Monograms? Your initial instinct might be right

Sandra Phillips

May, 2011

How can you pick a special gift for Mother’s Day (or grads, or weddings) that the recipient knows was chosen just for them? Nothing says special like having an item personalized or monogrammed.

You can choose any words (“I love you Mom”) and even images (a bird, flower), not necessarily initials or names. It shows that you had to do your homework just to find a place that monograms, and to choose something that you were fairly certain they would like. Also, these days everyone seems to be wearing just about every designer name on their clothes—why not their own?

People might think this involves just bathrobes or towels, but you’d be surprised at all the hard and soft things you can get monogrammed or engraved.

Monogrammes Plus has a showroom full of things you can personalize—bathrobes, cosmetic bags, aprons, teddy bears, T-shirts, caps, towels, cushions, or something you’ve bought elsewhere. Call 514-695-8647 for an appointment.

Plaque Impact has lots of heart-shaped items for moms or weddings, from keychains with crystals to a lucite glass heart, jewelry boxes with hearts, or a pocket mirror with a heart. You might like the idea of Mom drinking her coffee every morning in a mug that has a personal greeting from you.

Their ideas for words to engrave show a great sense of humour: desk fans (You’re fantastic, or I’m your fan), crumb sweepers (Thanks for being there to help pick up the pieces), salt and pepper shakers (You’re a mover and a shaker).

Lettering can be done in Russian, Hungarian, Vietnamese, Hebrew and Yiddish, and ask about the hatch style of inscriptions, which is very elegant. There are also plaques, awards, trophies, pens, nameplates, lamination, framing and family trees, or bring in objects bought elsewhere.

5795 Victoria at Bourret. 514-344-9959, plaqueimpact.com

Creations Personelles/Centre de la Gravure is part of a national chain with more than 120 locations that specialize in engraving, glass etching, embroidery and key cutting. The personalized gifts (90 cents a letter or $1 on glass) include frames, baby banks, first tooth and first curl gifts, BBQ tool sets, albums, gavels, hip flasks, mugs, lighters, ID bracelets, wine glasses, knives and even embroidered baby and wedding blankets.

A cool idea is to place a photo inside crystal. If you’d like a ring or watch engraved, or a nameplate for work, they can do that for you, too. Fairview Pointe Claire. 514-695-3636, thingsengraved.ca

Are there any negative implications of giving monogrammed gifts? Since you know your mom (or the grad, or bride and groom) fairly well, you’d have to be somewhat confident that they want it, since there’s no returning this sort of item.

Also, if it is an item to be worn or used outside the house, the person would have to be comfortable having their initials or name exposed.