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Karen wanted to change the focus of our “Featured Items” page to reflect our core products – the ones that people come to us for, year after year. This, of course, raised the question of exactly what are our “core products?” They aren’t just the ones that make us the most money, they are the ones that lots of people order, time and again. So after devising a complex formula, combining total sales and number of individual orders placed in the last 24 months, we came up with a list of forty items that Baha’is can’t seem to live without. There were, of course, the …

40 Core Products Read More »

Carry kindness and sunshine in your heart. Carry everything else in this beautiful and durable canvas tote bag. One side says “Be infinitely kind to every human being.” This is inspired by a quotation by Abdu’l-Baha. (We can’t put actual quotations on utilitarian products like T-shirts or tote bags.) The other side says “If you can’t SEE the sunshine, BE the sunshine.” This was inspired by the many quotations encouraging us to be radiant, a light, a candle or a brilliant star. Both designs are printed in vivid colors on a heavy 14″x15″ cotton canvas tote bag with coordinating 9″ teal …

Sunshine Tote Read More »

This multi-faith adjustable wrap-around ring includes the religious symbols of eight major religions – Christianity, Judaism,  Buddhism, Sikh, Hinduism, Islam, Baha’i Faith and Taoism. Anyone who believes in interfaith fellowship will find this ring to be an excellent and elegant conversation piece. With both the cross and the Baha’i star featured prominently on either end, anyone who glances at it will instantly realize that it is not your average religious ring. It is cast from .925 silver and then finished in three different ways: The oxidized silver has a more rustic look and feel, with the designs standing out nicely against the …

Interfaith Rings Read More »

Let me start by thanking the dozens of people who wrote to congratulate us on the 40-year anniversary of Special Ideas. We really do have the best customers in the world. Now about that “kinda” sale… Karen says we shouldn’t have sales because people will start expecting them and wait to order. She also says that any sale less than 20% is not really a sale. It isn’t enough to motivate anyone. So this is a 10% non-sale sale. If you were planning on ordering a bunch of shirts for an event this summer, then it will motivate you to order early. …

Two New T-Shirts Read More »

40 Years of Special Ideas – Our Story Sunday marked the 47th anniversary of my becoming a Bahá’í at the age of 17, and June marks the 40th anniversary of the creation of Special Ideas. If you’ve ever wondered how a tiny independent publisher became the go-to source for Bahá’í teaching and Community-Building materials, here is the story. The Bahá’í Community of Greencastle Indiana, where I became a Bahá’í was focused on one thing: Teaching. It was comprised of nine individuals who had made the sacrifice of moving to a small conservative town for the express purpose of forming an …

40th Anniversary Read More »

On your door or in your garden, these flags send a message of joy.  I had hoped to announce these before summer officially arrived, but the first printing was not up to my expectations, so I had them redone. Boy am I glad I did. They came out beautifully. Printed on white satin, the colors really glow. Two separate flags with designs by Baha’i artist Jeannie Hunt. Put one on your door and the other in your garden, and make all of your neighbors smile. These designs make great garden flags. They also make a great two-sided canvas tote bag. …

Flags Read More »

Our new burial rings just came in.  I don’t care if you buy it from me or from somewhere else, but please don’t wait to buy a burial ring for your community. Here are three reasons why: 1) When someone dies, there are too many details to worry about without also having to order a ring. 2) Rush shipping is $29.00, and one-day service is not available to every locality. First class is only $4.50. 3) Strange as it may seem, we do take vacations and have family emergencies of our own. We can’t always get orders out immediately. Also, our …

Burial Rings And Street Fairs Read More »

The centenary of the passing of Abdu’l-Baha will be observed November 27 2021. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to give a dignified portrait of Abdu’l-Baha to every Baha’i in the community on that occasion? For some reason, photos of Abdu’l-Baha have become difficult to find. Either they are of poor quality, or they are very expensive. We’ve solved that problem by offset printing these in large enough quantity that we can sell them for as little as $1.50 each in bulk. (frame not included) In spite of their low cost, they looks almost exactly like they were printed in a lab on …

Abdu’l-Baha Read More »

OK, so maybe we aren’t ready for parades yet, but with more and more people being vaccinated, we might actually be able to celebrate Race Unity Day (June 13th) and/or Juneteenth (June 19th) this year. If you do, here are some helpful materials. I have a limited number of the “No Room for Prejudice” T-shirts pictured above, and don’t have time to reprint, so grab what I have if you want one. I was deeply gratified by the dozens of responses I received last year, encouraging me to reprint this pamphlet. It is a non-threatening yet profound way to open hearts to …

Parades and Pamphlets Read More »

As we prepare to go back to “normal,” do we really want to go back to “normal” firesides and gatherings where people talk, talk, talk, then drink some tea? Here are some ideas of ways to make your gatherings exciting, while still teaching Baha’i principles. Add a little magic to your next Baha’i gathering with Fireside Magic. It will help you escape the chains of expectations with a completely new approach to teaching Baha’i principles. This is a collection of easy-to-perform card tricks with suggested “patter” that can be used to illustrate basic Baha’i teachings. With a few hours of …

Fireside Magic Read More »

I know I’ve been telling you about my CuddleBuddies for over a year now, but my new Reversible Octopus CuddleBuddy blows the others out of the water (so to speak).  Every kid is going to want one of these because octopuses are the hot new thing. The emotional support they get out of it will just be an added bonus. Like all of our CuddleBuddies, OctoBuddy teaches kids how to regulate their emotions through three scientifically proven calming techniques that masquerade as playing with a cuddly plush toy. These are: repetitive motion, positive affirmations and soft tactile comfort. But our …

Every kid is going to want one of these Read More »

Because the Baha’i Faith recognizes that the mind is part of the soul, not just an expression of the brain, we have a unique perspective on mental health. That’s why I have written eight books offering my own understanding of how the spiritual perspective of the Baha’i Faith can aid the process of emotional healing. They are both powerful self-help books and wonderful teaching tools. I started with Falling Into Grace – a book about the unique “mental tests” that come with joining a new and very diverse religious community. It was the best-selling Baha’i book the year it was published, selling over 3,000 copies due to word-of-mouth …

Mental Health Month Read More »