Neiman Marcus says sales of fantasy gifts have been average.

By Maria Halkias, The Dallas Morning News Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Dec. 25--One knight's shining armor.

One personalized backstage "Grand Ole Opry Experience."

One three-wheeled muscle motorcycle. And 3 1/2 sets of jewel-encrusted Mr. and Mrs. Potato Heads.

Yes, somewhere on a shelf in Neiman Marcus Direct's Irving warehouse sits a lonely Mr. Potato Head without his missus.

This high-carb couple was separated during the just-completed holiday shopping season by an unidentified Neiman Marcus customer who only wanted one of designer Jay Strongwater's $8,000 creations.

These were some of the sales this year for the attention-grabbing, high-end roster of fantasy gifts for the Dallas-based retailer's catalog operation, according to company gift scout Ginger Reeder.

Ms. Reeder said sales were about average this year for the 11 items on the fantasy list, which is unveiled annually in late September. Some went …