more than a dozen new items in its jewelry box figurine collection this January at NY Now. These animal figurines are pewter set with crystals with sturdy hinges on the panels that open to reveal that they're also jewelry boxes. "The quality of the enamel is very high," says Alfred Mesri, an officer in Artistique 5 Design. "These are not like many other products out there. The quality is very high." Babo Botanicals (Cont. from Page 1) Each of the product lines within the brand are formulated to provide specific solutions to problems that babies and their parents commonly experience. For dry skin or eczema, Babo Botanicals' oatmeal and calendula shampoo, diaper cream, moisturizing lotion and body wash are the solution. For calming the fussy baby, Lavender Meadowsweet bubble bath and shampoo is great. Berry Primrose shampoo and detangler spray are the solution for tangled locks. The products are all made on a farm in upstate New York from pure flower and plant extracts. They come from a mom with a background in working with farmers and The pieces were designed in the U.S. and Europe and are made in China. The line is currently being sold in the gift shops of some of Las Vegas' finest hotels, including the Venetian, Palazzo, MGM Grand and Mirage as well as other fine giftware retailers across the country. The pieces are sold only through retail shops; none of the collection is sold directly on Artistique 5 Designs' website. Retail prices range from $16 to $120. See them at NY Now in booth 1282. SPARQ Home is showing some interesting soapstone items at this winter's markets. The SPARQ Wooden Condiment Trio is a set of sleek soapstone bowls on a cedar tray. This collection of tiny bowls is hand-crafted and adds a touch of sophistication to any tabletop. Use them to serve up cool condiments for a barbecue or hold warm dips for an evening cocktail. The unique soapstone and wood design goes from casual to elegant with ease. The set retails for $49.95. According to my Russian friend, vodka is properly served very cold, but putting the bottle in the freezer is not the best idea because that chills the vodka too much. SPARQ Home offers a set of Soapstone Vodka Shooters to solve that problem. You put the two-ounce shooters in the freezer before your party, and then when it's time to serve, you can grab the vodka bottle off the bar shelf and offer a chilled shot in minutes from the shooters' sleek holding tray. The set comes with six shooters and tray for $39.95 for a set of four; $49.95 for set of six. See them at the Atlanta Home & Gift Market in #3-616 (Building 2), at NY Now in booth #3469, at the Denver Gift Show in booth #616 and, where I'll see them, at the International Home + Housewares Show in booths #S4066 and S4166. SPARQ Home has permanent showrooms in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Dallas, Seattle, LA, San Francisco and a new location in Las Vegas. who began her career with the Peace Corps by developing a beekeeping program for farmers in the Paraguayan village of San Antonio Guazu. Solomon had applied for the beekeeping program after raising bees with her father at the family home in Connecticut. "Paraguay was one of the few countries that had beekeeping as part of their agriculture program," she says. With a grant from the World Bank, she was able to develop a very solid beekeeping program there before the end of her two-and-ahalf-year assignment. Home from the Peace Corps, she went to work for Avon Products. I was attracted to Avon because I wanted to go into a global personal care business, and I loved the Avon philosophy of women making extra money with their own personal care products businesses," she says. "I've always wanted to have my own business, always. I come from a line of entrepreneurs in my family." While at Avon, she realized that she had a knack for developing brands and products, and she continued her career doing that for other companies, including, most recently, almost a decade with L'Oreal developing products for the professional market. I realized I had a knack for developing brands and products, and I continued my career doing that for other companies. "I saw a real need for very high quality products using the power of botanicals for the kids that could be used by the entire family. The botanicals are important because plants and flowers can produce amazing results in a natural way. That's better than depending on chemicals that may irritate the skin." She began developing the Babo Botanicals products after leaving L'Oreal in 2007 and launched the business in 2010. Babo Botanicals, named after Solomon's son's security bunny, was immediately successful in the marketplace. "It's doubled every year, and we expect it to continue to double," Solomon says. The Babo Botanicals products retail from $12 to $14.95. For more information, visit www.babobotanicals.com.