Willow Tree

When friends or family are separated by distance, a gift can let them know that you’re thinking of them. Whether it’s best friend gifts or family gifts, these ideas will help you close the distance and feel like your friends and loved ones are always with you.  Angel Sculptures What better way to let someone know you are watching over them, always willing to help, than with an angel sculpture? Consider an angel sculpture holding a conch to her ear, as if she can hear the other person through the shell. Or, if you are looking for brother or sister gifts , consider an angel with her arms crossed using the American Sign Language sign for love.  Keepsake Boxes A keepsake box lets your friend or family member keep small treasures and mementos, particularly of you. Consider, for instance, one with a girl holding a dog for dog lovers, which reads “Truly a friend” at the bottom of the box. The box can hold notes and small items that remind them of you and is perfec...

Happiness seems to come naturally for some people, or at least it appears that way because of their sunny disposition. Often, however, to cultivate feelings of happiness, we need to make an effort. How does one do this? By being grateful. Being grateful leads to optimism and a decrease in negative thoughts. If you can actively make gratitude a daily habit, you’ll start noticing a permanent change in yourself over time. Get inspired by the following five ways to show gratitude every day. Journal What You Are Grateful For Buy yourself a special journal just for writing down your moments of gratefulness (big and small). Spend a few minutes on it each day or at the end of the week. Include any positive experiences you encountered throughout the day or acts of kindness you received. Did someone hold the door open for you? Did you receive a compliment? Once you get into the habit of identifying these small moments of happiness, it becomes second nature. Lift Someone...

Summertime brings blooms, blue skies, warm sunshine, and endless reasons to celebrate. Whether you’re invited to a summer garden party, celebrating a close friend’s birthday, attending a milestone wedding anniversary, or gathering for a family reunion, there’s usually a need for a thoughtful gift for a special woman in your life. Choose an artful piece that represents the sentiment you want to express. Here are a few ideas that are sure to make her smile. Give a Bouquet That Lasts a Lifetime For the one who adores receiving flowers or enjoys spending time gardening, you could give her a gift that will always stay in bloom. A small figurative sculpture of a woman holding a vibrant bouquet is a thoughtful gift that your friend or loved one can display in her home throughout the year. The hand-painted line of sculptural figures by artist Susan Lordi, Willow Tree®, is a wonderful way to express friendship and caring. She adds just enough pop of color in her peonies, ro...

Every Mother’s Day, you get the opportunity to tell the special mom in your life how important she is to you. You can say it to her through words, and you can show her through a gift as well. Finding her a distinctive gift—something special to warm her heart—is a thoughtful way to show her what a great mom she is. To help you come up with ways to express your love, here are a few gift ideas for celebrating mom on May 12. A Memory Box Full of Keepsakes If your mom doesn’t have a distinctive, special memory box, she probably would love to receive one. It’s a specific place for her to store sentimental items that she wants to keep but not necessarily display. With a memory box, she could safely store items she doesn’t want to lose or throw away, items like tickets to special events, photos, jewelry, cards from special occasions, letters, and other important mementos. A finely crafted wooden box with a carving on the front is a beautiful celebration of the relationshi...

We all need a soft place to fall—a place to feel safe and comforted and a place to get sympathy and support. Families provide this environment. They let us be who we are and love us unconditionally. Relationships are what life is all about, so to honor those special bonds we often show appreciation by giving tokens of our love. One meaningful way to convey love is through gift-giving. The following ideas will help you decide how to choose a thoughtful gift to honor the relationship you share with various members of your family. Gifts for Siblings If you have sisters or brothers, you’ve likely shared a considerable amount of time together growing up and have developed a level of closeness that is unlike any other relationship in your life. Siblings offer a support system in good times and in bad. They are there to make you laugh like no other and they give your life more richness and enjoyment through the years. The best brother or sister gifts come in many forms, ...

Valentine’s Day is only a few weeks away, and even though the shopping frenzy of the holiday season is behind us, buying gifts for your Valentine can be just as gratifying. Whether your Valentine is a significant other or someone else you’re close to, buying someone like your sister gifts on Valentine’s Day is sure to light up their smile. Finding the perfect Valentine’s Day gift can be a challenge for some people, but if you want to mix it up this year and give a gift more unique than the standard flowers and chocolates, here are a few tips and ideas to help.  Get Something Meaningful Rather Than Practical For men especially, it’s easy to get caught up in the practicality loop. Sure, your Valentine might be in need of a new hairdryer, but chances are she’d rather buy one for herself than get one with a pink bow around it. Think about getting something that will really impress her and show that you took the time to think about what she truly loves. The same go...