Personalized Baby Alphabet Quilt

This personalized baby alphabet quilt gift-wrapped and boxed ready to ship. What is inside? (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Personalized Baby Alphabet Quilt

Every time I get to gift-wrap and ship one of our personalized quilts, I imagine what the recipient goes through at the other end when they get first get the box.

Is it well gift-wrapped?

What will they think when they first read the free gift tag enclosed?

Since all of our baby quilts are shipped with a free toy carrying the gift tag, what kind of toy will I choose? And where will the toy pop up when the gift is unwrapped?

In this example, the personalized baby quilt was our very popular Alphabet in Clouds Baby Quilt with a white cloud at the top where the custom embroidery can easily be added.

The white cloud at the top of the quilt is a perfect place for custom embroidery. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Where to place the custom embroidery is easy but what about the free gift toy? When one has 26 letters in the alphabet, which one am I going to match?

As I go through my choices, I try to compliment the quilt colors with the colors in the toy. I also try to select a toy that is represented in the baby quilt. In this case, it was easy, C is for Cat!

This cat toy was tucked inside the baby quilt for a surprise as it is unwrapped. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

To make the personalized gift even more special, I tuck the toy inside the baby quilt so that when it is unwrapped, the toy is a special surprise. Like the soft center inside a chocolate. I must have the letter C on my mind!

Charlotte

Personalized Baby Gift Idea

One of the ways to personalize a baby gift is to have a baby quilt custom embroidered.

Personalized Baby Gift Idea

There are several ways you can personalize a baby gift. The most popular way is to add custom embroidery to a baby quilt, such as the baby's name on this custom one of a kind Zoo Baby Quilt Gift Set  we personalized for a customer.

There were several locations where the custom embroidery could have been added but the customer decided to place it at the bottom in the solid navy blue section in white letters. Some customers also add the baby's birth date.

Another way to personalize a gift is to add a custom gift tag with a hand-written message.

If you don't have time to get custom embroidery, adding a nice handwritten note is a nice touch, especially if you have nice handwriting. 

My favorite way to personalize a baby gift, however, is not necessarily the easiest way but it can be the most fun for both the receiver, and the giver, and that's to accessorize the quilt with a complimentary toy. In the case of the Zoo baby quilt, we added a panda toy to keep the baby quilt company on it's way to its new home.

Pick either a theme off the baby quilt or something in similar colors if you can't find something that matches the quilt theme. Make sure the toy is child safe and soft, and watch that toy become a favorite companion!

My favorite way to personalize a baby gift, to add a complimentary toy tucked inside a quilt!

Now I may be just a little partial to Panda bears since one of my first stuffed toys was a little black and white Panda bear. It didn't have a baby quilt attached to it but after all those years, I still have that little bear!

Charlotte

Personalized Book Marks

One of my favorite magnet book marks was made out of this little "bee happy" thank you card.

Personalized Book Marks

A friend recently said the best gift I gave him for Christmas was a little magnet book mark I made out of a photo of his dogs. Since we now have a full year ahead of us of special days, here is how to make these very easy personalized book marks. In this example, I am using several favorite cards so that I can easily re-read them later tucked into favorite books, such as recipe books.

You can also make them from printed photos on cardboard, or by adding photos onto cardboard. Regular paper is too thin so select something with a heavier weight to hold the attached magnets.

More favorite cards turned into magnet book marks with the simple application of the magnets.

How to Make Magnet Book Marks

You will find the strip of magnets at any craft store. The magnets are easily cut with scissors. I use a 3/4-inch size to securely hold the card on the pages. 

The other bonus of these magnet book marks is you get to re-read the lovely cards.

The magnets I use already have a glue strip but I add reinforcing glue to make sure the magnets don't fall off.

To secure the glued magnets, place the final bookmark in a book and let the weight of the book ensure the glue dries correctly. If it still doesn't hold, use regular glue to secure the magnets to the two opposite sides of the card.

To make sure you are gluing the right side of the magnets, glue the first one and allow to dry. Then fit the second one on the glued first one. Add glue to the back side of the second magnet, attach the opposite side of the cardboard to the second magnet with glue. The easiest way to do that is make sure there is no extra glue around the magnet before closing a book around the book mark to set the glue.

