Unique Gifts: Are They a Thing of the Past?

Copyright © 2008 Nicole Maschwitz

Lets face it, times have changed long gone are the days of knitting and crocheting. Lets admit it now with the introduction of computers and X box, the next generation is more interested in helping Scratch from Ice Age rather than doing embroidery. In addition, with mass production of goods from China and other countries, unique is becoming more rare.

Well I have made it my personal quest to find Unique products, from around the world.

Let me start by saying that on a trip to Africa, I most definitely found it. The African tribal people would undoubtedly have to be some of the most talented people in the world. Their Beadwork / Wirework sculptures are truly amazing. Yes you heard right!

These talented artisans from the Ndebele and Zulu tribes express themselves through this very art form. Dating back to ancient times, they used the beadwork mostly for costume jewelry or ceremonial occasions, even using organic materials, but now with the introduction of glass beads through overseas visitors, their artistry has turned to something with a more modern and creative twist.

Traditionally over the years, the tribal women were renowned for their ceremonial costumes and for there basket weaving - put the two together, and they started creating the most beautiful designs.

Today Africa is experiencing a revolution. Numbers of talented artisans are making these steel wire sculptures and then beading them with bright bold colors. The beadwork is complex and difficult. In the past, women dominated this incredible art, however now the items are readily made and sold to tourists, and both males and females now do the beadwork.

Due to Africa's high unemployment rate, its common practice for the women in the villages to sit and bead. Traders from each village collectively sell their work at nearby markets and street stalls. It is an everyday occurrence to see these talented artisans sitting on the pavement constructing and beading the most amazing creations. The task requires a steady hand and lots of patience. Each design is unique and charismatic; no two pieces are the same. The types of designs they create vary; you can find wall art, such as spider webs and butterflies, not to mention animal sculptures, motorbikes and beaded bottles - the array of products and designs is certainly endless.

Africa is an amazing place, with extraordinary people. Their beadwork is first class - an age old tradition with creative new designs to suit the modern world. This truly is exceptional artisanship at its best.


About The Author:

Nicole Maschwitz writes about fashion and design. When you are in the market to shop the world for distinctive jewelry, handmade handbags, unique gifts or decorative home wares, please visit Gift Hut and browse their selection of products from around the world at: http://www.gifthut.com.au

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Have Fun With Gifts

By Kathy Austin

There are numerous luxury cars out there in the automobile market, but there is nothing quite like a Chevrolet! I was cruising in my own battered Ford one day, when I passed by a Chevrolet car showroom. The models I saw through the window were breathtaking. I have always been a car freak ever since I was a child and the Chevrolet Company has been one of my favorites since those good old days. One of the interesting products offered by this luxury car manufacturing company is the Chevrolet Cavalier Keychains.

The Chevrolet Company came out with the Cavalier model in the year 1981. And ever since its introduction to the general masses it has been the reigning supreme among all other luxury cars. Especially in America and Canada, the Chevrolet Cavalier has enjoyed immense popularity from its early days and still continues to hold pride of place.

The Chevrolet Company started manufacturing the Chevrolet Cavalier Keychains as a result of their popularity. This was their way of thanking their customer for the heart-rending response to the Cavalier model. These keychains also gained popularity with the car, and now almost all the customers are offered a keychain along with the car. The key chain is a wonderful way of expressing their gratitude and make for a great token of appreciation.

The beauty of the Chevrolet Cavalier Keychains is that they come in so many shapes and sizes. According to your preferences, you can make a choice of the right kind of keychain that would match your requirements and style. You could either get a regular keychain from the brand. On the other hand, if you are like me in any way, then what you would love to go in for is the custom made unique keychain that the Chevrolet Company offers. These keychains come in shapes of a steering wheel, a lock and many others.

The best part about these Chevrolet Cavalier Keychains is that you can get them engraved with any message. This can be especially helpful if you are planning to gift it the Cavalier model to any of your loved ones. If you intend to make it your graduation gift for someone special then getting the graduation date engraved would be great idea. You can also consider engraving either the name of the person receiving the car or a thoughtful message.

