It’s that time of year again. Spring is in the air, flowers are blooming, daylight savings time and warmer weather are making us more social again and Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Yikes!
Don’t worry! We are here to offer a few spectacular suggestions for Mother’s Day that fulfill the qualifications of The Local Artisan Guide. Your mother will appreciate a gift that she knows was created with artisans using unique skills and ideas. What better way to show your mother you are really thinking of her and honoring her for Mother’s Day? We have ten suggestions that range in price points and categories, from beautiful objects, accessories, delicacies and one amazing experience. The links are available in the captions.
After doing some extensive travel the past year to multiple climates we started to appreciate the flexibility of lightweight knits such as alpaca to keep you warm and stylish when the temperature suddenly drops 20 degrees when the sun goes down. One of our favorite finds is this poncho from Yanawara, an ethical knitwear brand designed in New York and handcrafted by their artisan ateliers in El Alto, Bolivia. We love this poncho especially because it comes in a multitude of colors, is easy to fold and carry and can be worn in a variety of ways whilst looking quite luxurious. It is handwoven 100% from the finest alpaca. It is lightweight yet warm and it features a fluid design that moves gracefully with you. One size fits all and it can even be unisex. The alpaca wool is sustainably sourced from local communities in the Highlands of Bolivia through a process that involves a mutual breeding, this means with care and respect for the animals and the environment. Sisa means “woman who decides” in Aymara, a symbol of strength and self-determination and what better way describes the job of being a mom! Yanawara also carries a beautiful ethical home section.
Flamingo Estate is a luxury brand located in the hills of Los Angeles that specializes in creating products the slow way. That means growing and sourcing their materials, working with local farmers, harvesting their own goods and creating products using ancient practices with skilled artisans. We came upon Flamingo Estate at a friend’s home who was in love with their candles and we knew immediately Flamingo Estate was going to be in The Local Artisan Guide’s Mother’s Day Gift Guide. We picked Prinsesstårta, a scent inspired from the Principessa Cake from Sant Ambroeus (my not so guilty pleasure). It was a brilliant idea to create a scent from this famous cake that was much loved by Swedish princesses as when you slice it the aroma of lemons, almond marzipan and vanilla cream bring a smile to your face. This candle uses Heliotrope flowers to replicate the almond marzipan, along with a combination of cinnamon, lemon peel and musky Amber for the base. The Prinsesståra candle uses a vegetable wax and is hand poured in Los Angeles into beautiful recyclable glass containers. Even the packaging is made using materials from responsibly managed forests, including some recycled paper products. What sold us also was their statement that was perfect for Mother's Day, “Prinsesstårta Candle is a tribute to the mothers in our family: complex, strong, comforting, and sweet. And you can have as much as you want and you’ll never get fat.” A bonus is that Flamingo Estate donates a percentage of their profits to fund organizations in Los Angeles caring for animals and restoring their habitats, starting with The Lange Foundation and Farm Animal Refuge. A win/win!
The Local Artisan Guide was so happy when Enarai first reached out to us. The brand produces the product we travel the world to highlight. Enarai (the phonetic spelling of 'N.R.I.', a legal status which stands for Non-Resident Indian) was founded by Kanika Issar who is also the designer. She works with Indian artisans who have been skilled at the ancient craft of creating dokras. A dokra is an ancient Indian tribal metal craft that uses a lost-wax castingtechnique to create non-ferrous metal objects like brass and bronze. Enarai connects an ancient 4,500 year old tradition of craftsmanship to a modern and global audience. The dokra metal handles on the Enarai handbags are literally pieces of art. The dokras are objects that depict daily scenes from tribal culture such as dancers, musicians, ornaments, animals, birds and jewelry. We are featuring the Dari Noir bucket handbag which is made from soft vegetable tanned Indian cow leather that is made with a non-toxic, natural, slow and artisanal treatment process. The handbag comeswith an adjustable & detachable strap and is H:18cm, D:12cm. This style belongs to a one-time, limited-edition series and was created by Mr. Praphulo, a 6th generation tribal artisan. If you want to see how the dokra is made just click here. This is the perfect gift for the discerning mother who has a collector’s aesthetic and values history and artisanship. She will be the envy of all her friends and you will be promoted to favorite child.
Lana Dai is a ceramic artist who has evolved from a career as a Product Designer to the more visual and aesthetic art of porcelain. Her focus has been creating and replicating flower forms in which she creates in porcelain a variety of delicate flowers with their various petal shapes and sizes. Dai designs vases, dishes, objects and even ceramic lighting fixtures. We love the Porcelain Flower Bowls which we highlighted as a Mother’s Day Gift. Her collection includes a variety of flower types and colors. Dai can reproduce the porcelain bowls on her site or custom create what colors and forms you think your mother would love. For artwork purchases or commission inquiries, please email lanadai@gmail.com. Prices are available upon request. This is the gift that your mother will love as it is a piece of art made by a local artisan just for her.