These could be made with initials printed onto cardboard for a simple personalized gift, too!

Charlotte

February Gift Flowers: Primroses or Violets

A lovely variety of English primroses for sale for 99 cents at one of our local grocery stores.

February Gift Flowers: Primroses or Violets

Depending on which calendar you check, the February gift flower is either the English primrose or violets. The only violets available this time of year in Missouri are the tender, inside African violets.

Both these flowers are non-natives and grow in shade in their native habitat. English primroses are blooming now in France, where although it's also winter the weather is a little more forgiving.

I have a little purple English primrose in my living room, a purchase at a local grocery store.

This was the only purple English primrose in the bunch of flowers on sale. 

I bought the purple English primrose because it reminded me of the wild violets that will be  blooming in my one-acre hillside garden later this year.

What I noticed about caring for English primroses is that they don't tolerate their roots going dry. That makes sense since in their native environment, they live in the moist leaf litter under trees. When the soil is dry, their leaves drop and the plant can easily die.

The same thing with African violets, only African violets prefer their soil more on the dry side. This is a hybrid purple African violet I've had for many years:

This little purple African violet has been with me for many years and almost blooms continuously.

I keep both English primroses and African violets in indirect light on the southwest side of the house in a window and check daily that the soil has not dried out. 

This is one of the older African violets, considered original. It's hardier and blooms continuously.

Besides a few African violets purchased on sale, the rest of my African violets are a non-hybrid variety so they are hardier, and bloom almost constantly. Their color is more of a pink purple and the color changes as the flowers unfold.

In the "Language of Flowers," violets stand for faithfulness. In a month celebrating Valentine's day, it seems appropriate, don't you think?

Which ones have you tried to grow or have you grown both?

Charlotte

Custom New Dog Gift

You can personalize a quilted bag for a custom dog or cat gift with something other than a name.

Custom New Dog Gift Idea

Making a personalized custom gift is easy by adding someone's name to an item - a shirt, a quilt or, in this case, a quilted travel bag for a new addition to the family, a rescued dog.

The special gift was for a former neighbor who had adopted a survivor of a hurricane. I didn't know how to spell the dog's name so I did the next best thing, had a dog nose and whiskers embroidered on the quilted travel bag.

No doubt now whose bag this belongs to but, just in case, inside the bag I added a number of dog gifts including a squeaky ladybug dog toy, a guide book, a whistle, a lightweight leash, a toy. The new addition to the family is now ready to travel wherever life's journey takes her.

Dog toys and useful items fill the personalized travel bag as a gift for a new family addition.

The personalized bag is lined in plastic for easy care. I use some of these bags for gift bags with our Howard Furniture Refinishing products, without the whiskers.

Can you think of other opportunities to use these personalized bags?

Charlotte

Enid Collins Les Fleurs Wood Purse

Enid Collins "signed" Les Fleurs Wood Purse is an easy gift to quickly personalize.

Enid Collins "Les Fleurs" Wood Purse

There are a number of unconventional ways to give someone flowers and this should definitely be on that list.

I didn't know anything about Enid Collins and her career in the 1970s of making eclectic purses out of wood, I just knew I liked this little gem of a purse. The bee on the side was the first thing to catch my attention.

As a beekeeper, anything with a bee tends to catch my eye. Flowers will also get my attention so this one had both, a gold-toned bee and white, daisy-like flowers, one of my all-time favorites.

The designer's initials are on the side and the bottom, which helps to date the purse to the earlier days of her designing these interesting purses.

Bottom of the wooden purse identifies the artist.

The vintage wooden purse is in pristine condition inside with a mirror spanning the entire lid inside.

Inside of this wooden purse from the 1970s is in pristine condition.

This wooden purse is wide enough to fit a cell phone, a glass case, a bill fold and still have room without being too big, and cute to boot.

What I like about the concept of this purse is that it will not easily be banged into or damaged so the contents won't be damaged, either.

Charlotte

Bridal Veil Wedding Gift Idea

This sprig of bridal veil was cut when most of the flowers were closed.

