Posts tagged gifts
Review: Personalised Gifts from Gifts Online 4U
0I used to see personalised gifts in two ways. They were either very high priced items – I’m thinking silver and gold – that were engraved with someone’s name to mark a very special occasion. Or they were tacky things like poor quality pens and magnets and seaside rock that we would bring home from holiday when we were kids.
But now they are much more main stream – there is a middle ground – good quality nice products that give us an opportunity to be really personal in our gift giving, to offer friends and family something unique to them. The idea of giving personalised gifts brings the phrase “it’s the thought that counts” and makes it really obvious when giving… you really did think about that person when you bought it.
Gifts Online 4U offers personalised gifts and engraved gifts of all sorts of varieties. They are actually based quite close to me, in Spalding, Lincolnshire, and have a shop in that town. On their website they offer all sorts including mugs, glassware, phone cases, money boxes, teddies, chocolate and balloons. I had a bit of a browse and found a few bits and bobs I wouldn’t mind giving (or receiving)…
I keep thinking I should create a set of coasters from some of my iPhone snaps. Maybe a set of them using the images I showed at the Instachimps Hip 2B Square exhibition last year. These are £2.99 each.
For something a little more lasting perhaps a personalised Piggy Bank. Cute. A traditional and classic money box – the website says that apparently the design of a pig is due to folklore in which a pig is associated with good luck, and hence why it is known to us today as a piggy bank. These are £18.99 and can take up to 25 characters which are engraved onto the silver plated money box.
If you’re trying to find something for Mother’s Day then how about this little compact mirror, which you can have engraved with up to 50 characters. It has a silver finish, a curved pebble style and two mirrors inside. Costing £18.99 it’s not bad value either.
Finally, if you do want something that could be just a bit of fun, then what about a personalised mug? Costing £10.99 the design tool on the website allows you to add a photograph and some text of your choice onto the mug.
There are some lovely things on the Gifts Online 4U website – it’s worth a look if you want something a little different.
Disclaimer: I will be sent a little thank you gift for writing this post about Gifts Online 4U – I wonder what I’ll get?! As always I have not been told what to say and have been honest.
Rock+Paper+Scissors – A New Crafterie in Lincoln
13 months ago
Last week a new cafe opened in Lincoln. A friend and I went to check it out at the end of the week and I think it’s fair to say we both fell in love with the place.
Rock+Paper+Scissors is a “crafterie”, that is, a cafe, a place to do crafts, and a shop. Run by Elizabeth and Michelle, who have both moved back to Lincoln (they were both at Uni in Lincoln) after a little time away, it is a little shop on Guildhall Street, offering something quite different to any of the other cafes and tea shops dotted about. A place to socialise and try your hand at various arts and crafts, as well as somewhere to buy locally sourced gifts from cushions to prints and jewellery to tea towels.
Laura and I sat and chatted with Lizzie and Michelle for ages. They told us what life has been like since Uni, that they both went off to try their hands at all sorts, but that they were called back to Lincoln because they loved the place. They wanted to bring something different to Lincoln, something artsy, something vintage, something social. The idea seems to have come from wanting to create something where they could both spend time with interesting people, something hands on where they could interact with their customers as well as teach and learn at the same time.
They served us loose leaf Darjeeling Earl Grey tea in a massive teapot and little mismatched bone china tea cups and saucers. We had a slice of gooey lemon cake, home made of course. It was divine. What a wonderful way to spend a lunch break.
It’s so cute. Browsing through the wares on sale I found so many things I could easily have bought. Local artists and crafters are able to use the shop to sell their hand made items, it’s going to be a great place to find gifts for friends and family. I particularly liked the cushions by Mary James of Bille Bug, and as we left I found a print I think I’ll actually go back and buy when I get a minute.
The social side of the shop comes from the crafting sessions and other activities they run. Laura and I were there on Valentines day when they were offering a free session to create a valentines message for your loved one while you sat and drank tea. There are also crochet and knitting sessions planned, as well as a clothes swap. And we are told there are lots more planned – sugar craft, paper crafts and other such delights.
In fact Rock+Paper+Scissors has inspired me to finally get my sketchbook out after what must be years and years of neglect. There is a creative person inside me somewhere, I will find her again!
If you’re around and about Lincoln definitely make Rock+Paper+Scissors one of the stops on your list. A gorgeous little place.