ILENIA CORTI JEWELRY - MESSAGE HOLDER WITH HEDGEHOG
Ilenia Corti is an Italian jewelry designer who comes from a family of jewelry designers based in Valenza, Italy, a city known for gold. With her love of nature, Ilenia became inspired early on to create her own brand and work on creating magical landscapes with her jewelry designs which include nature, forest creatures and insects, all the while using different colored gems and enamel. The jewelry is rich in detail and depicts a microcosms of glimmering beauty. Her designs have attracted collaborations with luxury brands that included an 8-year partnership with Valentino Garavani, leading the men’s and women’s jewelry categories, a collaboration with Maison Margiela, a partnership with Virgil Abloh for Off-White, and many others. Our recommendation for a Mother’s Day gift is her “Message Holder with Hedgehog” This unique piece is a message holder pendant. Crafted in gold-plated silver, it features a refined cylindrical shape designed to hold small messages or cherished thoughts. The design is enhanced by a delicate hand-painted enamelled hedgehog, a symbol of protection and sweetness, like your mum (well most mums). The pendant comes with a brass chain. This handmade piece will show your mother you are thinking out of the box when thinking of her for Mother’s Day. You can even add a sweet message inside letting her know exactly what you think of her. Also for such an exquisite piece of jewelry it is quite an affordable gift.
Jacques Torres, fondly known as Mr. Chocolate, is a world renowned, award winning chocolatier and the first artisan chocolatier in New York City to start from cocoa beans and make his own chocolate. Jacques prides himself on specializing in fresh, handcrafted chocolates using premium ingredients free of preservatives and artificial flavors. The beautiful designs make for lovely and delicious gifts and for Mother’s Day we picked this “I LOVE MOM” 12 piece collection of bonbons to show mom how loved and appreciated she is. The selection includes their most popular selection of eight assorted signature bonbons and four creamy Belgian milk chocolate or 60% Belgian dark chocolate with a touch of white chocolate on top to create letter bonbons that are filled with a smooth soft center of either all milk or dark chocolate. This is the perfect gift for the foodie mom and even better is that it is quite affordable. It’s a way to show your mom she can have an artisanal gift even if you are on budget.
NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN - MOTHER’S DAY BOUQUET WITH STORE BOUGHT BLOOMS CLASS
Sending or giving mom a bouquet of flowers is a time honored tradition however you may feel it is not a very original gift. But what if your mother received a spectacular bouquet of flowers and it was created by YOU? We found this class in creating Mother’s Day floral arrangement at the New York Botanical Garden however these are classes are usually available at any public botanical gardens or your local florist. What is unique for this class is that you'll learn how to compose your own unique bouquet using simple design principles and a lush variety of economical, store-bought blooms. Although the class is $155 ($139 for members of NYBG), you will learn a useful skill that will save you money in the future by creating bouquets for your mother, friends and even yourself. You can dazzle your mom and she doesn’t even have to know that you created a floral masterpiece from flowers you found at Trader Joes or your local deli. Your mom will not only appreciate this gift but be proud of your new found skills.
Let’s not be beauty gatekeepers! If your mom is like my mom, she loves keeping herself as youthful and healthy as possible. That includes a beauty routine and products that are way more effective than the beauty brands your mom grew up with (heck, what I grew with!). That brings us to cêpoLAB, a Korean beauty brand at the forefront of ethical, eco-friendly beauty. cêpoLAB is the world's only beauty brand for skin strength, featuring the patented ingredient CLEPS® as its core component. We highly recommend BIOGENIC ESSENCE 90%, as what living skin truly needs is not just simple ingredients, but the power to recover on its own. There are only five ingredients in Biogenic Essence 90% which minimizes the use of artificial colors or fragrances. Your mother will greatly appreciate a gift that helps her recover the essence of the youth of her skin.
ASSOULINE - “MOTHER AND CHILD” BY CLAIBORNE SWANSON FRANK
If your mother is an avid reader as my stepmother is, a book is always a gift that will be appreciated and loved. For Mother’s Day we recommend “Mother and Child” by Clairborne Swanson Frank, a coffee table book from the world renowned book publisher Assouline that combines the beauty of mother and child photography and thoughtful commentary on motherhood from iconic well known families. In her latest body of work the artist set out to explore what modern motherhood means in the 21st century as she delicately tasks each mother to look within themselves and express what being a mother truly means to them. “Mother and Child” embarks on this profound journey that reminds us all of the power of motherhood and the great gift of love. It is a gift that expresses to your mother how you are grateful and acknowledge the strong bond shared between the two of you. It’s one of those rare coffee table books that you actually want to pick up and read and she will cherish it.
