She's A Lady

I've had a request for 60th birthday gift ideas for mum. An excellent challenge. I think we want to keep this one out of the ordinary. At the same time, what has this particular kind of special woman NOT received from her children over the years. I take up the gauntlet with the following suggestions and I hope that she won't be disappointed...

1. Ivory Freshwater Pearl Earrings by Highland Angel £ 22.00

Simple. Beautiful. Elegant. Timeless. The perfect gift for a lady. 

2. Personalised Word Art from Cherry Pete at NotOnTheHighStreet.com (from) £80.00

For the mum who likes to cover her walls with meaningful things, I strongly recommend that you go have a look at what Cherry Pete have in their trove. The work of art they can produce for you is can be available in a number of different finishes from unframed finish to xxl - stretched canvas.

3. "Crown" Cross Stich Kit by What Delilah Did £45.00

For the crafty mum (children please take note). Choose from a range of superbly detailed cross stitch kit cushions from this beautiful website. There are a number of designs from this boutique from insects to cupcakes to birds and cameos but, given the year, I like this one the best. And, as a little added bonus, What Delilah Did, offers free UK delivery. 

4. Perfume Bottle from Lavender Room £28.00

I've collected these for some years and my most recent one came from my husband on our last Anniversary. They look wonderful on a dressing table, window sill or adorning a dresser in a guest bedroom. They come in all shapes and sizes, new and antique but I think this one from Lavender Room is particularly pure and pretty. 

5. I Love U Mum Biscuit Card by Biscuiteers £9.00

A business that goes WAY above any beyond, the Biscuiteers' delicious edible greetings cards come in beautiful hand-illustrated gift boxes that can be recycled as trinket or keepsake storage. 

Mum's The Word

Now here's a subject I'm something of an expert on. Mums. I have one. I am one. I know loads. And while, although like Valentine's Day, I think it is a celebration for everyday, this year the appointed date is 18th March not three weeks from now. A mother's day gift will naturally be personal to the sender but there are themes that can give us some ideas. Like saying Thank You, I love you and I appreciate everything that you do for me. In my case, I have such a lot to be grateful for and it truly will be the thought that counts because no gift of any value could possibly do it justice. With that in mind, here is some last-ish minute inspiration from some of my favourite shops to help keep your Mother's Day both original and meaningful this year. 

1. Mug cosy by Bridget Wilkinson from £12.00 

2. Personalised Cotton Beach Bag from 3 Blonde Bears £12.00

3. Turn a work of art into a work of art - Lucy Made This at NotOnTheHighStreet.com - from £65.00

4. Silver Star Pearl Earrings by Highland Angel £22.00

5. Original Watercolour Landscape Painting - Steep Approach (unframed) - by Paul Bailey £75.00

6. Handmade Liberty Print iPhone Case from Wood & Willow £16.25

7. Parisienne Sewing Box from The Dot Com Gift Shop £29.95

8. Large Decorative Ceramic Plate by Rob Ryan at The Gifted Penguin £19.99

Say It With Herbs

We once drove down to Dorset to visit a friend who had quit the rat race to raise her new family in one of those dreamy old english villages. To say she had 'gone native' was an understatement. In one seemingly gigantic step, she had graduated from a small two bed flat in London to a beautiful old thatched cottage complete with Aga and authentic low beams. No word of a joke, my husband and I were salivating before we even reached the front door. In addition to this, they had a rambling garden that climbed all the way up to the top of a little hill in which they kept bantams and grew all of their own vegetables. Sigh. Anyway, I digress. I was staying for a few nights and I needed to find them an appropriate gift to thank them for their hospitality. Now, I confess that I have been guilty of turning up with the odd bottle of wine (good stuff) on certain occasions and there's very little wrong with that if followed up with a nice, handwritten note, but, given the drama of their lifestyle change, something was holding me back from doing so now. Even a good bottle of red seemed too paltry an offering, so I found an old balsa wood crate, cleaned it up a bit and filled it to the brim with farmer's market fresh herbs and vegetables. I figured she could have lots of fun on the Aga with the produce and use the crate for something practical to keep plants in in the garden afterwards.

How much more spectacular would my gift have been if only I had known about Growing Gifts. This Cornflower Blue Apple Crate £16.50 (L30 x H21.5 x H16cm) can be personalised with up to fourteen letters per line and makes the perfect vessel for a present to say thank you or anything else for that matter. The picture suggests that it works just as well as a unique wedding gift. I also now have my mother (a keen gardener) in mind for Mother's Day. So versatile and shows both thought and originality. And so far as treating someone goes, it doesn't get much better than that.