It’s the small things that count

This holiday season the big gesture feels all wrong. Sure, there’s a certain glee to tying a big bow on a new BMW 330Ci in the driveway or blindfolding the wife and kids and spiriting them away on a private jet to Bora-Bora. There’s no denying that the big gesture shouts a deafening “I love you,” but the same sentiment whispered softly can be just as powerful.This year, why not think small but significant? What about a black pearl necklace, a crystal starfish, a moonstone bracelet? Or as a stocking stuffer, the sugar cube-size Decision Dice might just be the thing. Miniature SweetCakes desserts or MarieBelle fig and walnut caramels make a delicious hostess gift, unless you eat them first. Slip a promise--”I owe you six back rubs” or “Good for 100 kisses”--into a glitter-encrusted dreidel. Troika’s little wood boombox is a gift of both music and design, while Beth Orduna’s earrings might help ward off the evil eye with their spiritual motif. Maybe this holiday season, the really big gesture is the most personal one.

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Resource Guide

PAGES 34-35: Chocolate-covered coffee and cardamom baumaniere with silver leaf, $2.50 each or $28 for a box of 12, and Janet Torelli sterling-silver ginko-leaf bonbon server, $120, both at Boule, Los Angeles, (310) 289-9977, www.boulela.com. Design Ideas felt snowflake coasters, $4.95 for a set of four, from Party On La Cienega, Los Angeles, (310) 659-8717. Glass drawer pulls, $6 to $10 each, silver and glass demitasse spoons, $16 each, and silver napkin ring with flower, $25, all from Duet, Los Angeles, (310) 478-1653. Doggy doughnuts and cupcake treats, $1.50 each, from L.A. Dogworks, Hollywood, (323) 461-5151. Karen Sedgley pearl and gemstone rings, $185 each, from Duet. Beth Orduna freshwater pearl, rhinestone and sterling-silver chain drop earrings, $350, at Fred Segal Tiara, Santa Monica, (310) 394-8186. Casio EX-S500 digital camera with 2.2-inch LCD screen and extra-slim stainless-steel body, $345, from Bel Air Camera, Westwood, (310) 208-5150, www.belaircamera.com.Leather flower ponytail holder, $38, at Soolip Bungalow, West Hollywood, (310) 360-1512. Edwin Jagger “Barley” chrome shaving brush, $250, and razor, $180, from The Shave of Beverly Hills, (310) 888-2898. L’Artisan Parfumeur Moodswings five-fragrance set, $110, at Studio at Fred Segal, Santa Monica, (310) 394-8509. Troika compass, $26, from Traveler’s Bookcase, Los Angeles, (323) 655-0575. Troika digital travel clock, $28, from Sumi’s, Silver Lake, (323) 660-0869. Glass apothecary bowls, $12 each, from Duet. Wedding Flowers paper, $10 a sheet, from Soolip Paperie & Press, West Hollywood, (310) 360-0545.

PAGES 36-37: Cloutier Swarovski crystal-encrusted starfish, $170, from Maison Midi at American Rag, Los Angeles, (323) 935-3157. Salviati tall martini glass, $180 for a set of four, from Modern Living, West Hollywood, (323) 651-3012. Blush pearl and sterling-silver cocktail picks by Dan Zelen, $200 for a set of four, from Zelen, Los Angeles, (323) 658-6756. Kikatsu etched cocktail glass, $78, Kikatsu shot glasses, $36 to $52 each, and Jeanine Payer “Simple” sterling-silver spoon with etched phrase, $165, all from OK, Los Angeles, (323) 653-3501. Lobmeyr crystal candy dish, $190, and Erik Bagger schnapps glass with chrome band, $23 for two, from TableArt, Los Angeles, (323) 653-8278, www.tartontheweb.com.The Cocoa Room chocolate-covered almond dragees, $7.95 for a 4-ounce package, from the Gift Store at LACMA, Los Angeles, (323) 857-6146. Tony Duquette white gold and aquamarine star brooch, $25,500, from Gearys, Beverly Hills, (310) 273-4741. Pampaloni sterling-silver frame, $565, from Micucci at the Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood, (310) 360-7323, www.micuccicollection.com. Topkapi palladium eyeglass frames, $425, from L.A. Eyeworks, Los Angeles, (323) 931-7795, www.laeyeworks.com. Ted Muehling sterling-silver candlestick, $535, from Arp, Los Angeles, (323) 653-7764. Torre & Tagus glass cube candlesticks, $15 to $18 each, from Pomp Home, Culver City, (310) 287-9944. Tin sake bottle, $180, and handmade silver Guinomi sake cup, $350, both from Tortoise, Venice, (310) 314-8448. Tse & Tse salt or pepper shakers, $26 each, from Fitzsu, Pasadena, (626) 564-1908, and Los Angeles, (323) 655-1908. Anandia black Tahitian pearl necklace with asymmetrical diamond and 18-karat white gold clasp, $8,300, from Anandia, Newport Beach, (949) 200-7526, www.anandia.com.