Bridal Veil Bush Wedding Gift Idea

One of our customers wanted to add a living plant to a country double wedding ring quilt she purchased as a wedding gift and bridal veil bush was one of the recommendations I gave her.

This long-lived perennial bush is lovely as is, even prettier when it is in bloom. The delicate white flowers give the bush its name.

Bridal veil bush has delicate leaves and makes a nice focal point in a garden corner.

In addition to being easy to care for, the cut branches are long lived as cut flowers for inside vases. I like the delicacy of the white flower clusters and how they fall on the long branches.

A cut branch from bridal veil bush in a vase on my mantle.

Other growing wedding gift ideas I passed on was to select the plant for the month of the wedding. Not all of the traditional flowers are perennials but they can inspire similar plants that come back every year. The following are the flowers for each month:

January: Carnation

February: Violet

March: Daffodil

April: Daisy

May: Lily of the Valley

June: Rose

July: Larkspur

August: Gladiolus

September: Aster

October: Calendula or Marigold

November: Chrysanthemum

December: Narcissus

Not one there you like? Then Bridal Veil bush it is!

Charlotte

June Gift Flower: Rose

Pink climbing roses growing across the street from Bluebird Gardens.

June Gift Flower: Rose

Roses are by far one of the most popular flowers in the Victorians "Language of Flowers," each type and color having a unique meaning.

Some meanings have evolved. According to Cindy Brick, yellow roses meant 'untrustworthy' to the Victorian, but by the mid-20th Century had come to symbolize friendship.

As June's gift flower, roses in general stand for beauty and love. 

There is a distinction between a full rose in bloom and a rosebud. One red rosebud represents "purity and loveliness; youth and beauty." A white rosebud represents girlhood.

A rose in full bloom represents adult love and devotion, or true love.

Luckily these days, people appreciate any rose, and I most appreciate those growing in my garden. Or in the case of these photos, the climbing roses growing literally across the street!

Cluster of pink climbing roses growing across the street from Bluebird Gardens.

Although clusters of climbing roses are hard to cut for flower vases, they are not impossible. I recommend cutting them when they are still in bud form, which gives them extra time to unfold and show their loveliness.

The pink climbing rose shrub that has formed over the years across the street.

Cut roses are wonderful but I recommend if you want to give roses, give a rose bush. That way the plant can be added to a flower bed and keep giving roses for many years to come!

Charlotte

Father's Day Gift for Mom

Mom's father's day gift included the prettiest handmade flower card in our collection.

Father's Day Gift Card for Mom

Every holiday we seem to have a customer who stands out with their thoughtfulness, creativity and ingenuity with their custom gift idea and this Father's Day was no exception.

This customer wanted to send his mother a special gift for Father's Day. She enjoys quilting so he selected one of our custom, one of a kind vintage sewing baskets with hard to find quilting and sewing "goodies," then asked that we add a special card.

And not just any card.

He wanted to make sure the inside had a very special message so he sent me the exact wording he wanted included, and asked if we could print it off and include.

After seeing the message, I looked for the prettiest of our handmade flower cards to carry this very special message inside:

Inside, I added the custom message sent to me to include. Now that's a personal gift card!

Now isn't that a thoughtful card and gift to send Mom on Father's Day?

Charlotte

Personalized Book Gift Idea

One of my favorite gift books, it features a chapter a day focusing on the good and positive.

Personalized Book Gift Idea

I forget now who first gave me a copy of this book. It was years ago, when I was going through a very difficult time in my life, and the last thing I was doing was - well, focusing. As I started to read a chapter a day, I found myself thinking about the good things I had in my life, being reminded of how blessed I was. That little shift in thought the book reinforces helped me move past the overwhelming feelings of loss - that, and the good friend who gave me this book.

Since then, my original copy has been shared, and re-gifted so many times I have lost track of the original one. Now I pick up copies whenever I find them, keeping one in reserve for those times when I know the book can help someone else.

I had two last fall and now am down to none again. One copy went to a friend who lost her husband to cancer, and this copy was mailed to a friend who's husband had an accident that resulted in debilitating brain injuries.

