Nielsens Gifts Blog

Waterford Artist will visit Nielsens Nov. 13th and Nov 14th- It's a Signing Party!

Artisan Sean O'Donnell from Waterford, Ireland will be at Nielsens!

I am very excited to be having another visit from the wonderful Waterford artist, Sean O'Donnell. He will visit Nielsens' Nov 13th from 5-8 for a meet and great wine and cheese party. Then Nielsens' Waterford Signing Event will be Saturday, November 14th 10-6. Now is the best time to select the Waterford you would like signed. We still have time to order pieces for the signing if we don't have the piece(s) you want. Nielsen 81st and Lewis in Tulsa has a fabulous selection of Waterford. And, you may order at NielsensGifts.com. Be sure to check the Waterford Signing box during checkout. You do not have to be present to have your purchases signed. Any purchase made between now and November 14th can be signed. If you need to give the Waterford to someone for a gift prior to the signing, we will authorize that piece as eligible to be returned for signing. We will be celebrating Nielsens' 63rd Anniversary too!  Come to the party! 

Thank you, Andrea Nielsen  P. S. Here is a picture of Sean! He is fun and cute, besides being a talented Waterford artist!

Cookies...Zimbabwe Style...Yummy at Nielsens - Penzo Party

If you were at the Nielsens Penzo Art Pottery Show, you enjoyed the sweet taste of the cookies that Kathy Vincent made to honor the Penzo country of origin- Zimbabwe.  We at Nielsens had many requests for the recipe- so here it is!  Happy eating...and they will look perfect on a Penzo serving plate!  check out the styles at Nielsens -81st and Lewis in Tulsa or click here to see Penzo Pottery on our website, NielsensGifts.com. Enjoy!  Andrea Nielsen

COOKIES FROM ZIMBABWE
 
Makes 60 cookies

Cookie Dough:

10 TBS Butter   1.  Cream together butter and sugar in a bowl. 
1/4 C. Sugar     Blend in lemon zest, nutmeg, honey, and egg.
1 TBS lemon zest   Fold in sweet potato.
1 tsp ground nutmeg 2.  In separate bowl, sift flour, baking powder,
1/4 C. Honey     baking soda and salt.
1 egg 3.  Add it to the first mixture and blend well.
1 C finely grated raw sweet potato   4.  Arrange cookie dough by rounded teaspoons on
2 1/2 C. All-purpose flour     cookie sheet.
1 1/2 tsp baking powder 5.  Bake at 350 for 7 minutes
1/2 tsp baking soda                           6.  Cool
1/2 tsp salt

Lemon Glaze

1 tsp butter 1.  Use a wooden spoon to combine all ingredients
1-2 tsp lemon juice     in glass container until smooth.
1n 1/2 Cups powdered sugar    2.  Add more water by the drop until glaze is easy
1 TBS water to spread on cooled cookies.

It's Fun Being President of Nielsens Gifts

It is fun to own a gift store when plans work out well.  It has been a very fun fall so far at Nielsens.  Penzo has been so much fun to show and most every one who sees it loves it! What really makes it extra special is that by buying Penzo Art Pottery you are helping women, children and animals in Africa!  And it makes great gifts because it makes people smile!  If you have not seen it, click here to see some of the Penzo selection available on our website. And of course - come to Nielsens at 81st and Lewis to see it!  Our Penzo opening party was such a success, I had to reorder yesterday for our Chris Gates benefit Nov 20th and 21st.  Each time I order Penzo for Nielsens, I find out more wonderful things about it.  I found out yesterday that Penzo creates some one of a kind art pieces with animals popping out from the pots, bowls or vases.  I asked for pictures and they do not have any.  That is because each piece is an individual work of art and they never know what will be next from the creative Penzo artists!  Well, I have not seen a piece of Penzo that I did not think was wonderful so...I ordered several of these special one of a kind pieces.  We will all just have to wait to see what Nielsens gets!  Penzo is expecting a shipment from Africa any day now! 

We are also thrilled the way Penzo mixes with Julia Knight serving pieces and Moser Pebbles glasses and with Swarovski colorful crystal birds and with Andrea by Sadek china orhcids and bird of paridise flowers!  What a great looking table setting all of the above make!