It is can be something by which they can remember you. Another area where the keychain is of use is when you are providing the car to your employee. Along with the car, the employee can also be given the Chevrolet Cavalier Keychain which has the company logo engraved on it. It serves as a bond and will definitely help in promoting the brand name of your company.

You can order the keychains when purchasing your car so as to get both the things together. You can also buy it online form the online website of Chevrolet where you could also have a look at some of the other car accessories as well.


About the Author: Kathy Austin is an internet marketer for Wholesale keychains. Check out the intricate designs of these Chevrolet Cavalier Keychains, they are crafted in stainless steel.



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Last Minute Gifts For Cheap Holidays

By Michael Peterson

Imagine standing in line while the clock continues to tick. Time is moving in circles, seconds are passing by quickly, but you did not buy the gift you have promised your loved one. Your problem started as soon as you realized it was a ‘cheap holiday’. Do you know why it is bothering you so much? A cheap holiday is a holiday that means something, but not everything to you or the person you promised a gift. How can you break away from this little mischief? Make a plan for next year – advantages and disadvantages of preparing for a cheap holiday.


Make A List of Gift Ideas

Times change throughout the year, but you can focus on the best of each moment. Your cheap holiday can be St. Patrick’s Day, but it could mean the world to someone else. Your gift ideas of cheap holidays should include the pricing, taste or preference of the person wanting the gift, and what it may mean to them that year. Preparing gift ideas a year early takes skill and it is easier if you are planning for a personal friend. What does your friend want for this cheap holiday? Can you find it now or is it seasonal? Make a list of everything intriguing to your buddy; the upcoming holidays are around the corner and you will never know if you chose wisely or not.


Buying The Right Gift

You can make a list with details pertaining to your loved ones’ needs or wants in a gift, but you can not change the way manufacturers treat you. Seasonal gifts for cheap holidays can come and go within the hours you decide to purchase. The best way to beat the semi-holiday traffic is to shop two to three weeks before the proposed holiday. If the holiday is St. Patrick’s Day, buy the four leaf clover necklace two weeks before your girlfriend decides to pinch you. You have to look at the cheap holiday gifts as a way to explore the relationship you have with your loved ones.


Does The Gift Mean Anything?

Cheap holidays can become annoying if people around you celebrate it. Your taste in the quasi-holidays could damper the joy your friends and family feel. Finding last minute gifts for cheap holidays could become irritating and rather annoying when you wish it would end. Buying an expensive gift hurts the cash flow, agitate you if the person does not acknowledge it, and may cause you to be off the hinge. Take a moment to think about the next, last minute cheap holiday gift you purchased this year – did the gift mean anything?


About the Author: Mr. Peterson loves to write. Check out this cheap holiday search engine in the UK. And a Last minute holiday search engine. And this kidswear site: børnetøj


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Gift Baskets For Women

By Aditi Miscall

Maybe she likes a good romance novel. Or she might swoon over chocolates. She'll love a great wine. She will appreciate those fine bath products. Whatever her tastes or interests, there's a great gift basket waiting.

Create your own private home spa with the fine products in a gift basket filled with bath oils, soaps and scents. Indulge in that long hot soak while using any of many fine ointments, then enjoy a soothing moisturizer at the end. A bath product gift basket is the perfect choice to celebrate that Sunday pampering yourself.

Who doesn't like flowers? Fresh or faux, you can find a huge bouquet of roses or a mixed basket of daffodils, peonies and begonias. The basket itself can be an important part of the total package, delivering that bounty of color in a traditional wicker or a contemporary porcelain container.

Coffee is a great favorite to fill a woman's gift basket. A big package of that fine gourmet dark roast can fill the container. Or, an array ranging from delicate Viennese to robust French can festoon a cannister. Sprinkle packets of raw sugar or delicate natural creams among the many beans waiting to be ground and brewed.

Prefer tea to coffee? Find a basket that has a year's supply of her favorite Chamomile. Or get a selection of British Earl Grey, Asian Ginseng and African Rooibos. Top it off with a special tea spoon or strainer. Pack the tea in tins that will last a lifetime.

