Dreamliner gifts ‘flying off the shelves’

If you live in the Puget Sound region, chances are good that somewhere on your Christmas list is an aerospace junkie.

Perhaps your brother-in-law works as a Machinist on the Boeing Co.’s 747 line, or your friend is an engineer for another aerospace company in the region. Maybe your child has a fascination with airplanes.

Regardless of who the aviation lover is on your list, the Boeing Store has an item to meet your gift-giving needs.

Items related to Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner are “flying off the shelves,” said Mikal Wasch, who oversees Boeing Stores Inc. Consumers can choose from routine 787 gear, like hats and shirts, to more customized paraphernalia, such as the 787 Dreamliner LEGO set. Dreamliner enthusiasts age 10 and up can enjoy piecing together the 26-inch long LEGO jet (wingspan: 27 inches). The gift sells for $79.99.

Don’t want to lock into a particular plane? Try Boeing varsity sweatshirts, made for men, women and children. The sweatshirts come in a variety of sizes and colors and sell for $18 for youth, $42 for women and $49 for men.

Leather jackets continue to sell well, Wasch said. You’ll find the classic flight jacket priced at $149, or the centennial bomber jacket for $229.

The store also offers an array of items under $20. For the aviation reader, try Joe Sutter’s “747: Creating the World’s 1st Jumbo Jet” in paperback for $14.95. Or pick up a 2008 Boeing wall calendar for $10. For those who combine their love of aerospace with a passion for coffee, try the Boeing Blue Sonix Tumbler, also $10.

Located away from the crush of mall traffic, you’ll find the Boeing Store in the Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour, 8415 Paine Field Blvd., Mukilteo. The store is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. You also can shop online at ­www.boeingstore.com.

Washington state items: While you’re at the Future of Flight, you might as well peek in its gift shop for a variety of goods produced in Washington state. The shop sells Washington wines, including a 2002 bottle of Chateau Ste. Michelle’s cabernet sauvignon for $14.99 or Hogue’s 2002 merlot for $34. A 13.5-ounce box of Chukar cherries, chocolate covered, costs $20.50.

The Future of Flight gift shop features designer perfumes and colognes — a 3.4-ounce bottle of Calvin Klein’s Euphoria Blossom perfume runs $55.25 — as well as GUESS? purses and bags priced from $75 to $185.

The store gives a nod to its aviation audience by carrying “Chicks Fly” T-shirts for women, $18.99, and Future of Flight T-shirt-baseball cap combination packs for $19.99.

One surprise you’ll find at the Future of Flight shop: its extensive collection of Hello Kitty products. The museum draws thousands of visitors from Japan, where the lovable feline character has enjoyed popularity. The store sells Hello Kitty slippers for $16 a pair and Hello Kitty travel journals for $3.25.

Gifts from kids: The challenge is often not what to buy the kids, but what the kids can give as gifts.

Tami Odell, owner of Just Paint It Ceramic Studio in Marysville, has a warm and encouraging take on how to create artwork for gifts. Her paint-your-own-pottery business encourages customers to be creative as they work. Odell and her staff supply all the tools and much encouragement.

Children and adults can stop by the ceramic studio and decorate plates, cups, boxes and animals to give as gifts to loved ones and friends. Odell has Christmas cups and plates, and many ornaments for painting. Leave your masterpiece for Odell’s staff to glaze and fire. It will be ready a few days after you’ve painted and decorated.

No appointment is necessary at Just Paint It and kids of any age, as well as adults of any age, are welcome in the store where spills don’t matter.

Just Paint It, 1418 Fifth St., Marysville; www.­justpaintitceramics.com for hours and a map, or call 360-653-6250.

Top sellers: Amazon.com reported its hot items earlier this week. A few of the online store’s top electronics sellers include Apple’s 4GB third-generation iPod Nano, which sells for $148.76, and Epson’s Home Cinema 1080 Home Theater Projector for $2,499.99.

For toys, the online retailer notes that the My Little Pony Original 1983 collection, priced at $5.99, was one of the top movers and shakers of last week along with Scooby-Doo! Haunted House Game, priced at $14.84.

Holiday shopping hours: Everett Mall: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Alderwood shopping center: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Seattle Premium Outlets: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Holiday notebook is intended to help you survive your holiday shopping. It will appear each Friday through the holiday season and is assembled by Michelle Dunlop; 425-339-3454 or mdunlop@heraldnet.com.