Yesterday was a great time to be Nielsens' owner because everything was clicking the way it should.  I walked from the parking lot to the door and saw licences tags from Illinois and Texas and of course Oklanoma.  I walked in and the store was packed with happy customers with Penzo, Julia Knight and Waterford in their hands.  Everyone was smiling and having fun and the sales associates were all handling the transactions well and looking up information for special orders and the giftwrapping and mailing was being handled.  It was great! Thank you to all of the customers for the wonderful Nielsens compliments that I have recently received.  It keeps me going!  Love to you, Andrea Nielsen

Penzo Art Pottery Show - Benefits Women, Children and Animals in Africa!

Nielsens is thrilled to host Two great Penzo Art Pottery Shows!  The Penzo art pottery is all hand painted by women in Africa.  Each piece is an individual work of art- that you can use!  It is food safe and dishwasher and microwave friendly.  You can choose a full set of dishes for a beautiful table setting or you can select a gift for a friend's desk or an art bowl, tea service, ginger jar,platter or mugs.  Each piece features either wild animals, butterflies or fish.  The Penzo pieces all look great with Julia Knight serving ware- so it is fun to mix for entertaining.  Come to Nielsens Thursday, Oct 29th until 8pm for a special Penzo party.  

Then in November Nielsens will host Chris Gates at a special benefit party to donate to the orphanage that he has started in Africa!  Come and meet Chris November 20th 5pm until 8pm or Sat Nov 21st from 1-3 pm. Just mention his organization, JBFC, for a portion of your purchase to go to his orphanage.  You may shop in person at Nielsens 81st and Lewis or on line www.NielsensGifts.com .  On Nielsens' new website just click Shop then Penzo to see a great selection!  You may also call 800-665-1233 or 298-9700 for more information or to speak with a personal shopping expert!  See you at Nielsens!  We appreciate you! Andrea Nielsen

Julia Knight's Ideas for Easy Entertaining

“Five Minutes to Fabulous!”

Julia Knight is the designer of the fabulous new colorful enameled and mother of pearled serving ware at Nielsens.  She is an expert at easy and elegant home entertaining. 

 

 She says that we need to keep in our freezer…shrimp, goat cheese, smoked salmon, chives, and pesto. 

In the refrigerator have a nice cheese- brie is great –a little fruit, maybe a lemon and grapes or strawberries.

In the pantry keep water crackers, shelled pistachio nuts, cocktail sauce, tooth picks or canapé picks, cocktail napkins (okay now we need The Julia Knight napkin holder!), 

nice bottles of wine, jelly you like, a jar of capers, several jars of fun stuffed olives and instant rice.

Have in the cupboard or out on display! for serving what we call her starter essential Julia Knight hostess set:

            A large tray with or without handles- can be a color, butter cream, snow or all Mother of Pearl

            A large footed cake stand- in a color you love-

            A dip bowl- either the pointed corner pagoda bowl or a round one to compliment the tray

            A 15 inch bowl either in the classic or peony shape- either in a color to go with above pieces or in all mother of pearl

            A set of spreaders and a set of salad servers.      

            The ying yang bowl would be great to have for the shrimp!

            6 or 8 Waterford wine glasses you love – a cheap wine needs them and a great wine deserves them!

    Andrea Nielsen adds that you need 3 sizes of cake plates – so versatile and pretty!

These are the tools to serving a fabulous looking quick canapés.

She suggests mixing the goat cheese with the smoked salmon as a quick spread that looks catered. Put in the dip bowl with a sprig or sprinkle of chives or other herb…maybe a slice of lemon twisted…use your beautiful Julia Knight spreaders.

Put pistachio nuts in the pagoda bowl.

Put the brie cheese (cut in half with dental floss or serrated knife and fill with-  even grape jelly inside – or pesto as a filling to make it look difficult- but it is not!) on the cake plate surrounded with strawberries or grapes if you have them in the fridge…

Put the water crackers on the cracker tray- oops we need that beautiful Julia Knight one- I like to use it for olives- guess I need two of those!

Another quick tip she has…Ask your guests to each bring a food item-(or pick up at a restaurant)  then you put the prepared food on your beautiful Julia Knight serving pieces and there you have it!  Fabulous in minutes!

 

• Please share your entertaining successes using Julia Knight serving ware with us by email: info@NielsensGifts.com

• Or, at Nielsens -81^st and Lewis!  Julia Knight Serving ware makes great gifts for  your friends –starting at just 17.95.