Wine will never go to waste. Get a basket that holds that brilliant ruby-colored Bordeaux. Or get a selection that runs the gamut of whites from a dry Chardonnay to a sweet Gewürztraminer. Pick a single standard-sized bottle to form the centerpiece, or arrange a series that can be tried one per month. Surround the wine with fine cheese or gourmet crackers. A winning combination!

Chocolates can well stand alone in a delightful container of straw or wood. But how much better to add a small bottle of champagne or wine to mix in with the sweets? Sometimes a combination makes for a unifying theme itself, as when sewing accessories are combined with beautiful buttons or cloth samples, for example.

Be a hero and give a gift basket full of jewelry. A woman's gift basket could contain a single diamond ring at the center, surrounded by a hundred tiny scrolls with poems announcing your undying love. Or, you can scatter a dozen pairs of earrings among the straw that reminds you of your first trip to that Bed and Breakfast in the country.

Try some delightfully scented candles. With hints of fresh apricot or gusts of cinnamon, a scented candle can bring back memories. Create new ones by finding that special vanilla from Africa or a citrus from Mandalay. Surround the candles with chunks of wrapped chocolate and all the senses will come alive.

Whether you're looking for that perfect birthday gift, or want something to celebrate that promotion at work, you'll find a woman's gift basket that is just right for the occasion.


About the Author: Aditi Miscall is a Independent SUZANNE Sales Consultant and the owner of http://www.shop-stuff.com

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How To Give A Gift Of Wine

By Caroline Silverstone

Wine makes an excellent gift. It is timeless, classic and tasteful. It works for almost any occasion and is, perhaps, the perfect adult gift. You will surely find many occasions to give wine as a gift. Of course, you may need a little guidance in figuring out how to give wine as a gift.


Wine is a popular gift for many reasons. Here are some to think about:


- It is easy to give.

- It can fit into almost any budget.

- It has universal appeal.


Let’s look at these for a minute to help you understand why you should give the gift of wine.

It Is Easy To Give

Wine is easy to give because it comes pre-packaged. It is a compact gift, too. People will usually look at wine as a nice gift, too. They realize thought went into it and they appreciate it. Additionally, it is a usable gift, so you know it won’t just be another gift that the recipient can not use.

It Can Fit Into Almost Any Budget

There are so many options of wine you can choose that you can buy a bottle that fits right into your budget. You can buy some really nice wine without breaking the bank. As long as you a little abut wine you should be able to find one that is not too expensive for you.

It Has Universal Appeal.

The majority of people will be quite happy with wine as a gift. There are so many types of wine that choosing one that is right for the occasion and the recipient should not be difficult, either.

Now that you know why to choose wine as a gift. Here are some ideas of how to choose good wine gifts:

- Choose wine from the recipient favorite restaurant. This will give you a good chance of choosing one they like to drink if you do not already know their preference.

- Buy their favorite wine if you know what it is.

- By a wine with a unique name or a name that will mean something to the recipient.

- Choose a wine from a country the recipient has visited or is interested in.

- Buy a collectable wine.

- Choose a wine with a unique bottle.

- Design a custom label for the wine bottle.

- Buy a wine from a special year.

To give wine as a gift you can try some of these creative ideas instead of simply handing the bottle over:

- Add a bow to the bottle.

- Put it in a decorative sleeve.

- Make it a part of a nice gift basket of complimentary cheeses.

- Make a gift set and include a couple beautiful wine glasses.

- Include some reservations to a wine tasting with the bottle.

You should give wine as a gift in a creative manner. Make it something to remember instead of just another bottle of wine. You should put thought into it and really choose the wine carefully and then present it in a meaningful way. Wine makes a perfect gift, but it can be made so much better when it is given with a little thought behind it.


About the Author: wine gifts. Shop from hundreds of wine related gifts and wine accessories at The Wine Standard. Fine crystal wine decanters are always a fun wine gift.



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How To Choose Gifts?

