What makes the perfect gift?

What makes the perfect gift? I am often searching the high street or the internet (definitely my preferred option with 3 children) trying to find the perfect gift. I love giving gifts, but I love to give something that will be loved...here is my guide on finding that perfect gift...

 

Back in time

Back in time, about 61/2 years ago I was pregnant, waiting anxiously to meet my first born.  After a bad pregnancy and many hospital stays 'Alfie' arrived 6 weeks early.  For the first 24 hours he was a very poorly little chap, rushed off to NICU in an oxygen tank and all I was simply told was that they were working on him and that the first night would be critical.  To cut a long story short (as this is not what this blog is about!) he recovered well and is now a thriving & happy boy but I will never forget that time in hospital.  I will also ever forget how overwhelmed I felt by cards/letters and gifts.  Gifts for me and Alfie.  You see, what I want to say before I continue this blog is that there is no bad gift, in these special moments in our lives, knowing that someone cares about you and your child is so amazing and every single item of baby clothing, rattles and soft toys were all very gratefully received and loved.  This was also true of gifts I received for William and Rose.  In those special moments in our lives there is nothing better than knowing that someone is thinking of you.

Before Children

Before Children I had many ideas of how my Children would be brought up...one of which was that I would have a house filled full of beautifully crafted, wooden toys.  Ha ha! The reality is that I own a playroom full of plastic 'tat!' Draws full of cars, planes, trains...plastic bits and pieces from kinder eggs and party bags.  The Children love them!  If I need a sort out, I must do it when they are all out and then hide them carefully before we can dispose of them...many toys have been returned to the playroom after they have found them in the garage "look mummy I found my broken hot wheels in the garage" Great!!  Not  to mention the bags full of soft toys... I am not complaining about these toys, I buy them for other peoples children too, along with action toys and lego;) But what about those times when you want a gift to stand out from the crowd? What can take a gift from being a good gift to one that is perfect & unique...?

Unique = Handmade

I have been a big fan of handmade gifts, long before I started my own online shop selling handmade gifts.  Most definitely because I have so much admiration for someone that is clever enough to make stuff!  Curtains, cushions, clothes, art work, stationary, jewellery...Both my Mum & Sister are very crafty. They have the patience and skill required but along with that a 'talent,' particularly my sister who is able to write beautiful poetry and art work.  Not only do I believe in supporting these amazingly talented people but there are many other reasons why I believe handmade is best.  There are lots of statistics about economic growth, supporting local businesses etc. all of which is so important and if you would like to read more about it I suggest you read the following link...

http://blog.folksy.com/2011/07/14/buying-handmade

However, what I take from it is this...you are receiving a gift that is handmade especially for you,  if you own a handmade, unique piece of work then only you in the whole world own it. 


Yes it costs more but that's because it is not mass produced.  The best materials are selected and someone has sat down with patience, skill, talent and love and created you something that no one else in the whole world owns!

Buying from Little Boots

I am a mum to 3 children.  I am well aware that life is hectic and actually grabbing a gift/toy from a big supermarket in time for the 50th birthday party your child has been invited to this month is the best option, as mentioned above children do love some plastic tat! Little boots is all about treasured gifts...I am talking about those special moments...the baby shower, the new baby, the Christening and the first birthdays. A sibling becoming a big brother or sister or a first Christmas.  The times when you want your gift to stand out from the crowd.  To show how much you care, to demonstrate the thought and time that has gone into selecting the colours and the personalised messages. Not only that but a time when  you want a gift to be treasured for a long time to come and not end up hidden in corners of the garage (cough, cough...not that I 've ever done that!) 

When you go to my website, view it with an open mind.  Photographs of products are only the start to creating your unique gift.  The wooden gifts come with a variety of colour options and messages and we are open to ideas you might have for wall art, alternative quotes that are special to you for example.  What you can be sure of is that I have found the talented and crafty people and put them all under one shop ready for you to create the perfect gift.

 

I chose these blocks as a gift to ourselves!  They sit proudly in Alfie's room and I am sure they will do for a long time...the wording is so special to us.  His DOB and the message 'We made a wish & you came true' I wished so hard every day of that pregnancy that our precious baby would arrive safely.

In summery

Receiving a gift and knowing that a friend or relative is thinking about you is so special. Taking the time to buy and send a gift is what counts.  For me, I also love to choose and send gifts...it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside (no I haven't started on the wine... yet;)). 

However, if you want to buy something perfect & unique definitely choose handmade.  When they have grown out of their toys or stuffed the soft toys in the bottom of the draws at least you will know that your gift will be treasured for many years to come.  Facebook is full of talented people, look on Etsy & folksy for example, they would love to hear from you!  Mostly, enjoy creating a gift that only you in the whole world owns and enjoy giving a gift that will be loved...

If you feel inspired to buy handmade or if you share my thoughts on buying handmade please like/comment/share.  I would love to hear from you all.  You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter

 
Thanks for reading

Sam xx

Name display

For me choosing my children's names has never been easy.  Before pregnancy I could quite easily list off many names that I like! During pregnancy I couldn't think of any... The reality and pressure of choosing a name that they will have for the rest of their lives is somewhat daunting.  I once read choosing a name is the 'defining piece of his/hers identity for a lifetime' No pressure there then!

Countless lists later, many a heated conversation with hubby we always managed to shortlist our favourite names down to 2 girls and 2 boys names...(well for first born and 2nd born we did, we gave up with the 'surprise' for number 3 which greatly helped when choosing names!) Then, after 2 long labours and C-section with no.3 we would just go with our gut instinct and decide straight away.  I wouldn't necessarily recommend this approach.  It basically meant that hubby chose both our boys names as quite frankly at that moment in time I couldn't care less what they were called!  You also have the added pressure when there are siblings involved that the names have to 'go' together! 

My children's names are Alfie, William & Rose...I am proud of these names,  they have become their perfect names, their identity.  More to the point I cant imagine them being called anything different.  Displaying their names and making this a feature in their bedrooms is a beautiful way to showcase this.  I am sure this is why the personalised name blocks that 'Little boots' sells are so popular. 

Here are some of my favourite ways to showcase your little ones names (aside from our very own blocks of course;)

Beautiful floral print on individual letters.

So cute! Love the neutral walls and furniture and how all the colour is in the frames and decor#nursery

A chic way to display twins names.  Scrabble letters!

I love the white walls and shelves with just a tiny hint of pink.  I love the way the name is also in white, with just a few hints of pink.

LOVE these frames with the letters of the names made out of random objects--buttons, string, cars on a "road," fingerprints.... so clever!

LOVE the over-sized monogram and chalkboard framed letters

 

Don't forget to check out our name cushions and coming soon,  gorgeous personalised bunting @ www.littleboots.org.uk

 

So what are your experience's of choosing names?  Are you one of the lucky ones that have always known their favourite names?!! If you have any pics of how you display their names I would love to see them, it would make my day.

 

Thanks for reading

Sam x