The Perfect Gift

Here's the thing: Giving the perfect gift takes TALENT. I know it sounds silly, but we all have that person in our lives who gives stuff that is their taste, instead of thinking about us. (No, I'm not talking about my mother-in-law. Okay, yes, I am.) I have a drawer full of purses and jewelry that is not my taste at all, but looks like it belongs on her.

I was visiting friends in Argentina a few years ago and I had taken presents to them and my dear friend Analia said to me: "Tracy- you are so good at giving everyone the perfect gift!" I had never thought about it before, but I do put a lot of time and thought into gift-giving, whether it's something that I hand make, or purchase. I am one of those crazies who have their Christmas shopping done by October. It's not because I am trying to rush through it, it is because I spend a lot of time thinking about the perfect gifts and buying or making them throughout the year. (And also, I love to enjoy the Holidays without worrying about shopping!)

We all have someone in our life who has everything and buys everything that she wants. (Yes, I'm talking about my mother-in-law again!) So it's tricky. Whenever I see something that is perfect for her, I snatch it up, even if Christmas or Mother's Day or her Birthday are months away.

Let's get to the point of this post, shall we??

{Lockets make perfect gifts} They are personal, touching, and like mini memory boxes. You can fill one with charms that describe everything someone loves, or charms to commemorate a special event or vacation in their lives. 

So, to illustrate this point, made a locket with everything that reminded me of my sister, Anna. Here it is:

A for Anna, she is an amazing violinist, she went on her LDS mission to France (and Belgium), She has two children (Jan and Feb birthstones), She loves her husband, Paul, SO much and their love is Eternal. (Infinity sign)

Pretty cute, right? Check out www.tracyflores.origamiowl.com and pick out which charms are perfect for your best friend, sister, mom, daughter.... or mother-in-law (Unless your mother-in-law has already bought herself 3 lockets. Just sayin'.)

Love, Tracy

In Memory Of

I receive many requests to create memory lockets. Just this week, I helped a friend create one to give to her mother-in-law at her father-in-law's funeral. It was simple- a love plate with his initial, his birthstone, a guitar, and a little 'in memory of' heart charm. She called me a week later to tell me that her mother-in-law hasn't taken it off since they gave it to her and that she loves that she has a little 'memory box locket' of her husband hanging near her heart. It has brought her comfort and happiness.

Losing a loved one is a tender subject. My daughter, Lola, would have been 7 years old now. I think about her every single day. Every year on Mother's Day and on her Birthday, the pain of her loss is fresh. Having her birthstone in my locket along with Gabriela and Elizabeth's birthstones is symbolic for me: although she isn't here with us, she is still a part of my family and my heart.

I would love to be able to give a locket to every mother who loses a child; a little reminder of their sweet baby. Here is one that I made for my dear friend Meg, whose daughter Jocelyn was stillborn. My hope is that when she wears it, it will help her feel peace and remember the child that is waiting for her in heaven.

Lockets: Endless Possibilities

You know what is SO great about Living Lockets? The possibilities are ENDLESS. With 260+ charms, you can create a locket for ANYONE and ANYTHING.

Case in point: I was doing a party one night and the hostess' niece came over. She was adorable, she also had bright purple and orange hair, full sleeve tattoos, piercings, and made it a point to say that she thought that the lockets were "cute, but not her style." Then, she sat down for a bit with her cousins to help them build a locket for their exchange student from Belgium.

In the locket, they included the following charms:

Airplane: Representing her journey to their home
Violin: She is a talented violinist
Sister heart: She called the girls her sisters
Bicycle: She loves riding her bike & The Tour de France
goes through her town in Belgium
Emerald: her birthstone

As they started looking at all the charms, the niece started getting excited about all of the charms that she loved: the yin-yang sign, which was also tattooed on her arm, the Buddha charm, which represented her beliefs, the blow dryer and scissor charms, because she was a hair stylist, and the turtle charm, to represent her beloved pet. She loved the finished product and it told her story.

If you are looking for an original gift for someone you love, make a locket that tells their story!