What to get for your vintage-loving Mom for Mother's Day ? It can be a challenge, but here are some ideas:
- Use her kitchen theme as a starting point. Does she have a flower, a color or an animal as her common thread? If she likes chickens, for example, look for a cookie jar, mugs or dinnerware with a chicken motif. If she favors tulips, go with china that echoes that motif.
- Add to her existing china. Look for the gravy boat, large oval platter, or extra pieces of her favorite dishes. A well-used set often suffers damage or loss over time, and you can replace those pieces, or add extras to allow for grandchildren and other new family members.
- Finish her wedding set. Some young married couples in the 1970s, for example, saved money by purchasing only the more common pieces in their chosen pattern, such as the dinner plates, and skipping other, less necessary pieces, such as the fruit bowls or bread plates. These pieces are usually discontinued after 30+ years, but you can seek them out to make her set complete.
- Go for a great accent. Glass cake plates, salt and pepper sets, or goblets in a coordinating color will spark her table setting, and they are practical, too. If she loves ruby red or cobalt blue, look for those colors. Or choose complementary colors like green to go with red, blue to go with yellow.
- Find something pretty that will stand on its own. If she loves roses, for example, look for a set of 4, 6 or 8 salad or dessert plates with that motif. They can be used for special treats to accompany coffee or tea. And you can bring the dessert, too. Make a favorite family recipe, or pick up something good from a local bakery, like Boston Cream Pie, a luscious fruit pie, a beautiful cake or double chocolate brownies.
When you think outside the box and get creative, you can come up with a gift that is thoughtful and unique. Something even Mom would not have known she wanted, but will please her on her special day.
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