 Please visit NielsensGifts.com

Our e-mail address is info@NielsensGifts.com 

Street Address: 8138-A South Lewis Ave, Tulsa, OK 74137 (81st & Lewis at The Plaza Shopping Center)

Our Phone: (918) 298-9700 or (800) 665-1233 

New Colors & Styles Just Received for Julia Knight Serveware

New colors Shrimp and Turquoise added to the line for Spring 2009. Some of the new  pieces:

Peony 6" Round Bowl $59.95

Hibiscus 8" Bowl $69.95 and 17" Platter $215.95

Tahitian Clam Shell 8" Bowl $69.95 and 17.5" Bowl $215.95

Conch Shell 8" Bowl $69.95

Scallop 3.5" Bowl $25.95

Peony 6" Petite Plates, Set of 4 $119.95

We just unpacked the first shipment Saturday. Based on our  customer reactions to the new colors... another big hit for Julia!

George will be adding these new Julia Knight Serveware products to our website and also sending out an email soon. If you are not getting emails from Nielsens, send email to info@NielsensGifts.com with the subject "Add My Email". Our email customers get offers others don't.

Please visit NielsensGifts.com

Our e-mail address is info@NielsensGifts.com 

Street Address: 8138-A South Lewis Ave, Tulsa, OK 74137 (81st & Lewis at The Plaza Shopping Center)

Our Phone: (918) 298-9700 or (800) 665-1233 

Moorcorft Art Pottery Trunk Show Friday, February 27, 2009

Truck Show 4 P.M. to 7 P.M. Friday at Nielsens Exclusive Gifts, Tulsa

• See new 2009 Moorcorft pieces
• Meet Jan Say, Moorcroft Representative

Please visit NielsensGifts.com

Our e-mail address is info@NielsensGifts.com 

Street Address: 8138-A South Lewis Ave, Tulsa, OK 74137 (81st & Lewis at The Plaza Shopping Center)

Our Phone: (918) 298-9700 or (800) 665-1233 

More News from Atlanta Market

You can now order fun return address pre-inked stamps from Nielsens!  They are really fun in circles and squares.  You may also order save the date stamps and embossers for any occasion.  What great gifts these will make for special friends and relatives!

Waterford 12 days of Christmas Flutes and the special Waterford Ornaments will be available at Nielsens in early summer.  Please place your orders early to avoid the rush!  We are planning to have an artist from Waterford at Nielsens in the fall to sign your 2009 treasures!

Nielsens has wonderful baby items.  You can now order your special pewter or sterling baby items engraved at Nielsens.  You can have a monogram or the baby's name and birth date. We have a large selecion with quick turnaround on the engraving.  The baby cups and rattles make a wonderful gift for a grandchild or a friend's new baby!

Also engraved...a lovely pewter jewel box with the recipients name on the top.  This would be great for the graduate or even a wonderful teen or pre teen gift that they will treasure always.  These are very reasonably priced.  I ordered one with Faye's name on so you can see a sample!  You will want to order several for special friends.

You will love the beautiful boxed notes that Nielsens has on the way.  There are also lovely note pads for the purse.  We will even have a pen to wear as a necklace with the pen magnetic- you will not loose it!  You will just have to see these!  These will all be great girlfriend gifts and teacher gifts!

Just wait until you see the art accent lampsthat are being made right now for Nielsens!  It almost made me get tears when I thought about how my parents started Nielsens in 1946 selling their own wedding gifts and making lamps and lampshades for their special customers.  This new for Nielsens company does just that!  One sister makes the lamps using art glass and the other sister hand makes the lampshades.   You just will not believe how beautifully different these lamps are. And they are all made in America by hand!!!!!!!!  Yea!!!!!!!!

Did you know that 2009 is the 50th anniversary of the peace symbol?  Well, you will have to have a necklace from Swarovski or another fun inexpensive peace necklace that I found in gold, pink or green crystals...!

I enjoyed searching the market for you this time.  I spent a lot of time finding the best gifts under 100 dollars.  I am happy to say that I even found high quality fun things for $10!  There are so many great new things- I think we will have to have a spring market party at Nielsens to unveil the new.  Call ahead for more details or to be the first to order your Lucky Herend Frog or your Swarovski new endangered Gorilla!

Thank you for being a Nielsens Customer!  I appreciate you and enjoy working for you to find new ways to tell those you love- that you care by giving high quality gifts from Nielsens!

Sincerely, Andrea Nielsen

Please visit NielsensGifts.com

Our e-mail address is info@NielsensGifts.com 

Street Address: 8138-A South Lewis Ave, Tulsa, OK 74137 (81st & Lewis at The Plaza Shopping Center)

Our Phone: (918) 298-9700 or (800) 665-1233 

Andrea's Report Direct from Atlanta Gift Market 1/11/2009

Market is exciting!  Julia Knight has beautiful new shell shaped serving pieces in shrimp color and turquoise!  you will also want to add her beautiful hibiscus serving platters to your spring table.