This is an aspirational, Big Momma of our gift guide recommendations. Remember when your parents sent you to summer camp as a kid (if you were lucky enough). Now you can return the favor and send your mom to camp. Camp Château that is! Camp Château is a women only camp located in a French château where for a week you get to curate your own adventures and select activities, experiences, and connections that most interest you and bring you joy. It’s an all-inclusive sleep-away camp (you will be sharing your room just like in camp but way nicer) that provides inclusive spaces for women, where they can rest, rejuvenate, and have fun. There is an array of activities you get to chose from. Think yoga, flower arrangement, cooking classes, sightseeing, wellness, art, wine tasting, crafting and so much more. Or you can also relax and just be in an amazing setting. The camp has proved so successful the founders (all women) decided to add another château to the program. There aren’t that many spaces left for 2026 so book ASAP. If you are a daughter this can be a mother/daughter trip, or she can go with her friends or go alone and make new friends. Either way we guarantee your mother will be thrilled to go (I want to go!!). If you are loving this gift recommendation but either cannot afford it or your mother is not that mobile there is actually “Pocket Château”, which provides an online camp community for $22 a month. It can be accessed on the internet or mobile web. It includes weekly electives, live events, community chat, community posts and more. As amazing as gifts can be the memories of an experience at Camp Château will last a lifetime.
Motherhood is the hardest job on earth, don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. So let your mother know before it’s too late how much she means to you and how much you love her with a gift that shows that you really thought of her.
Another year, another blog on great Mother’s Day gift recommendations on The Local Artisan Guide. As always we offer curated selections that are artisanal, sustainable with stores that offer small independent brands created by artisans. Your mother will appreciate that you have given great thought to unique gifts that show how much you care. No robe from Sears here! All are available online just click onto the captions under the photos.
Rothy’s has been a longtime favorite of The Local Artisan Guide for years. The brand has been at the forefront of offering stylish footwear made from recycled materials that are comfortable and easy to clean. We are again recommending Rothy’s for this Mother’s Day as they just introduced espadrilles! Imagine a comfortable and stylish espadrille that is also made from recycled materials? We couldn’t resist! Rothy’s offers the espadrille in many colors and patterns so mom will have so many choices.
In our recent trip to San Miguel de Allende we fell in love with Mexican White Ceramics for home decor. The beautiful creamy glaze is perfect for all decor and color schemes. Made my local artisans of Mexico, Marquesa de Mancera offers a stunning and affordable selection of the ceramics. I guarantee your mother will be happy to have one of these handmade, artfully created pieces in her home.
If your mother loves jewelry (whose mother doesn’t) we selected this lovely necklace of multicolored gemstones from Dana Blair Design. Dana Blair always designs not only with aesthetics in mind but how the energy of the gems affect our lives. “This necklace is inspired by the meanings of the 27 individually wrapped stones used to create it. With its myriad colors, the Symbolic necklace pairs so well with any ensemble that you’ll never want to take it off. It looks great alone or layered with other necklaces. Available in 14k gold fill or sterling silver, on a 17″ chain.” All those colors will definitely fit in with mom’s wardrobe.
Res Ispa (legalese for “the thing speaks for itself”) is a brand that focuses on globally-designed one-of-a-kind products made from vintage and repurposed materials. Trust me your mother will love this handmade Cactus silk patchwork kimono made by hand in their atelier in Marrakech. Each kimono's front collar is trimmed with handwoven fabric, cactus silk fabric, or West African mud cloth. It is an original design that will go with everything you have in your wardrobe whilst being sustainable as all the fabrics are repurposed materials. She will be the envy of her friends and you might find yourself asking to borrow it yourself. Think of this gift as the much elevated version of the robe mom usually got for Mother’s Day when you were younger (that was dad’s idea of a gift for sure).
One of the problems you have with perfumes and fragrances is that it is quite common that others can easily share your fragrance (remember the 80’s when everyone and their mother was wearing “Obsession”?). When you seek out small independent perfume brands you drastically decrease this possibility and having a fragrance that is practically your own. That is why we love Widian perfumes. We picked “Granada” by Widian as it is the closest you can come to being in Granada without buying your mother a plane ticket (not that we are discouraging that). The copy alone for the fragrance had us running to try it out: “Resting beneath the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains, with multiple World Heritage Sites dating back over a millennia, Granada sits at the crossroads of nature and history. A tribute to this rich legacy in all of its contrasts, the newest fragrance from Widian is a symphony of fiery passion and tranquil breezes, an exquisitely constructed parfum that combines exotic spices, lush florals, and a rich amber base to create an unforgettable, wholly unique experience. Delicately calibrated between he softness of rose and the freshness of juniper, the opening harmoniously blends with the intense heat of black pepper and cinnamon supporting a robust cedarwood heart. The luxurious scent is deepened with rich undertones of amber, musk, vetiver, and patchouli, creating a captivatingly perfect balance that sets you on an historic olfactory journey.” It actually makes for a great unisex fragrance so dad may be seeking a few dabs too!
