Unique Lifestyle Gift Ideas: Mother’s Day Decor; Easter Chocolate; Halloween Fun Outrageous

Mother’s Day Creative Gift Ideas

The role of a mother has long been revered, with Mother Earth being worshipped in many forms. The origins of Mothering Sunday, known in the USA as Mother’s Day and celebrated later in the year, are therefore unclear. It may have very early pagan origins but it is probable that it began with the medieval practice of visiting the cathedral of the diocese or Mother Church on the fourth Sunday in Lent. Read the rest of this entry »

Generous Painted Enamelware, Luxury Colour

The men and women sailed narrow boats along the waterways of England created a unique style of painted enamelware, said to be the oldest folk-art in the country. Today only a handful of narrow-boat painters are still at work, yet a novice can apply a simplified version of the classic narrow-boat designs to dull household items, and transform them with the colours and vitality of the original ware. Canal traditions are also popular in France as well as Holland where distinctive styles of decoration have evolved over the centuries. Read the rest of this entry »

Bridal Gifts and Customs, Romance in the air

The custom of a bridewearing ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a sixpence in your shoe’ is a chance for friends and family to give the bride an appropriate gift.

The garter is another traditional item, worn by the bride on the day of the wedding. Another custom is for the newly wed bride, on leaving the reception, to throw her posy of flowers to her unmarried girlfriends and her garter to the bachelors, those who catch the flowers and garter are said to be the next couple to announce their marriage. Read the rest of this entry »

Embroidery Samplers and Needlepoint, Holiday Decorations

Needlework samplers make gifts that may be treasured for years to come. Dates, names or initials personalize a sampler and add historical interest.

Samplers have a long and important history as chronicles of the social and domestic times in which they were made, and as records of family names and dates. They were so named because they were sewn by young girls who made up patterns from samples of different types of stitches they had learned. Popular sampler decorations included the maker’s name, the date on which the sampler was Completed, a religious or moral motto and a patterned border. Read the rest of this entry »

Traditional Christmas Feasting: Plum Pudding, Mince Pies and Sauces continue…

PLUM PUDDINGS

Bowls filled with rich Christmas pudding wait to be boiled, which can take the best part of a day. Cooked pudding can be served with rum butter and frosted cranberries.

Remove the pudding from the pan, using the tied ends of the cloth as a handle. Uncover the pudding and unmould it from the basin. Just before serving, pour a small glass of warmed brandy over the top and hold a lighted match near the pudding to ignite the brandy. Read the rest of this entry »