Only this particular copy, and the accompanying book mark note, didn't make it to its destination. I received a notice from the Post Office a few weeks after it was mailed, with the original address label attached, saying the item had been lost. The notice also gave me instructions on how to file a claim and my first thought was, I have to drop my friend a note, she must have thought I was not thinking about her.

She emailed back quickly a thank you for thinking of her and said her husband had given her this book years ago but she had not read it. She found it in her family library and thanked me for giving her something to look forward to reading every day.

This is one of my many favorite chapters, this is one about the "world is too much with us."

A sample chapter, one that reflects how I feel some days, and how I focus on my blessings.

Over the years when I have mentioned this book, friends who have read it have smiled. The book sharing has created a supportive community of women who understand - the need for the book, the message of the book and the caring that goes into sharing the book.

Doesn't matter what book you share, I love sharing a sweet garden book about flower names. Now I have something else I can discuss with gardening friends who also enjoy knowing something about the history of flowers.

It's not the book that's so important, it is the sharing that connects us.

Charlotte

Personalized Christmas Ornaments

This rabbit on a pine cone is the latest addition to my little Christmas tree this year.

Personalized Christmas Ornaments

Giving, or receiving, Christmas ornaments with a personal subject or theme, is a wonderful way to give someone a very nice personal gift, especially if its someone starting their household graduating from college, or getting married.

A friend of mine started her son on a collection of ornaments when he was born, giving him an ornament every year and dating them. As he got older, he could refer to the ornament and ask about why he received the various ornaments by referring to the respective years. 

Although I don't have anyone I give an ornament to every year, I do add a date to the ones I give, as well as adding a location so the recipient has a memory jog when they see it. 

This is a good gift idea for last-minute shoppers because Christmas ornaments are usually still available if they can think of an appropriate theme for the particular ornament.

So it was with a smile that I unpacked this rabbit ornament sitting on a pinecone gift from a friend this week. The ornament has been added to my other outdoor-themed Christmas decorations and is a wonderful reminder that personalized gifts can be as simple as this little gift and will be appreciate for years to come.

Charlotte

Handmade Snowman Holiday Card

Doesn't the card snowman look happy to be hanging out with other snowmen on my mantle?

Handmade Snowman Holiday Card

Someone has been very busy, I thought as I slid the card out of the envelope. The smiling snowman dressed in blue was charming, the glitter snow covering the whole front of the card.

I checked the envelope and sure enough, it was a handmade card from a friend who has moved north but always liked getting Christmas cards. What a better prompt to get a card than to send one?

I can remember the days when the mailbox was packed full of cards. Over the years, I have saved some of my favorites to hang on one of my fireplace mantels. Now I am extra glad I did because cards are few and far between now.

One of the factors is cost. I was standing in the checkout line at the post office and almost gasped out loud at a $4 price tag on one card. The lady behind me chuckled. "Been awhile since you've bought a card," she said, more as a statement than a question.

At those prices, a card becomes a little personalized gift all by itself, I thought, passing up one of a dog holding a big stick with Christmas lights all over it. I know a dog that would bring me such a stick if he had not moved out west.

So thank you, Deb, for this charming handmade snowman card, it's going on my mantle with my other little snowman-related scene. It will be a part of my little mantle village for Christmases to come.

Let it snow!

Charlotte

November Gift Stone: Citrine

My favorite citrine earrings in silver with moonstones.

November Gift Stone: Citrine

Citrines remind me of the beauty of fall tree colors in North America. A member of the quartz family, citrines are hardy for every day wear and add a hint of elegance to any outfit.

Citrine is a transparent, yellow variety of Quartz, ranging in color from pale to golden yellow, honey or almost brown, and may contain rainbow or sparkle inclusions.

The name "Citrine" comes from the French word citron, meaning lemon. It was used as a gem in Greece as far back as 300 B.C., and because of its color, is sometimes mistakenly referred to as Gold Topaz, Madeira or Spanish Topaz, or Safranite.

According to Gemstones of the World, most of the commercial  Citrine on the market is heat-treated Amethyst or Smoky Quartz that produces an enhanced Citrine color, usually a deeper amber or orange-reddish shade. Although beautiful, I prefer the citrines that are closer to the gold tone colors. 

