Ten Great Mothers' Day Gift Ideas To Buy Or Make

Mothers' Day seems early this year with it being on 15th March. Don't panic if you still haven't found the perfect present! I've scoured the web for my top gift ideas including DIY projects to make your Mothers' Day extra special.

Five Gift Ideas to Purchase

1.  This beautiful plaque is by Our Pretty House. It is hand-painted in an off white and has a rustic appearance. I think the quote is lovely and full of meaning. Available for £5.99.

You Mean The World To Me Wooden Heart

2.  These stunning fairy lights are by The Button Owl Boutique. The roses are carefully handmade from felt in lovely pastel colours. They use LED battery powered lights, so don't require a socket. I think they would look lovely draped around a headboard and are beautifully feminine. They are available from £15.00.

Pastel Rose Fairy Lights

3.  For all those chocoholics out there these are not just chocolates, they are like a piece of art. They look too good to eat! They are by the Whimsical Cake Company. These chocolate pyramids are filled with cookies and cream and embellished with edible gold leaf. I would be a very happy Mummy to receive these. They are available for £14.98

Mothers Day Pyramid Chocolates

4.  This personalised bracelet by Glam and Co Jewellery would make a truly unique gift. The words 'First my Mum Forever my Friend' are stamped onto the inside of the bangle. 1100 pure aluminium is used as it has a lower rate of skin reaction and is light and comfortable to wear. It is available for £17.00 

Stamped Bracelet

5.  Here is my contribution. A box frame featuring three crocheted lowers embellished with buttons. Each flower has paper leaves, folded to create a 3D effect. The stalk is made from cotton yarn wrapped around floristry wire. If Mothers were flowers I'd pick you is handwritten along the edges. 

Mothers Day Box Frame

Five DIY Gift Ideas

1.  This is a great idea by Classy Clutter. Fill a glass jar with things you think your mother would love. For me it would be hand-cream, chocolates, coffee and chewing gum, oh and my eyebrow pencil! You can work to tour own budget to create a wonderful personal gift.

Mothers Survival Kit Instructions

2.  A coffee fix without the calories! You can make this gorgeous smelling scrub yourself with instructions by The Coconut Mama. It contains coffee and sugar which will exfoliate the skin and coconut oil which will moisturise. 

Antioxidant Coffee Body Scrub Instructions

3.  Create a real personal touch with these photo coaters. The instructions are available on the PopSugar website. They are pretty simple to make in just four steps. They require modge podge which to be honest I haven't used before but no fear it is available from Hobbycraft. 

Photo Coasters Instructions

4.  Leave your Mum feeling zesty and fresh with this handmade lemon soap. Instructions by A Pumpkin and a Princess. This soap will leave your skin smelling gorgeous and feeling rejuvenated. It only requires 3 ingredients; a soap base, lemon essential oil and the dried zest of 3-4 lemons.

Homemade Lemon Soap Instructions

5.  Get the kids involved in creating these candles to make a lovely gift to your mother from them. A great family project by Kylie's Corner. Making these candles is really easy but will create a treasured possession. 

Personalised Candles Instructions

Heres to a wonderful Mothers' day! 

I would love to hear your ideas and suggestions for gifts. 

Frog and Pig Wash Mitts

This is my pattern for cute little Frog and Pig wash mitts to make bathtime fun. 

I have used Lily Sugar and Cream cotton Aran which you can buy here: http://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/sugar-n-cream-solids-all-colours
In pink, green and white

Dk yarn in dark pink and black 

And a 5mm hook

Stitches and Abbreviations

Ss slip stitch

Dc double crochet

Htr half treble crochet

Dc2tog 2 double crochet together

Magic ring

Wash Mitt 

Use green yarn for the frog and pink for the pig. 

Ch 32. Join with a ss in first ch to form a loop

Round1: ch1, Dc in each ch around. Ss in first dc.