In our last blog we mentioned visiting 2 Note in Kinderhook, NY and how we fell in love with their fragrance boutique. If you don’t feel confident enough to buy your mother perfume for Mother's Day this candle in the universally loved scent of “Opus 1”Lavender Black Pepper Sandalwood is a no brainer. There is also a “Opus 2” Balsam Fir Frankincense in case you want a woodsier slightly more masculine fragrance. The packaging makes it possible to travel with the 10 oz candle that is made with 100% pure beeswax. The candle is made locally with pure botanical essences, hand poured in small batches. It’s a gift she is not only sure to love, but to actually use.
Our last gift recommendation is the very affordable Mother’s Day Gift suggestion is a book by author Chris Power entitled “Mothers” (how appropriate). Available at one of our favorite independent book stores, McNally Jackson, the synopsis reads as: “A woman uses her mother’s old travel guide, aged years beyond relevance, to navigate on a journey to nowhere; a stand-up comic with writer’s block performs a fateful gig at a cocaine-fueled bachelor party; on holiday in Greece, a father must confront the limits to which he can keep his daughters safe. Braided throughout is the story of Eva, a daughter, wife, and mother, whose search for a self and place of belonging tracks a devastating path through generations.
Ranging from remote English moors to an ancient Swedish burial ground to a hedonistic Mexican wedding, the stories in Mothers lay bare the emotional and psychic damage of life, love, and abandonment. Suffused with yearning, Power’s transcendent prose expresses a profound ache for vanished pasts and uncertain futures.” If your mother is an avid reader and perhaps can’t travel so easily these day, Mothers is a gift that will let her travel in her mind.
While flowers, chocolates and greeting cards will also make her happy, we hope these recommendations show your mother that gift giving is an art form and one that leaves the recipient with feelings of gratitude for being fondly thought of. Let that be, there is no greater gift to mom than your actual presence, that is the best present of all. Happy Mother’s Day to the women who do the hardest job on earth where you never get a day off!
The title says an upstate budding artisan haven. Fact is Kinderhook, was discovered by Henry Hudson in 1609 as he sailed far up the Hudson River on an exploratory trip. There are a few theories on how Kinderhook got it’s name one being is that Henry Hudson saw many Native Americans of the Mohican tribe playing on the bluffs, thus Kinderhook, meaning “children’s corner” in Dutch was given to this small town. Kinderhook was an important stage coach stop on the way to Albany and the town’s European Colonial heritage was steeped in artisan traditions from its founding. Not to disregard the artisan skills of the Mohicans who originally settled the area.
Surrounded by the townships of Chatham and Ghent, Kinderhook is probably known best by its most popular historical resident, the late President Martin Van Buren who was born in Kinderhook and retired there after his public life at his historical home, Linderwald which is a National Historic Site today. This charming small town is having a revival of artisanal boutiques, renovated inns and an explosion of the arts and culture.
In the center of Kinderhook is a bronze statue of its most well known resident, Martin Van Burn. He seems really little.
One of the highlights of Kinderhook is the renovated boutique hotel Old Dutch Inn which is situated in the heart of the village of Kinderhook on 8 Broad Street. Build in 1820, Old Dutch Inn was originally a shoe shop, private dwelling and a public hall. With time the building became an inn under the names of Kinderhook Inn, Lindenwald Hotel, Petrillo's Inn, Van Buren Inn and most notably and recently, Old Dutch Inn. Each guest room is named for an element of the building's or surrounding area's history. About 20 years ago a family lovingly restored the inn which includes 9 rooms that have an eclectic mixture of American Colonial and contemporary decor.
Right across the Old Dutch Inn is a bagel and sandwich shop that would be at home on any street in Brooklyn, New York, Broad Street Bagel, Co. The building had a renovation in 2012 bringing all the original character back and with that a 150 year old bagel recipe. Broad Street Bagel Co. sells a wide variety of kettle boiled bagels, hot and cold beverages all in an Old World charm.
Right around the corner from Broad Street Bagel Co., we have the Kinderhook Knitting Mill, which consists of a group of buildings that was originally an old knitting mill first build in the 1870’s. It was the idea of restaurateur Yen Ngo and artist Darren Waterston to bring art and food to Kinderhook during the pandemic and their mission is, “The businesses housed in the Knitting Mill, almost entirely owned and operated by women and people of color, run the gamut from an Indonesian-inspired restaurant to an art gallery to a curated general store. The ethos of The Mill is one of cooperation and collaboration that is evident in the connective thread that ties everyone together in the shared goal of cultivating a thriving village center to nourish the community.” The businesses include OK Pantry which is a concept general store with a dash of bodega and built to encourage a place to come and sit and get to know your neighborhood whilst kiddos and your pets are welcomed too. Right next door is Morning Bird Cafe serving a variety of pastries, along with made-to-order breakfast and lunch. Morning Bird Cafe is an extension of the highly acclaimed restaurant, The Aviary and bar The Nest, both located on 8 Hudson Street in Kinderhook Knitting Mill. Right next door is Village Yoga and Blake Realtors just in case you are looking for a home in the surrounding area.
