A Web of Holiday Cheer

Altmeyers Bed, Bath & Home. The New Kensington-based discount retailer offers bed, bath and home needs. And you can visit Pebbles, the pooch. Find shower curtains and liners, bedding, kitchen towels and mini blinds.

John Deere mailbox, $165.

The Cedar Store. Who can resist the classic rocking horse? Also find rocking chairs for big people, garden furniture, out-of-the-ordinary mailboxes and more at this Shaler store. Each piece is handcrafted by the local Amish craftspeople. Most are red cedar, but there are oak and other hardwoods. Normal shipping is within 10 days of order.

Two-quart Bodum tea kettle, $59.90.

Cook's Wares. Check out recipes and advice as well as top-of-the-line gourmet equipment from this Beaver County shop.

*See also The Hunt for Red Thai Curry Paste, November 2001.

Rubyblue pasta bowl , $42.

Fireborn Studios. Only a few items from the South Side potter are available online, including pieces in the signature "rubyblue" glaze, which varies from intense blue to an even more intense red. Handmade functional dinnerware, serving pieces and vases are lead-free, dishwasher-, microwave- and oven-safe. Visa and MasterCard only.

Heidelberg Antique Mall. Find a smattering of farm equipment, jewelry, toys, and other ever-changing items. Orders will be shipped through U.S. mail (unless otherwise requested) within three days of receipt. All items will be insured at time of mailing.

The Kellogg 925, $325.

OldPhones.com. Promised her a ring for Christmas? Make it on a powder-blue Princess phone (Touch-Tone or rotary, dial-light transformer extra), or a mod Ericofon. This Edgewood Web-only business rehabs vintage, well-made phones from the 1920s through 1970s, modifies them for modular plug-in convenience, and offers an ever-changing array.

The Pittsburgh "Sampler," $20.

A Basket of Pittsburgh. Some of this, some of that -- every basket is filled with Pittsburgh-only products. Lots of candy (from many different chocolatiers) and other munchies ranging from Parma Sausage pepperoni to Mad Mex chips, plus local souvenirs like a Terrible Towel or a Duquesne Incline box.

Breathtaking Baskets. Welcome folks to town or send packages to expatriates with local food, videos and books. Also a large assortment of gift baskets in various food and sports themes. Most gifts placed during 9-5 business hours ship within a day. Gifts ordered by 9:45 a.m. generally will be shipped the same business day. Free delivery to businesses in downtown Pittsburgh and some other areas, and free shipping on Internet orders of $124.95 or more.

Jim Ludwig's Blumengarten Florist. "Taste of Pittsburgh" baskets comprise a variety of sweets, coffees, munchies and more from local shops. Most of the Strip District's florists' business concerns local deliveries of fresh cut flowers, plants and other gifts, but out-of-town orders can be accommodated. Technically, it's not "online ordering"; the Web page sends a fax. There's a $4.99 service charge on orders directly through the FTD online shop. Orders made before 11:30 a.m. will be shipped the same day.

"Oculus Peeper," by Paul Bowden, $40.

Society for Contemporary Craft. Find a small but notable (and always changing) selection of one-of-a-kind metal, ceramic and wood pieces from nationally recognized artists. Pieces include jewelry, wearable art, furniture, toys and home decor.

Plastic 3-D Humpty Dumpty puzzle, c 1940, $70.

Where The Toys Are. Find vintage antique toys, like a G.I. Joe battery-operated sea sled, a Rotate-O-Matic Super Astronaut robot and an Easy Bake Oven boxed in 1964. Each item listed individually, with notes on condition of both item and packaging for you serious collectors. Free shipping on all orders in continental U.S. from Canonsburg shop.

Stone Bridge Antiques. Explore a large collection of one-of-a-kind estate jewelry, Royal Doulton porcelain, antique medical pieces (occasionally some from the Civil War), souvenir spoons and more. Prices usually include delivery within the continental U.S. MasterCard, Visa and Discover. Large items available at the Canonsburg store are not available online.

Customized pet bowl, $39.95.

Zotter the Potter. Looking for a customized doggie dish? Pick the shape, the ornamentation and maybe even a name or date to go on traditional salt-glazed stoneware hand-thrown at this South Side business. Food-, microwave- and oven-safe. Shipping time is ordinarily three to six weeks, with Dec. 1 the deadline for Christmas delivery (hey, there are other holidays).

Cornucopia arrangement , $69.95.

Pittsburgh Flower Delivery. Send a flower arrangement, balloon bouquet or a fresh fruit basket. Flowers and balloons must be ordered by 1 p.m. local time for same-day delivery. Fruit basket orders by noon recipient's time are delivered by 6 p.m. that day.

Send Me No Flowers. Send a basket of long-stemmed cookies or a flowering money bud and vase. Low-fat/low-sugar goodie baskets also available. Orders placed before 2 p.m. ship the same day -- hand-delivered within Allegheny County, UPS elsewhere. Ten percent of the proceeds of the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium gift basket supports that local treasure.

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Find specially themed local nature and Fallingwater baskets for adults, kids and pets, plus CDs, videos, gardening goods and plenty of Wright stuff (including goodies from the Fallingwater cafe).

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