Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 10, and the day will feel a bit different this year. Many of us won’t be able to spend the day with a beloved mother, or mother figure, at all. Others are experiencing longer stretches of close family time than we ever thought possible. So, Mother’s Day 2020 will probably be a weird one, but there are still countless ways to show your love.
Gift giving is still an option, thanks to the continued efforts of makers, retail workers, mail carriers and so many other essential workers. In this gift guide, we highlight items mothers will love, created by a diverse selection of Californians. Remember that processing and shipping times might be delayed, so order early!
“Altered Vase Collection” from Clay & Craft by Nicole Novena
The “Altered Vase Collection” from Clay & Craft by Nicole Novena (also available here on Etsy) is a celebration of a potter’s journey. Encinitas-based ceramic artist Nicole Novena throws the vases first as perfect cylinders, then deliberately alters them for an organic, slumped effect. Each piece is unique, and their striking, timeless design made the vase collection a 2019 Etsy Design Awards finalist.
The vases are available in white, black and oatmeal matte in three sizes – small ($50), medium ($70) and large ($90), all with free shipping. Add a bunch of flowers for the perfect Mother’s Day gift.
“Bottom of the Pot” by Naz Deravian
“Bottom of the Pot” by Naz Deravian makes a fine addition to any cookbook collection. Its 100-plus recipes take you on a glorious adventure through traditional and modern Persian cuisine. Deravian’s recipes make a complex cuisine – profuse with fragrance, brightness, mounds of fresh herbs and the occasional exotic ingredient – both tempting and approachable for the home cook.
Augmenting those recipes are color-drenched photos of lavish spreads of food, plus a remarkable collection of essays. Deravian is a talented writer whose stories and memories take us from her childhood in Iran to Italy, then Vancouver, and finally Los Angeles. These stories make Deravian’s debut cookbook a rare treat – a book your mother will love to read as much as cook from.
Poppy Embroideries by Jen Ann Handmade
Jen Ann Handmade, the brainchild of Los Angeles-based maker Jen Smith, offers bold, joyful embroidery pieces. We’re partial to the embroidered poppies pictured above ($35), available in yellow, orange, red and pink. Any version would make a sweet gift for a mom who loves to fill her home with colorful, original art.
Check out Jen’s Etsy shop for other embroidery art pieces, handmade jewelry, embroidery kits, digital patterns, upcycled clothing and more.
Cypress Grove Cheeses
Does cheese make a good Mother’s Day gift? Absolutely! Just make sure it’s a special occasion-worthy cheese, such as Cypress Grove Cheeses’ famous Humboldt Fog. Gift Mom a full 1 lb wheel of Humboldt Fog ($25 + shipping) or The Tastiest Trio ($60), a 2.5-pound set of three best sellers.
Cypress Grove Cheeses was founded in 1983 by Mary Keehn, whose goat farm, dairy and creamery sit on 18 acres near Arcata. The company offers award-winning fresh goat milk and aged cheeses, and is best known for its Humboldt Fog. The idea for the soft ripened cheese with a signature grey line (it’s tasteless, edible vegetable ash) came to Keehn in a dream.
“Fern Dell – Summer” Print by Jen Hewett
This sunny print from Jen Hewett, “Fern Dell – Summer,” would make a lovely Mother’s Day gift. The limited edition screen-printed print ($26) measures 8″ by 10″ and is signed and numbered by the artist.
Jen Hewett is a print-maker, textile artist and teacher based in San Francisco. She is also the author of the book “Print, Pattern, Sew” and teaches popular block print-making classes. Hewett is inspired by light-filled California landscapes, saturated colors and loud prints.
Honey Grid Journal by Our Heiday
A brand new notebook always feels special, even more so when it’s as beautifully designed as the Honey Grid Journal ($20) by Los Angeles-based Our Heiday. The high-quality 144-page journal features lay-flat binding, numbered, dot-grid format pages, index pages, two satin bookmarks and an elastic band plus custom ruler. It’s perfect for both traditional and bullet journaling.
Our Heiday was founded in 2014 by artist and designer Patricia Shen, with her sister Dot later joining as a business partner. The brand is built upon the idea of making the practical beautiful, and bringing art into our daily lives.
