Crafts For Less

In the UK and Ireland, Mothers Day, originally known  as Mothering  Sunday, always falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent which is exactly  three weeks prior to Easter Sunday. The tradition of taking an offering to your mother on this day has its roots firmly based on Christianity when back in the 16th century, it was common to visit the ‘mother church ‘of your community at least once a year. It was during this annual visit that children working away from there families as servants or apprentices, for example, were allowed home to visit their families and so be reunited with their mothers. The children often took a gift to their mother which was traditionally either a “mothering cake” made from fruit, or a bunch of flowers.

Interestingly, this act of visiting our mothers on Mothering Sunday has been retained and the ritual of taking her flowers, chocolates or another kind of more practical gift has remained.

Mothering Sunday to me has always been an important day since it gives me the opportunity to show my appreciation for all the support and kindness my own mother has given me through the year. For this reason, I want to share with you my thoughts on five ethical gift ideas for Mothers Day focussing on fair trade products.

5) Jute shopper bags: Since the demise of plastic bags, many people are using jute bags for shopping or carrying bulk items. Supermarkets encourage us to re-use our ‘bag for life’ by rewarding us with extra loyalty points and there is much publicity surrounding how the use of plastic bags is creating havoc with the environment in terms of wildlife and the littering of our stunning countryside. Apart from being incredibly durable and ethically produced from sustainable materials, there are some gorgeous fair trade jute shopping bags available online. I have come across purple jute shoppers embellished with sequins as well as natural jute shoppers screen printed with ethnic, arty designs.  There is a great selection of fair trade bags available and I would strongly recommend taking a peek.

4) Fair trade candles: Candles are available everywhere now from supermarkets to craft fairs. However, fair trade tealight candles are handmade using traditional candle making skills and are normally more individual in their design and creation compared to mainstream candles brought in the high street. For example, there are tealights inlaid with dried flowers set in ceramic containers shaped as flowers or hearts. There are many different perfumed candles too ranging from vanilla, lavender, rose, to cinnamon and alpine in different colours, shapes and sizes.

3) Fair trade shoulder bags: Every woman knows bags are available in all shapes and sizes in a variety of materials and styles for high street shops and other online outlets. What I would say about fair trade bags is that firstly they have been produced ethically and have also been handmade by indigenous people using their traditional skills and methods. Furthermore, there is a huge selection of colours, designs, shapes and styles from leather to suede and all are very modestly priced.

2) Silver jewellery: There is broad and diverse variety of elegant, high quality hand made 925 solid silver fair trade earrings, pendants, necklaces and bracelets. Good quality gemstones such as malachite, lapis lazuli, amber, moonstone rainbow and rose quartz are commonly used creating modern and contemporary pieces of jewellery making the perfect gift for a woman.

1) Notebook: There are some really very pretty notebooks in the fair trade products range some of which have fabric covers in turquoises, pinks, violets or blues. In most cases, the covers are embellished either with sequinned or embroidered flowers and make a truly feminine and ethical mothers day gift.  Once again, these are all handcrafted by people using traditional skills passed down through the generations.

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