This charming block included OK Pantry, Morning Bird Cafe, Village Yoga and Blake Realtors.
Yoga and pastries! A winning combination.
Around the corner of Blake Realtors, the Kinderhook Knitting Mill continues with a pop up of the Shaker Museum which was an important community in Kinderhook and influenced furniture making in America since its conception. Female owned Damsel Garden is a gardening shop which is committed to regenerative agriculture and the strong community it helps build.
Walk a few steps down and you will encounter Still Life, a beautifully curated selection of art, objects and vintage clothing that feel like a hidden jewel box of items at quite reasonable prices.
A selection of the art, artifacts, home decor and vintage clothing available at Stilllife.
A WW2 vintage Japanese buoy at Stilllife.
Stilllife’s exquisite selection of items.
Native American artifact available at Stilllife.
Artifacts and Artforums at Stilllife.
Next door to Stilllife is 2 Note a perfume and beauty brand created by perfumers who are also musicians. This highly ethical made in America brand has created an entire collection inspired by the creation of music (my favorite fragrance was Adagio). This perfume boutique is a delight to walk through with vintage musical instruments sprinkled along the minimal decor that also offers bath and body, skincare and home fragrances.
2 Note offers travel sizes for their fragrance collection.
The last shop you will find is at Kinderhook Knitting Mill is The Kinderhook Bottle Shop which has been awarded the best wine shop in 2022 and 2023 covering multiple counties in upstate New York by the Rural Intelligence Awards. They are, “A thoughtful, fun and highly curated wine shop in the heart of historic Kinderhook, NY, led by a NYC Sommelier (who tastes every bottle) raised in the Hudson Valley.” and we agree as we were delightedly surprised by the selection of small independent wine and spirit brands that represented both local and international vineyards and distilleries. The shop encourages you to not only learn about wines but to hang out by their beautiful fireplace and get to know your neighbor (wine always helps!!). The ethos of the shop is “A focus on naturally made wines from artisanal producers and a selection of craft spirits and ciders with special attention to local and NY state as well as female and minority producers.” And the best part was how affordable their selection was. My traveling companions were happy to find a delicious and affordable kosher wine for Passover.
One of the best things that have happened to Kinderhook in the recent years is the explosion of art and culture, with new art galleries and art exhibition spaces popping up. Two of notable mention are The School: Jack Shaiman Gallery and Bill Arning Exhibitions. Jack Shaiman is a renowned gallerist from New York City who has exhibited famed artists for decades. Bill Arning is a curator and former director of White Columns, an exhibition space for emerging artists in New York City. Both men have taken advantage of repurposing large spaces for artist exhibitions and cultural events in Kinderhook. Their presence alone makes Kinderhook a very happening town when it comes to the forefront of contemporary art in the Hudson Valley.
Jack Shainman has repurpose an old school into The School for large scale art exhibitions and a place for his artists to create their work.
A fun little map of Kinderhook and just a few of the places and activities to enjoy while visiting.
Besides having a beautiful visit to Kinderhook and the stunning Hudson Valley there are so many more places to visit, eat and see art in Kinderhook. We found this fun map pictured above which includes the Kinderhook Farmers Market. Kinderhook is a two and a half hour drive from New York City and a twenty minute drive from Hudson, NY where the Amtrak train goes to from NYC. A bus also takes you from NYC to Kinderhook (3 1/2 ride). There are many towns near Kinderhook that are also teaming with artisans, good food and art including Hudson, Chatham, Old Chatham, Redhook, Kingston and Ghent. With increasing rents in New York City many creatives are taking advantage of having a quality of life not afforded in New York and have reignited the local artisans of New York.
Can you believe it’s already May? That means Mother’s Day is just around the corner and The Local Artisan Guide once again saves the day by highlighting gifts for mom that are affordable, unique, thoughtful and artisanal. These gifts are made by small, local businesses and your mother will appreciate that you took the time to show her with these gifts how special she is to you. Click on the captions for the links for the items.
Just because mom wants to wear sensible shoes doesn’t mean they can’t be stylish AND comfortable. We love the CHIKO Kaeleigh Round Toe Block Heels Slingback Shoes. The Kaeleigh has a sensible heal and features a leather, suede upper, leather lining, rubber sole. Heel height is approx. 0.5″. We love the green suede and tan trim and know your mom would be delightly surprised by this gift.
