Cheap Thrills

Runway designer Behnaz Sarafpour is the latest celebrity to produce an easy-on-the-wallet collection for Target. The ready-to-wear looks, which debuted this week, include dresses, coats, sweaters, tops and accessories from $7.99-$89.99. This black and white taffeta party dress with grosgrain ribbon trim is $44.99, the lace-trimmed sweater is $29.99. Sarafpour's entire line at Target can be had for about the same retail price of a single outfit from one of her runway shows. (Target photo)

Graphic Image
305 Spagnoli Rd., Melville
GraphicImage.com
Outlet hours: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday- 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The same luxury-grade leather photo albums, journals, appointment books and desk accessories found at high-end retailers (think 5th Ave. in Manhattan) can be had here at bargain basement prices.

The newly-expanded outlet store, which opened last week, is housed in the front section of the company's factory-warehouse. And the pickings are good.

There are rows of sumptuous French calfskin or crocodile leather photo albums with clear pocket pages in various sizes and colors (retail $52-$135) for $12-$75. Leather address books are $15-$25, pocket-size versions are $5. Colorful leather iPod covers are a mere $10-$17.

The most substantial discounts are offered on merchandise that's slightly imperfect. Still, sale prices abound on blemish-free journals, guest books, desk accessories, frames and albums. All make great gifts, particularly with foil-stamped or blind embossed personalization ($7.50 per line), which the company does on the premises.

Hidden gem: Back room, Montauk Rug & Carpet

I got a call last night. It was a recorded message from "Jen," (Cablevision's peppy, auto-telemarketer) encouraging me to sign up for the company's Optimum Rewards program online at www.optimumrewards.com.

Turns out, Cablevision customers who subscribe to Optimum Online, Voice and digital cable at the "Family" level or above can get two free movie tickets on Tuesdays at any Clearview Cinema on Long Island. Discount tickets for other days are $4-$6 if you show your rewards card at the counter. The web site also boasts price breaks and pre-sale access to tickets for a handful of upcoming concerts and events.

I ordered my card, but it's going to be a few weeks until I get to try it.

Consider it Amazon.com's end-of-the-week celebration.

Every Friday, the site slashes prices on a few dozen appliances, sporting goods, jewelry and household items. The markdowns, which seem to average 40%-60%, are good for one day only.

Among today's bargains is a Hoover U5752-900 Bagless WindTunnel vacuum (pictured) for $99.99.

More Friday Sale items

By the way, if you're a good bargain shopper who's waiting for an Amazon.com product to go on sale before you by it, Rsstalker.com is a free price-tracking service that will automatically alert you when the price changes. The site will monitor a single item....or your entire Amazon.com wishlist.

I have a hunch---carpet is making a comeback. And so is wallpaper, but that's another story.

If you're on the hunt for a bargain-priced area rug or wall-to-wall carpet for a small to medium-sized room, I suggest you bring your measurements and check out the monsterous back room of the Montauk Rug & Carpet store off Route 110 in Farmingdale.

Here you'll find hundreds of carpet remnants (some pieces are as large as 15 x 20 feet) selling at discount prices. Most are leftovers from custom orders or discontinued styles/patterns from upscale carpet brands.

Each roll is ticketed with a size and sale price. DIYers can cash and carry on the spot or pay extra for delivery and installation.

Even better-- If you spot a remnant you'd like to use as an area rug, the staff will trim and bind it to size for about $1 a linear foot. (Hint: Some salespeople are willing to barter).

10% off coupon

Scrap-aholics
439 Hempstead Ave.
West Hempstead, NY
Web site
516-483-3745
Hours: Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.; Sunday: Noon- 5 p.m. Closed Monday.

Those still mourning the somewhat-sudden closing of Scrapbook Cottage in Levittown last year should be pleased to hear there's a new scrapbooking and rubber stamping supply store, Scrapaholics, in West Hempstead.

Situated on Hempstead Ave. in what appears to be in the space of an old bank, this place stocks an impressive array of patterned papers, embellishments, stickers, albums and other scrapbooking goodies. About half of the store is devoted to rubber stamps and supplies. There's a large workshop in the back of the store where all-day "crop" sessions and classes ($20-$30) are hosted several nights a week.