Round 2 ch2 (counts as htr throughout) htr in each st around. Ss into top of ch2.
(32 htr)

Rounds 3-6: rep round 2


Shape Hand

Round 7: ch 1, 2 dc in first st. Dc in next 15 sts. 2dc in next st. Dc in next 15 sts. Ss in first dc

Round 8: ch 2, htr in each st around. Ss into top if ch2
(34 htr)

Round 9: ch 1, 2 dc in first st. Dc in next 16 sts. 2dc in next st. Dc in next 16 sts. Ss in first dc

Round 10: ch 2, htr in each st around. Ss into top if ch2
(36 htr)

Round 11: ch 1, 2 dc in first st. Dc in next 17sts. 2dc in next st. Dc in next 17 sts. Ss in first dc
(38 dc)

Round 12: ch 2, htr in same st, htr in next 18 sts, 2htr in next st, htr in next 18 Ss into top if ch2
(40htr)

Round 13: ss in next 4sts, dc in next 12 sts, skip next 8 sts for thump, dc in next 12 sts, skip next 4dc and the 4ss, join with a ss into first dc.
24 dc

Round 14: ch2, htr in each st around. Ss into top on ch2.
(24 htr)

Round 15: repeat round 14

Shape Top

Round 16: ch1, dc in first st. Dc2tog, dc in next 10sts, dc2tog, dc in next 9 sts, ss into first dc

Round 17: ch1, dc into each st around. Ss into first dc
(22 dc)

Round 18: ch1, dc in first st. Dc2tog, dc in next 9 sts, dc2tog, dc in next 8 sts, ss into first dc

Round 19: ch1, dc in first st. Dc2tog, dc in next 8 sts, dc2tog, dc in next 7 sts, ss into first dc

Round 20: ch1, dc in first st. Dc2tog, dc in next 7sts, dc2tog, dc in next 6sts, ss into first dc (16sts)

Round 21: ch1, dc in first st. Dc2tog, dc in next 6 sts, dc2tog, dc in next 5 sts, ss into first dc

Round 22: ch1, dc in first st. Dc2tog, dc in next 5 sts, dc2tog, dc in next 4 sts, ss into first dc (12sts)

Frog Round 23: ch1, dc in each st around , ss into first dc. Fasten off leaving long tail.

Pig Round 23: ch1, dc in first st. Dc2tog, dc in next 4 sts, dc2tog, dc in next 3 sts, ss into first dc. Fasten off leaving long tail.

Thumb and Finger

Join green in first st of unworked sts

Round 1: Dc in next 8 sts. Dc in next two sts from round 11 on hand. Ss in first dc.
10 dc

Round 2: ch1, dc in each st around. Ss in first dc
Round 3: rep round 2
Round 4: ch1 dc2tog in next 5 sts. Ss in first dc. Fasten off leaving long tail.

Frog Eyes

Make two

Using white yarn make a magic ring.

Round 1: Ch2. 8 htr into ring. Ss into first htr

Change to green.
Round 2: Ch1, 2dc in next 7 sts.
14 dc
Fasten off leaving long tail.

Use black Dk to embroider on pupils. 
Pig Ears

Make two

Using pink yarn make a magic ring.

Round 1: Ch2. 6 htr into ring. Ss into first htr
Rind 2: ch1, 2dc in each st around.
12 dc
Round 3: Ch1, (dc in next st, 2dc in next st) rep 2 more times.
Round 4: ch1, dc in next 9 sts.
Fasten off leaving long tail.

Pig Nose

Using pink yarn make magic ring

Round 1: 8 dc into ring
Round 2: ch1. 2dc in first st. Dc in next 3 sts. 2 dc in nxt st. Dc in nxt 3 sts. Ss in first dc.
Round 3: ch1, 2dc in nxt 2 sts. Dc in nxt 3 sts, 2dc in nxt 2 sts, dc in nxt 4sts.
Fasten off leaving long tail.Use dk yarn in a darker pink to stitch the nostrils.

Finishing Off

Sew the top of the mitt, thumb and finger using the long tails of yarn

For the frog stitch eyes in place. Use black Dk to embroider a smiley mouth. 

Weave in ends. 

For the pig stitch nose and ears in place. Use black Dk to embroider on the eyes. 

Weave in ends. 