Dana Blair is a jewelry designer who after 20 years and a bicoastal life has settled into New York City with her first brick and mortal jewelry boutique in Chelsea, New York (also available online). Dana specializes in beautiful, delicate jewelry that is affordable which lets you layer up with an array of semi-precious stones. Dana’s necklaces, rings, bracelets are great gifts for mom, we especially love her dream catcher’s necklaces which she is most known for and is now on her bracelets. Most of the pieces are under one hundred dollars.
A beautiful journal from your local book or gift store is a thoughtful gift for your mother that she will enjoy as chances are she is more a paper than tech kind of mom. Here at Good for the Study in Nolita, NYC we find a large selection of beautiful journals for mom’s thoughts and ideas.
If your mother loves to cook here is an original gift that she will love for her kitchen and its the Bitterman Salt Co. Pink Himalayan Salt Block & Cookbook (comes with its own saltblock). It’s the ultimate guide to cooking on salt and the awesome power of salt. This cookbook will teach mom to grill, bake and serve on the saltblock. She’ll be appreciative (and so will you) to learn the new skill of saltblock cooking.
One way to make mom feel special on Mother’s Day is to get her a customized gift and we love the Green Velvet Laptop Case with chain and charger pocket. It’s 15” across and comes with her name on it (order on the website to customize). It’s very affordable at just $60 and BAG ALL is a women own business that has focused on sustainability since its concept. Mom will appreciate that you are helping planet earth and giving her a customize gift for Mother’s Day.
One can’t go wrong with a artisanal scented candle for mom. We recently discovered the candles from The Commonfolk Collective that have special “Mum” candles (pictured are the Astrology Candles). This candle is a LIMITED EDITION with only 100 units available. They have tweaked their original Mum label with a NEW peachy coloured background featuring gold foil text to tie in together with our 'Love Ya Mum' Soul Candle + our second LIMITED EDITION candle, Dictionary Meaning Family.
And for our grand finale we have one of our most favored finds, “Marrakech” from The Bubble Collection. Artisanal perfumers Michael Perris and Gregory Cole have worked with world renowned brands before deciding to create their own memorable perfume collection and decided to name it The Bubble. We were immediately captivated by “Marrakesh”. A floral and spicy scent that is described as “Take a stroll through the souk, filled with dazzling aromas of sunny citrus, scintillating spices, sumptuous florals and supple woods. In the shade of a flying carpet, you find yourself entranced by the complex rhythmic patterns of hand-dyed wool, the elegant arabesques on silver platters, and gilded tea glasses in rainbow hues. Tendrils of steam from your tea mingle with swirls of sweet tobacco.” We guarantee any mom would fall in love with the fragrance, its the next best thing to going to Marrakesh.
These are our picks for Mother’s Day. They are affordable, thoughtful, artisanal and will show your mother that even though they are very affordable they are unique and special, just like she is.
This year for The Local Artisan Guide we are proud to present our gift ideas that come from local, small artisans that can be found on both online stores and brick and mortar shops. With Covid we learned at The Local Artisan Guide that in order to be pandemic proof we must highlight artisans that are both online and brick and mortar. This was always our plan however Covid made us speed up the process of highlighting artisans that do not present their wares in a physical shop. The benefit for this is for everyone as you can be sure to shop from anywhere worldwide. All our gift guides and artisans we have highlighted in the past have had an online site along with their brick and mortar store but not all artisans with an online shop have had the luxury of a store. That said we have gifts in all price ranges and categories to make sure we cover all your bases. This year we have gift suggestions that we know your mother would love and appreciate on this day to honor her that are thoughtful, curated and as original as she is. Just click onto the captions to go to the store sites.
Trudon is the oldest and one of the most prestigious candle and fragrance makers in France, established in 1643 and with a long tradition of excellence we would ordinarily recommend one of their spectacular scented candles however we are recommending as a gift to mother their wax bust of Marie-Antoinette. This little-known copy of Marie-Antoinette of Austria which stands at 22 cm, is attributed to one of the Brachard brothers, either the eldest, Jean-Charles-Nicolas or the youngest, Jean-Nicolas-Alexandre. This object is an idealized portrait of the queen instead of the evocation of a sovereign at the height of her power. The head is slightly turned to the right; the shoulders are covered with a swath of fabric for a natural effect; she is wearing a crown decorated with a fleur-delis and a row of pearls. As one of the most famous and controversial women in French History, Marie-Antoinette was the object of many artistic representations. Many valuable pieces disappeared during the French Revolution. Fortunately, some copies have survived the upheavals of time. Say what you would say about Marie-Antoinette but one thing for sure, she loved her children.
Ariana Bohling is a footwear and accessories designer that has managed to also built a following for her incredibly comfy and stylish slippers. What better gift to mom on Mother’s Day than the gift of comfort? These pink slippers are made of ethically sourced baby alpaca fur and handmade in Peru by artisans. The footbed and lining are made with a suede sole and 1/2 inch cushion in the footbed for extra comfort. They come in S, M and L.