I am happy to report that Waterford is likely to be purchased by an American investor.  Everyone is very optimistic that all will turn out well for the company and they are not anticipating any interruption in production.  I, personally, am going to get some extra stems in my pattern as soon as I get back to Nielsens. The new 12 Days flutes are lovely and they have the most exquisite large covered piece with all 12 designs. 

Nielsens will have a very fun new jewelry line that uses all Swarovski crystals.  It is just what every woman needs to feel uplifted! It is sparkly!  "bling, bling!" as my 10 year old daughter, Faye, would say.  It is hand made in Italy.  Volpino is the name of this fun studio.

Herend Guild has the lucky frog as this year's special piece.  Your desk needs this beautiful piece.  A darling butterfly is gently resting on his head to remind us that we should not chase after love...To me he is a harbinger of the good times ahead.  He is available in gold and all the fishnet colors and natural.  Order yours today to get that good luck rolling!

Jay Strongwater has the most beautiful new collection!  Wait until you see the frame with the beautiful 3 D tulips!

Lladro continues to surprise us with new pieces including some great children and dogs.  We may have an exciting Lladro event later in 2009!  We will keep you posted.

Nielsens will also offer fun gifts under $20 and under $50 for Spring in Faye's Fun Finds... new notes to send your friends and give - you will love them and they are inexpensive.

You can now order monogrammed and personalized lovely soap from Nielsens.  What a great shower, wedding and girlfriend gift for under $30.  It will really let them know that you were thinking of them in a special way.  The fragrance and quality is the best.

I am going to Market in a few minutes to find more for you- so I will tell you more soon.  Thanks for being part of our Nielsens' family!  Andrea Nielsen

Rhonda's Fabulous Use of Julia Knight Serveware at Nielsens' Party

Using suggestions from Julia Knight, Rhonda Vincent directed the presentation of snacks for a welcoming party for Julia Knight on the evening prior to the October 25th Julia Knight Signing Event at Nielsens Exclusive Gifts in Tulsa. It was hard for the Nielsens staff assisting her to not eat everything they were putting on the table, as it looked so fabulous! Below are photos showing beautiful Julia Knight Serveware being used.

 Annika can't wait for Julia to arrive, so she can have a strawberry!

The 13" Yin Yang Bowl ($134.95) is perfect for serving shrimp & red cocktail sauce. The large 14" Peony Cake Stand ($165.95) has cheese cubes & pepperoni with the 10" Peony Cake Stand ($84.95) being used to serve Double Creme Brie topped with seedless black grapes.

Julia Knight and Rhonda Vincent at welcoming party the evening prior to Julia's second Signing Event at Nielsens. Nielsen's was honored to host Julia Knight's first ever Signing Event on November 1, 2007.

WOW! Smoked salmon served on the 25" Full Mother of Pearl Rectangular Tray with handles ($319.95 or $219.95 with color center).

Brownies served on the 14" Peony Cake Stand (165.95) and strawberries on the 6" Peony Cupcake Stand ($39.95).

Julia visiting with Nielsens' guests.

 Three varieties of grapes served on 17" Holly Sprig Bowl in Snow color ($149.95).

See the entire Julia Knight line by going to NielsensGifts.com.

  Serving sour cream, capers and cream cheese using three of the Square Classic Petite 4" Bowls ($19.95 each) on the Classic Petite Bowl Tray ($49.95).

Nuts in the 6.5" Pagoda Bowl ($59.95).

Cheese cubes and pepperoni on the 14" Petal Pink Cake Stand ($165.95) & Double Creme Brie presented on the 10" Kiwi Peony Cake Stand ($84.95).

 Five of the 3.5" Mojito Holly Sprig Bowls with red berries ($34.95 each) and cookies on the 14" Peony Rectangular Tray in Pomegranate color ($64.95). 

See the entire Julia Knight Collection at NielsensGifts.com.

Nielsens is a 62 year-old family owned business in Tulsa, Oklahoma that really appreciates your business. No charge for gift wrap, FREE delivery in Tulsa, and we ship worldwide.

 Please visit NielsensGifts.com

Our e-mail address is info@NielsensGifts.com 

Street Address: 8138-A South Lewis Ave, Tulsa, OK 74137 (81st & Lewis at The Plaza Shopping Center)

Our Phone: (918) 298-9700 or (800) 665-1233