Present Stash

I don’t know about you but I have often be caught out on the present front; forgotten or not known about a birthday or find myself unexpectedly invited somewhere, that sort of thing.

My solution is to have a present stash; a selection of items which I can draw on in times of emergency.

Here’s an extract from a earlier blog post about this very subject.

I visited Kilmartin Museum today which I would thoroughly recommend. The Glen is full of prehistoric standing stones, rock carvings and chambered cairns an inspiring and fascinating setting.

As my son has a birthday party to go to and was concerned about a present we looked at the museum shop. It’s great and full of lovely stuff however as far as my criteria goes a bit limited. So what are my criteria? Well I hadn’t really thought about it before so this is only the beginning of something which will develop over time I’m sure.

Firstly I discovered I wasn’t willing to buy what I would call:

silly little things: These included an ocarina, one of those  wooden things that whistles when you pull the stick out , a wooden rattle, a little bell and the like. I think they are lovely little items and for a Christmas Stocking, maybe, where I would favour them over plastic tat, but generally speaking I think their values is limited and in this house they are usually forgotten about very quickly. So, if no lasting value forget it, seems to be a criteria.

I did like the felting kits, made by Liz Brown and beautiful cards by Richard Childs a photographer who lives locally.

I plumped a couple of dynamo torches, useful; in our house they get used a lot because they are reliable, no batteries or charging.

Secondly I bought an exquisite little pottery bowl and spoon set for salt made by a Scottish potter. It’s beautiful and  practical. Like house clearing where I keep what is practical, beautiful or/and sentimental I also buy on that basis and here could combine two out of three. I like to think that it might also eventually fall into the sentimental category, I’m sure it would in oor hoose.

So my stash has begun and my son’s birthday situation is taken care off, another successful day in gift land.

Do you have a present stash, and if so, what is in there?