Caswell- Massey is America’s Original Soap and Fragrance company with historic, bespoke formulations enjoyed for nearly 300 years. Made in the USA the Goat’s Milk & Honey soaps make your bath or shower time a ritual with their long lasting, plant-based soap that is soothing and moisturizing. Our selection has a soothing and delicate fragrance of honey and hay grass with triple-milled Goat’s Milk. Your mother will appreciate this affordable gift that will make her skin soft and supple.
Although mostly known for his home and bedding collections, John Robshaw has lifestyle gifts for mom and what more classic gift to mom than a robe for Mother’s Day? She will especially appreciate the Dasati Lotus Robe as it is a tribute to John Robshaw’s bedding collection with a Dasati Lotus print on soft pink linen. Made of the best European linen and Indian cotton, this robe is light as air, luxe and refined. The linen is Belgian and the woven in India. One Size.
Desideri Design is a jewelry brand founded by Roman expat Claudia Desideri. Desideri is known for creating jewelry made mostly from Swarovski Crystals however for Mother’s Day we recommend her Quartz and Amethyst Drop earrings. These lovely earrings are Lilac tone colored quartz with Amethyst tear drops with 14k gold filled hoops make for a stunning and affordable gift for Mother’s Day.
Apolis Global is a small group of social entrepreneurs who believe that the most valuable practice is creating lasting change by investing in people. Apolis creates bags that can be personalized by you. The bags are handcrafted in Bangladesh by hundreds of mothers who receive Fair Trade-certified wages, annual profit dividends and a retirement fund. The bags are then shipped to Los Angeles, California where they are customized. The Petite Market Bag with Strap is perfect for small shopping trips and special lunches. Featuring soft leather handles and a detachable strap and spill-proof lining, the Petite Market Bag is made from 100% natural golden jute fiber from Bangladesh and vegetable tanned leather for the straps. Dimensions are 12.5” wide, 9.5” high, 5.5” deep with a 5”x6” inner pocket. The strap is 38” and the drop is 19”. Personalization is optional however its a clever way to announce to the world how you have “No 1 Mom”!
Rose Box NYC is the premier luxury long lasting flower atelier in New York City. By combining the alluring and natural beauty of the rose and their proprietary preservation process, Rose Box NYC produces unforgettable floral arrangements that last for an entire year with absolutely no maintenance required. Their arrangements stay fresh, vibrant and beautiful and are hand crafted to make any moment or any space one to remember. The Custom Medium box comes with 20 to 24 XL long-lasting roses. The roses in the arrangements come from Ecuador and your have the options of creating custom arrangements and even having the box personalized. What mother would not want a beautiful bouquet of fragrant roses that last a year? It’s Mother’s Day all year round.
VOZ (“Voice” in Spanish) is an ethical fashion brand founded by Jasmine Etoile Aarons whose mission is to protect the livelihoods, well-being and cultural values of rural indigenous women globally. Voz pays living wages for every textile and sewn garment and use sustainable fibers and processes. This beautiful duster is perfect for moms of all sizes and ages as it is a solid hand-loomed duster in 100% organic cotton flammé. The 100% organic pima cotton is hand-loomed in Chile by Mapuche artisan weavers. Available also in black, white and pewter.
Located in Aedes, the highly curated of fragrance boutique, Flor de Mayo A powerful and sensual floral scent, Flor de Mayo combines exotic, peachy, spring Mayflower and balmy, sweet and sensual frangipani notes, complete with a twist of fresh, fragile, bewitching jasmine, adding an uplifting luminosity. Evocative frangipani is native to Mexico and the Caribbean shores, and a flower that is peppered throughout the folklores of the Yucatan and ancient Mayan medicine. Jasmine is also known by natives as huele de noche (scent of the night) for its far-travelling, seductive notes that come to life in the dusky evening breeze. Flor de Mayo is evocative of dreamy, warm, balmy nights in tropical climates and spontaneous encounters in places new. We recommend this fragrance because we are sure its like nothing your mother ever had on her skin and she will thank you for it!
Innovative textile designer Victoria Van Der Laan of The Binderie in Hudson Valley has made a collaborative capsule collection of home decor pillows with Annie Selke that we are sure your mother would love! She will appreciate the colorful, mid-century Modern look to her home (best it can used both indoors and outdoors). These gorgeous Indoor/Outdoor pillows portray Victoria's artwork, translated by expertly printing onto our favorite Greylock sun, rain, dog and child-proof performance fabric. Crafted by artisans in India committed to fair-labor practices. Dimensions 22” x 22” with a enclosed zipper.
We hope these curated gift ideas for Mother’s Day help you celebrate the woman that raised and loved you. Every mother that raised her children with love and valor deserves a special, original and thoughtout gift to let her know how much she is appreciated and loved.