Most Natural Citrine is a pale yellow color. 

Charlotte

Live Laugh Bark Photo Personalized Gift Idea

Live Laugh Bark Photo Personalized Gift Idea

When I saw this little photo frame in my local bank, I thought of all of my friends with dogs and how they would enjoy having one of these personalized frames with their favorite canine photo. How many of your friends have photos of their pets on their desks and homes? Mine, too!

The most challenging part would be getting the photo of the dog looking up. Having dog treats handy would help, and many enlist someone to hold the treat out of the photo shot while you take it should make this process easier.

If the mustache idea is too complicated, just get a good photo of the dog and add the Live * Laugh * Bark" on the bottom of the photo frame paper border. If you use paper, you can easily slip it over the photo mat, which is much thicker.

These would also make a nice throw pillow. So sweet and simple, and a wonderful personalized gift idea for any occasion!

Charlotte

Happy National Cat Day, October 29, 2016!

Bob cat, a very shy ragamuffin cat who keeps me company at Bluebird Gardens.

Happy National Cat Day!

"We" like to celebrate this special day at my house, although come to think about it, we do every day, too. Cats, as do most pets, add so much to our lives, from companionship to, in my case, a lot of laughs. No one who lives with a cat is surprised to hear cats are among the top searchable internet topics, the advantage we have is we don't have to search, they find us!

So in honor of this special event, National Dat Day, meet Bob. Bob was a feral I found at a nearby cemetery, all legs and ears and ribs. According to the vet, Bob was days away from death. I settled Bob in a closed off bathroom and tried to feed him for several days but his body rejected any nourishment and he started to loose his will to live.

On the third day, he was able to keep a little baby food down and the long road to recovery started. Today he is a happy, 12 year-old mess of a big cat, around 22 lbs. The vet said he looks like a Rag Doll, a breed developed in 1972 in Kansas City. Turns out Bob is a ragamuffin, a derivative of the breed. He has the large body, paws and sweet personality of the breed although my brother still calls him the badger. By comparison to his 18-year old buddy Margaret, Bob looks twice her size.

And no, I don't call Bob "bobcat." As the vet said, that would be very misleading since there is nothing wild and adventurous about this fur bundle, his favorite pastime is snuggling.

Unfortunately not too many people get to meet, or even see Bob, Bob hides when someone else comes in the house so enjoy this rare sighting and kiss your cat to celebrate their special day. Meow!

Charlotte

August Gift Flower: Gladiolus

Pink gladiolus in a vase at my local favorite Japanese restaurant.

August Gift Flower: Gladiolus

Yet another reason why I love this Japanese restaurant where I live. In addition to wonderful food, they keep gladiolus in vases by the check out. It seems people either love or hate these beautiful annual flowers from sub-Sahara Africa. 

I used to associate these flowers with funeral arrangements until one of my brothers confessed he loved these flowers, too. He has planted several dozen in his flower bed, daylilies fronting the bed and hiding the bottom of the flower stems.

In the Victorian Era language of flowers, Gladiolus is considered the Flower of the Gladiators. It symbolizes character strength, sincerity, and generosity. It also symbolizes “love at first sight" so if a bouquet shows up on your desk full of gladiolus, a romance may be starting.

How to Care for Gladiolus

Gladiolus are sold as corms in bags mid-spring. They are planted after all danger of frost has passed, usually Mother's Day.

Once planted, their leaves reminiscent of Iris will grow, followed by flower stalks. Gladiolus don't always sit up on their own so they sometimes need to be tied to support, especially after a good rain storm. 

After blooming has finished for the season, leave the foliage in place. The leaves will gather sunlight, create food through photosynthesis and strengthen the bulb for the future. Water as needed. Leaves and stalks may be removed when they yellow.

f you live in an area where your glads aren't winter hardy and you want to save them for next spring, dig the corms after the first frost, cut the stems to 2", wash the soil off, dry for a few days and then store in a cool place in paper bags or cardboard boxes filled with peat moss.

Your gladiolus will rest for a few months before beginning the next growing cycle in the spring.

