Gifts that open in their hands

Which gift for which moment

Gift box

A gift box works whenever you'd normally hand someone a small parcel: birthdays, anniversaries, a new job, a graduation, a thank-you, or the day a real present is late in the post. It's also a lovely way to announce a gift you can't wrap, like tickets, a trip or an evening together.

Message in a bottle

It's made for distance: a friend who moved abroad, a partner on the other side of the world, family you only see in summer. It also suits apologies, old-friend reconnections and anything you've been meaning to say for a long time.

Sky lantern

Lanterns belong to thresholds and quiet nights: New Year's Eve, birthdays, Diwali, Yi Peng and other lantern festivals, weddings, a fresh start after a hard year, or remembering someone you've lost.

Jar of notes

Made for anniversaries, Valentine's Day and birthdays (try one note per year of age), but also for a best friend's send-off, a parent's retirement, a teacher at the end of the year, or a jar of encouragement for someone going through a tough stretch.

Bouquet

Flowers suit almost everything: Mother's Day, birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine's Day, get-well wishes, congratulations and sympathy. Roses say romance, tulips feel bright and cheerful, and peonies are soft and generous, lovely for mothers and grandmothers.

Time capsule letter

Time capsule letters are made for milestones: a child's 18th birthday, a wedding anniversary, graduation, a baby's first birthday, New Year's Day, the end of a deployment or a long trip, or a note to your future self a year from now.