The Local Artisan Guide has come out with its annual Mother’s Day Gifts guide that will help you chose thoughtful, unique gifts that are made by artisans and small independent brands that care passionately about their work, their workers, their products and the earth. We have chosen an array of categories from fashion, accessories, perfumes, beauty, home decor, jewelry, flowers, footwear, sweets and more. If you want to show your mother that she is your hero and deserves a gift that shows how special she is to you, then this is the guide is for you. So click onto the caption and the link will bring you to the website. All recommendations are available online.
We know your mother will love anything you give her but she will definitely tell her friends you are her favorite if you chose any of the magnificent gifts recommended in our gift guide. However in the end, quality time and telling your mom you love her and she is the best mom in the world will always be on the top of her gift list.
With Mother’s Day around the corner and most of the world on lockdown, this is proving to be one extraordinary Mother’s Day for all.
Covid-19 has possibility led you to forget that this coming Sunday, May 10th is Mother’s Day and since you should be social distancing from your mother if you are not in quarantine with her, here are some suggestions from The Local Artisan Guide on thoughtful last minute Mother’s Day gifts.
Good Old Fashion Flowers from Your Local Florist
Many florists have managed to stay open during the shutdown by just fulfilling orders at their store via phone or website. If you have a local florist who is especially fond of working with local flowers this is the perfect gift for your mother. She will love a beautiful bouquet that shows her how much you miss and love her. Some florists like Soho’s Elan Flowers were closed at first but now are open and providing limited services with safe, no contact deliveries.
Elan Flowers in Soho, NYC offers flower with safe, no contact deliveries. Bouquets start at $60.
Rothy’s and Kempton & Co.
Rothy’s the footwear company that has taken the world by storm by introducing footwear that has been made by recycled plastic has introduced handbags to their brand. One of their most popular silhouettes is The Essential Tote. Tote all your essentials with ease in this spacious bag. Crafted with ocean-bound marine plastic, this versatile tote keeps you equipped from dawn to dusk. Its a win/win, your mother gets a tote that will help her carry all her essentials whilst remaining stylish and you know you are helping the environment by providing her a gift that is eco-friendly. An added bonus is all that Rothy’s is helping with masks for Covid-19 relief. Click here to learn more.
Any small local business, local artisan or small independent brand that has an online presence are desperate for your orders to help keep them afloat. Whether its fashion, accessories, jewelry, shoes, gifts, chocolates, etc., just ask your mom what she wants for Mother’s Day and see if a small local business can fulfill her Mother’s Day wishes. A tote from Kempton & Co. is the perfect gift from a small local business. Proceeds from the profits made from their NY TOUGH totes will be going to In God's Love we Deliver an organization that helps fight hunger in their local communities.
Inphorm NYC, the eco-friendly luxury athleisure wear brand has added an eco-friendly mask that is tested and adjudged to be significantly effective protection to the wearer against molecules and liquid absorbency. The outer layer is made from water repellent cotton that meets the international water-repellency test of up to 20 washes. The inner layer, which has a soft feel to the face, is made from eco-forward sustainable bamboo fabric with an antibacterial finish. The face masks, when used with proper preventive measures, can limit the spread of contaminants. The mask comes in two sizes, petite (great for women) and regular size (perfect for men). Best of all is that the mask is very affordable at $9.
With so many restaurants closed there are a few great restaurants that have managed to stay open with local deliveries. Why not make sure your mother is not going to be doing any cooking that day and provide your mom her favorite meal for her and those she is social distancing with (it’s only fair). So whether its brunch or a glorious dinner have your mom enjoying her favorite cuisine and as an extra bonus to your mom share the meal over Zoom. If a restaurant doesn’t come to your mind you can research on Grubhub, Seemless Web or Uber Eats and easily have a meal for mom delivered to her.
Grubhub, Seemless Web and Uber Eats can help you choose great meals to have delivered to your mother.
A Donation to Her Favorite Cause in Her Honor
Right now more than ever our world needs help in every area whether its humanitarian, environmental, animals, etc. Donating to your mother’s favorite cause is a gift that reverberates throughout our communities. In a time when so many of us feel hopeless as we can’t go out and help unless we are an essential worker the best gift is the gift of giving. One standout organization is the International Rescue Committee which beside having their usual donations for refugees has a special Mother’s Day offer called a Mother’s Day match. For $90, IRC offers four emergency hygiene kits to mothers in vulnerable countries like Yemen, Syria and Venezuela. Donate now for Mother’s Day and help moms in vulnerable areas to keep their families safe.
If you can’t afford a gift for your mother this Mother’s Day because your circumstances have made it financially difficult there are many options. Send a greeting card, organize a Zoom video, FaceTime call or even a simple phone call. It lets your mother know she is much loved and you want her to stay home, stay safe and stay healthy.
A card, Zoom, FaceTime or just a simple phone call will make mom happy.