There is now a more hardy gladiolus on the market, one that doesn't have to be dug up if winter temperatures don't get below -10F. Haven't tried those yet, have you?

Charlotte

Personalized Wedding Flower Gifts

One of the lovely centerpieces at the July 23, 2016 wedding of a dear friend's son in Kansas City.

Personalized Wedding Flower Gifts

There is nothing quite like a wedding, bringing two families and their related friends together for a celebration of the joining of two hearts. I am a bit of a romantic at these events, and one of the things I enjoy, besides meeting people, is the flowers.

At this wedding, the flowers were white and pink, the bride's favorite color. Pink tea and floribunda roses and carnations honored the bride's spirit, interspersed with white mums and hydrangeas among a sea of greenery. Reminded me of the green double wedding ring quilt I like to give as a wedding gift.

I had a hard time not leaning over at every reception table to try to catch a whiff of the flower scents.

Other guests also seemed to enjoy the arrangements. Towards the end of the evening, the flower arrangement at my table started to show bald spots.

The centerpiece at my table started to develop bald spots towards the end of the evening.

 I watched as one of the guests left with one of the pink roses tucked in her purse.

Next thing I knew, mother of the groom is asking me to help collect the flowers so she could give them away as thank you gifts. Such a lovely gesture as family and friends left with a lovely floral memento of the beautiful evening.

Tuck in a seating card. I took my table seating card, too to use as a book mark. Such wonderful memories!

Charlotte

July Birth Stone: Ruby

Red butterfly gift earrings sitting on a chocolate soldier plant.

July Birth Stone: Ruby

If you are a July baby, then red rubies are your birth stone, inspiration for personalized gifts for your birthday.

Rubies in good quality are hard, and expensive, to find. Ruby is the red variety of the mineral corundum, one of the hardest minerals on Earth. Rubies are cousins to sapphires. Pure corundum is colorless. Slight traces of elements such as chrome, iron, titanium or vanadium are responsible for the color. Only red corundum is entitled to be called ruby, all other colors being classified as sapphires.

Since they are so hard to find, a piece of jewelry in red like our vintage strawberry pin meets the spirit of the red birth stone without making a dent in your budget.

Charlotte

July Gift Flower: Larkspur

One larkspur plant in bloom at the front of my garden, Bluebird Gardens.

July Gift Flower: Larkspur

Larkspur is the wilder version of the domesticated delphinium. Native to the North Temperature Zone, Larkspur is a genus of ranunculaceous delphinium plants and int he "Language of Flowers," symbolizes feelings of an open heart and passionate attachment.

There are secret meanings to three larkspur colors: pink stands for lightness and fickleness; purple represents haughtiness and pride, and white stands for joyfulness. Victorians would make bouquets with flower choices to send secret messages.

The spur of the flower, which is reminiscent of parts of a lark, created this flower’s name.

In Missouri, there are several native larkspur varieties including dwarf larkspur and Carolina larkspur. All varieties are favorite nectar and pollen sources for garden friends bumblebees and honeybees.

Wish I could take claim for planting this one in my garden. I think birds brought in the seeds and they found a good spot to sprout. That's fine, all larkspur is most welcome!

Charlotte

June Birth Stone: Pearls

My favorite pearl earrings, a January birthday gift from a dear friend, no June required!

June Birth Stone: Pearls

If Iris are the orchids of American gardens, pearls are the gems in any woman's jewelry box. In many cultures, pearls are a classic, and traditional, personalized gift. Certainly in my life, pearls have been a tradition. My first strand was given to me when I turned 16. A custom ring from one pearl to mark my divorce. A favorite pair of earrings from a friend to celebrate a birthday.

In many ancient societies, pearls symbolized the moon and were imbued with magical properties. Ancient Chinese civilizations believed that wearing pearls protected a person from fire and dragons. Other cultures have associated them with chastity and modesty. In Victorian England, small seed pearls were often used in mourning jewelry to symbolize tears.

Pearls start out as a grain of sand irritating a molusk, which then covers the grain with a secretion that hardens to a pearl. Pearls are a reminder that even life's aggravations can be beautiful.

Charlotte