By CD Mohatta

If you need to watch your money, go for small, simple gifts, but always do quality! Showing class is always superior to tackiness and they will feel more special and associate you with quality. A cheaply made or cheesy gift is not likely to be favorably remembered by adults, but will soon become their clutter. Better to give one or two special flowers than a whole bouquet of common supermarket flowers. Inexpensive, tasteful, quality gifts might include: homemade preserves, four or more quality cloth napkins, a bottle of wine, a well made scented candle, a living plant, gourmet rice, a local item from a recent trip such as a wheel of cheese or a bar of handmade soap, or a small box or bar of gourmet chocolate.

To score a perfect match, choose items that most people use or that you know they in particular will use, and then just give quality. Avoid giving sweets to dieters and diabetics, wine to tea-totallers, books to non-readers, ties to casual dressers, and so forth. Secretly write down when someone mentions a small need or desire, because this could guide you to an excellent gift in the future. Surprisingly, most people have not gotten the item for themselves even half a year later.

Be careful giving gifts in the nature of the recipient’s expertise unless they have mentioned specifically what they want or you are certain of what will be well received. If they are an excellent gardener, you might wish to avoid giving plants or garden tools. If they are a wine connoisseur, it’s safest not to give wine. Their desires will be specific in these areas and it would be easy to miss the mark. On the other hand a quality, expensive gift in that area might be a great success if they don’t already have it.

If you are giving anything in media, such as a book, dvd, or music, it is safest to give items that have been published this year, unless you know the item is on their wish list.


About the Author: Social network users, click for myspace comments and myspace graphics. If you love glitter graphics, send them to your friends and your profile.


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30th Birthday Gift Ideas

By Kathy Burns-Millyard

Let's be real here. Turning thirty does not qualify someone as being over the hill. Sure, it might be a difficult milestone for some (particularly some women!). It is indeed a time of change. Unlike the previous decade that was filled with carefree college antics, youthful energy and wild moments, hitting the thirties means a fully-charged career, kids and a whole lot of serious issues to deal with - like finances and taxes. For many, turning thirty is coming to grips with the fact that they will never be twenty-something again. But still, the thirtieth birthday shouldn't be denoted by black balloons and gag gifts. It should be marked by a whimsical celebration! Thirty is truly when one becomes a "young adult." So if you know someone who is quickly approaching this magnificent milestone, here are some gift ideas to celebrate their birthday in a light hearted way:

Personalized Share of Starbucks: They've spent half their life hanging out there, so why not give them their own little piece of Starbucks? Visit Oneshare.com to buy them a share of this international coffee empire. You'll receive a personalized framed copy of their stock certificate, which they can proudly display on their home or office wall. Include a quote like Building Your Financial Freedom One Cup at a Time or add your own. You'll be buying them a little piece of retail history.

Kayaking Experience: Whether they know how to kayak or not, they'll love the adventure of taking on the wild rapids! Look for daily or weekend kayaking excursions in your local area. Go online or check your yellow pages for canoe and kayak trips and classes.

Blast from the Past Board Game: Give them a chance to take a trip back through the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's and test their nostalgic memory. This is a fun-filled gift that will give hours upon hours of laughs. You recipient will be surprised how much they remember! And how much they want to forget!

TV Series on Video or DVD: If they're really hooked on a certain television show or if they used to be hooked on one, here's a terrific gift that they're sure to enjoy: buy them an entire season of their favorite show on video or DVD! Some ideas are The Dukes of Hazzard, Dallas, Nip/Tuck, the West Wing, ER, Everybody Loves Raymond, Friends or Sex and the City.

Bookstore Gift Certificate: Gift certificates are the perfect solution when you can't seem to find the right gift. For someone just turning thirty, an appropriate selection is the gift of reading. So opt for a gift certificate to the corner bookstore or the behemoth of them all, Amazon.

© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard. Kathy is a professionally published freelance writer and stock photographer living in Southeast New Mexico. You'll find some of her best articles and reports on small business, motivation, and marketing in the Brain Dump section of the ElectronicPerceptions.com website. Please visit and enjoy!

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