Bargain shoppers know it's never too early to start buying gifts for the holiday season. Personally, I like the idea of shopping early and often (and smartly...and cheaply), especially if it helps me avoid a huge credit card bill in January.

Forgiving the fact that we're still a healthy two weeks away from Halloween, here's a roundup of what's already out there:

Snapfish: From now until Oct. 24, photo greeting cards are 50% off (as low as 20 cents each). Use code EARLY2006 at checkout.

Crate&Barrel's online outlet is still trying to unload last year's holiday dishes and decor. (Snow deer appetizer plate, pictured is $3.95, matching double old-fashioned glass, $2.95).

Neiman Marcus unveiled its 2006 Christmas Book. Among the anti-"Cheap Thrills" offerings: A Virgin Galactic Charter trip to outerspace for six people aboard SpaceShipOne for $1,764,000 and a custom-built backyard water park from Waterplay for $100,000. Closer to reality: Quirky/cool crystal-bottomed desk bell (great teacher gift) for $25 and colored leather passport covers for $35.

And wouldn't it be wonderful if it didn't cost anything?

SpecialtyFonts.com is an amazing source for thousands of free fonts that can be incorporated into most software applications, like Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop. From ultra-formal, elegant scripts to cheesy, holiday-themed fonts with characters shaped like witch hats or candy corn-- there's something here for every digital do-it-yourselfer.

Browse the offerings on SpecialtyFonts.com

Hint: It's a good idea to scan files for viruses before downloading. To download fonts from this site, right-click the .ttf file link and select "Save Target As." Then find the folder on your computer where font files are stored (I just searched for files with .ttf in the name) and drag the file inside.

The Altman Building
135 W. 18th St., Manhattan
Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Cost: $25
More info

"Domino," the go-to shopping magazine for home decor trends and new products, is hosting a special discount shopping event this weekend in Manhattan. The monthly magazine is known for spotlighting under-the-radar boutiques and manufacturers of furniture/accessories.

At this weekend's sale, products from the editors' favorite companies can be had for at least 15% below retail. (Pictured: “2D:3D Letter Holder” from BluDot, sold at Moss for $15, here for $12).

In addition, there will be free mini-seminars about cooking, decorating, entertaining etiquette, etc.

According to several news reports, one of the country's largest discount designer wedding dress retailers, BrideSave.com, has suddenly shut down. Left in the lurch are who knows how many anxious brides-to-be who placed dress orders recently.

The Texas-based business had been offering substantial-discounts (typically $400+) on wedding dresses from popular designers like Maggie Sottero, Casablanca and Mary's for more than six years. Just like a brick-and-mortar shop, the site placed gown orders with manufacturers on behalf of the brides, who then wait about three months for their gown to be made and delivered.

RK Bridal in Manhattan has announced it will assist brides in securing their gowns at the same price promised by BrideSave.com. Elsewhere, David's Bridal is offering affected brides an extra 20% discount on off-the-rack gowns at nationwide retail stores.

Better Homes & Gardens has a nifty tool you can use to experiment with your choice of paint colors, floor coverings, furniture and accessories.

There are several room designs to get started-- pick one that looks the most like your room and get to work customizing patterns and colors.

Try Color-a-Room

Martha Stewart celebrated her 15-year anniversary in the publishing business with an all day blow-out at Pier 94 in Manhattan over the weekend. At $175 a ticket, it was no cheap thrill. Still, attendees who paid an extra $50 learned the finer arts of pumpkin carving, cookie decorating and cooking from Martha's top pros.

More about the event.

Photos from the event.

Martha-style pumpkin carving photos and directions

Looks like Long Island is about to get a new consignment store devoted exclusively to reselling baby and kids' clothing, toys, gear and nursery furniture.

What a great idea.

No details to report, other than the store is under construction in the space of an old laudromat on the corner of Wellwood Ave. and Freemont Dr. in Lindenhurst village.

Beads n' Stitches
539 Bedford Ave., Bellmore
(516) 783-1124
Web site

More beads and crystals than you can imagine are for sale at this little shop in Bellmore village. There's also jewelry-making supplies and some basic needlework notions. And they do offer reasonably-priced classes. Personally, I'd love to learn how to weave those pretty beaded flowers.