PAGES 38-39: Green suede sherpa-lined mittens with pompoms, $325, at Burberry, Beverly Hills, (310) 550-4500. MarieBelle fig and walnut caramels, $26 for 18 pieces, at Duet. 4.24-ounce bittersweet gold-leaf chocolate bar, $7.50, from Jin Patisserie, Venice, (310) 399-8801. 18-karat gold Lotus flower ring by DeanBurke, $1,850, from Rose, Venice, (310) 399-0040. Gabriella Kiss pear-shaped green vesuvanite ring, $880, pink Nigerian tourmaline cabochon stone ring, $3,520, and Annette Ferdinandsen orange opal ring, $1,515, all from Arp. Large aqua chalcedony ring, $2,200, and pink faceted topaz ring, $1,600, both by Christina Odegard for Matin, Beverly Hills, (310) 788-0055. Flocked botanical paper, $7.95 a roll, at Crate & Barrel stores. Moss agate bowl, $95, from Zelen. Acme silver and blue star cufflinks, $56, from Zero Minus Plus at Fred Segal Santa Monica, (310) 395-5718. Tracy Watts enameled TV set cufflinks, $105, from Douglas Fir, Los Angeles, (323) 651-5445. Chocolate-covered passion fruit and jasmine tea pate de fruit, $28 for a box of 12, from Boule. Green Murano glass pear-shaped Pegaso bowl, $135, from Armani Casa by Giorgio Armani, West Hollywood, (310) 248-2440. Sterling-silver dice cufflinks, $65, from Zelen. Dalvey of Scotland chrome pocket watch, $230, from The Shave of Beverly Hills. Laguiole lime-green folding knife, $120, from Fitzsu. L’Ocharron of Scotland “Circles” merino wool and angora scarf, $132, from Douglas Fir. DeanBurke 18-karat gold and green tourmaline studded bangle, $4,700, from Rose. John Iversen 18-karat pine-cone earrings, $920, from Noodle Stories, Los Angeles, (323) 651-1782. Acme silver cufflinks with chartreuse starburst, $56, from Zero Minus Plus at Fred Segal Santa Monica. Geo. F. Trumper Eucris hair dressing, $88, from The Shave of Beverly Hills. Fern address book, $24, from Soolip Paperie & Press. Hand-carved tiger bamboo dragonfly, $55, from Tortoise. Seventy-volume set of short stories from the classics to contemporaries such as Nick Hornby, $200, exclusively at OK. Troika wood and metal boombox, $69.95, from the L.A. Philharmonic Store, Los Angeles, (213) 972-3440. BlaBla cotton knit “Mozart” monkey, $32, from the Gift Store at LACMA. Tim Biskup limited-edition mini-print “Invasive Pedestrian Micro-Germs,” $25, from Billy Shire Fine Arts, Culver City, (323) 297-0600, www.billyshirefinearts.com. Harvest rings, $80 each, and bracelet, $105, all made from recycled skateboards, at Tortoise. Paul Smith striped leather credit card wallet, $168, from Douglas Fir. Troika round stainless-steel pill box, $16, from Sumi’s. Cosmos paper, $12 a sheet, from Soolip Paperie & Press.

PAGES 40-41: Red velvet shoe, $650, from Chanel, Beverly Hills, (310) 278-5500. Deep red crushed-velvet pump, $350, from Sergio Rossi, Beverly Hills, (310) 271-0111. Red Vernis patent agenda, $280, from Louis Vuitton, Beverly Hills, (310) 859-0457. Set of 10 pencils with assorted phrases, $10, from Zero Minus Plus at Fred Segal Santa Monica. Irene Neuwirth 18-karat gold cuff bracelet with pink tourmaline, $16,500, from Barneys New York, Beverly Hills, (310) 276-4400. Jeanine Payer thorny magnifying glass, $200, from OK. Mark Ryden “Blood” book of miniature paintings, $25, from Billy Shire Fine Arts. D. Sharp glitter dreidel box, $42, from Pergolina, Toluca Lake, (818) 508-7708. La Loop silvery necklace/eyeglass holder, $245, from Duet. Luxury poker set in wooden box, $94, from Zero Minus Plus at Fred Segal Santa Monica. Luisa Cevese laminated wrist bag, $78, from Noodle Stories. Beth Orduna moonstone, freshwater pearl and topaz flower bracelet, $420, from Miriam Claudette, West Hollywood, (310) 659-9099. Embroidered silver leather Capra handbag, $950, from Salvatore Ferragamo, Beverly Hills, (310) 273-9990. Sterling-silver grasshopper pin by Gabriella Kiss, $1,350, from Arp. Lodis silver leather card case, $30, from Zero Minus Plus at Fred Segal Santa Monica. Bombay Duck Decision Dice, $12.95 each, from ArcLight Cinema’s retail shop, Hollywood, (323) 464-1465, ext. 123. Embossed pebble paper in silver, $12 a sheet, at Soolip Paperie & Press.

PAGE 42: Nine miniature desserts in holiday gift tin, $27, to order from SweetCake Desserts, Hollywood, (323) 960-0738, www.sweetcake.com. Cloutier jewel-encrusted picture frame, $495, from Maison Midi at American Rag.

THIS PAGE: Graphic Balzac signature oversized cups and saucers, $59.95 for two, at Maison Midi at American Rag. Bittersweet chocolate sticks with sprinklings of sea salt, pistachio and cocoa nibs, $4.50 for three, from Jin Patisserie. Naef animal puzzle blocks, $100, from Fitzsu. Loop-patterned bowl, $9, from Duet. Roost shell ornament, $40 for a set of 16, from Zero Minus Plus at Fred Segal Santa Monica. Carla de la Cruz resin earrings, $125, from Zipper, Los Angeles, (323) 951-0620, www.zippergifts.com. Limited-edition “Hearts and Clubs” corkscrews, $95 and $73, from Alessi, Los Angeles, (310) 276-7096. Lexon folding binoculars, $135, from Pomp Home. Lexon magnifier with LED, $21, from Fitzsu. Penguin with Polar Putty, $6, from Zipper. Parrot bottle opener and corkscrew, $42, from Alessi. Rochester embossed leather travel flask, $175, at Armani Casa. Hexagon “Hive” display units, $100 for each piece, from Boom Studio, Culver City, (310) 202-1697, www.boomusa.com.