You can use the basic wash mitt pattern to make other animals. I made a little yellow duck. 

  I hope you enjoyed this pattern. Hopefully it reads well and correct.

                                                    Please feel free to ask any questions.

                                                                

                     You may use this pattern for personal use only and not for commercial gain. 

                                                                 THANK YOU

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Retail Matters - The Future of Retail

What will our high streets look like in a few years? Will they be still around or will online shopping have taken over?  'The Future Of Retail' was the title of a recent conference I attended this week. It was held at The Source Academy in Sheffield. It coincides with Retail Matters awareness weeks which runs from 9th-15th February. The British Council of Shopping Centres and charity The Retail Trust launched the week with the aim of encouraging more people to invest in a career in retail, rather than seeing it as just a stop-gap or a weekend job.

The Source Academy, Sheffield

There were three guest speakers at the conference. Darren Pearce, Centre Director at Meadowhall Shopping centre, Randal Casson, Retail Audit Partner for PwC in Yorkshire and Thierry Bayle, Founder of Global Fashion Management.

There was much discussion on how and if online shopping is affecting the high street and shopping centres. The reality is that the online shopping market is here to stay, however many shops are adapting to accommadate this. The future will be omni-channel retailing. This is to create a seamless approach to the customer experience through all shopping channels. For instance 'click and collect' is available in many shops now. Westfield London has introduced a click and collect hub in partnership with Collect+ which allows customers to pick up their purchases from the centre and also try them on in within a premium lounge area. This will increase footfall into the centre. Customers may wish to browse other shops if the item wasn't right, or maybe get a bite to eat afterwards. I think many other shopping centres across Britain will follow suit.

Westfield London's click and collect lounge area

Also available are connection to the web through internet points. Here you can purchase items that are unavailable in the store. H&M has recently launched their 'Scan and Buy' app, which enables the customer to scan an item with their smart phone to check if another size or colour is available to purchase online.

My hometown of Rotherham is an example of how the high street is changing. It gives us a good idea in which direction many high streets are heading in the future.

Apprenticeships are helping young people to carve a career in retail. The Whistle Stop sweet Shop, Rotherham is owned by husband and wife team Kara and Tony Chapman. They needed extra staff and with the help of The Source they recruited an apprentice, Jenna. After completing her course, Jenna manages the new Sheffield store. 

The Whistle Stop Sweet Shop

People no longer want to just shop at big chain stores. They are looking for something different. No one wants to walk down the street and see four other people wearing the same jacket as they are. Our high streets have seen a change with the number of independent retailers opening their stores. Charlotte Schothern, 21 opened Patchwork Pig on the high street in Rotherham in October 2012 with help from funding she received from UK Steel's Kickstart Fund. The fund grants up to £500 to start-up business to purchase essential equipment and services that can get them trading.

The Patchwork Pig offers unique and affordable gifts

Rotherham was included in one of Mary Portas'  high street pilot schemes. According to Rotherham's Town Team footfall has risen three years in a row with 86 new businesses opening. In 2014 Mary opened The Makers Emporium, a partnership between Rotherham Council, The Source Skills Academy and Rotherham Youth Enterprise. It is Funded by the High Street  Renewal Award. More than 30 makers share the retail space selling an array of products including, art, home-wares, gifts and jewellery (of course crocheted items by me).

Inside The Makers Emporium

My collection at The Makers Emporium

I think the future of retail looks bright. With the omni-channel approach and funding to help high streets and new businesses we have a lot to look forward too.

I would love to know what you think the future of retail will be. Post below with your ideas and any changes that have happened in your town. 

Links

http://www.thesourceacademy.co.uk/

Thierry Bayle http://www.globalfashionmanagement.com/

Randal Casson http://www.pwc.co.uk/

http://www.meadowhall.co.uk/

http://uk.westfield.com/london/services/collectplus/

https://www.hm.com/gb/customerservice/scanandbuy

http://patchwork-pig.co.uk/

http://www.thewhistlestopsweetshop.co.uk/

http://www.makers26.co.uk/

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ElizabethLaker