One-of-a-Kind Gifts for your Unique Mom at Brandywine Valley Museums, Gardens, and Historic Sites

Brief: Gift shops at Brandywine Museums and Gardens Alliance (BMGA) cultural attractions have exquisite merchandise at excellent prices, just right for Mother's Day; shop in person or online

Wilmington, DE, April 26, 2011—Media Contact: MaryLynn Mack, 302-295-2390; mlmack@dehistory.org. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—Mother's Day is coming up May 8, 2011, and cultural attractions in the Brandywine Valley make it easy for you to find the perfect gift!

            For a gift that keeps on giving all summer, select the $35 Treasure Trail Passport good for one-time admission at all ten Brandywine Valley Museums & Gardens sites. Your mom will enjoy world-class art collections, dazzling gardens, rich history, and much more from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Order online at http://www.visitwilmingtonde.com/Passport/.

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Start Mother's Day at the Brandywine River Museum (www.brandywinemuseum.org) with a relaxing breakfast and a breathtaking view for only $5 per person; kids' menu available. Museum admission is free on Sunday mornings! After touring the galleries, visit the Museum Shop and let Mom choose from among the jewelry, books, and art reproductions. And don't forget the Wildflower, Native Plant and Seed Sale, May 7 & 8, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., with volunteers on hand to answer questions. Proceeds benefit the Brandywine Conservancy's diverse and beautiful Wildflower and Native Plant Gardens.

Dress your best for an elegant afternoon with tea and art to celebrate Mother’s Day at the Delaware Art Museum! Begin with a buffet of teas, scones, tea sandwiches and pastries at the noon or 1:30 seating, followed by a family-themed gallery tour; families with young children can do an art project afterwards. Stop by the Museum Store where you'll find works from local artists, including jewelry by Olga Ganoudis, glass by Deb Appleby, and ceramic birds by Jacqueline Jrolf, or pick up a Baggallini handbag or luxurious silk scarf.

The Alternatives Museum Shop at the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts (www.thedcca.org) is a unique source for contemporary handmade craft items created by regional and national artisans. Estelle Lukoff jewelry (Landenberg, PA) combines antique brass with fine metal elements, natural gemstones, glass, and Swarovski crystals; her limited production handbags express the artist's unique design vision. Arin Arthur (Boise, ID) transforms patterns into hand-printed and sewn silk scarves. A glass vase by Deborah Appleby of Studio 24 (Lewes, DE) accentuates nature's harmony within the physical tendencies of glass—the ideal vessel for Mother's Day flowers. 

For a mother who values history, The Delaware Historical Society (www.dehistory.org) offers Fine Historic Reproductions. High-quality reproduction maps, broadsides, and images from the Society’s collections are available matted and/or framed. The documents and photographs are beautiful and fascinating pieces of the past. Prices start at $39. Visit the website or call 302-295-2390.

The Museum Store at The Delaware Museum of Natural History (www.delmnh.org) isn't just for kids! Take the whole family to the Museum, then tap into your nature-loving mom's interest with jewelry, items for the home, an umbrella, or a book from the Museum Store. (And maybe she's not too old for that adorable stuffed animal after all.)

At the Hagley Museum Store (www.hagley.org) the hand-patinaed bronze with freshwater pearls “Peapod,” a symbol of life and its beginnings, is available in a necklace, earrings and pin; prices start at $40.00. Hagley's $58 custom silk scarf, blue with roses, was inspired by a painting by Sophia Madeleine du Pont (1810-1888), the youngest daughter of Eleuthère Irénée and Sophie Dalmas du Pont. $58.00. Or choose a charming porcelain or china teapot with matching cups in floral, toile, or rooster design, available as a standard teapot and tea-for-one; cups start at $11.95, teapots at $22.95.

Honor your mother with a Longwood Signature Gift from The Gardens Shop and Greenhouse at Longwood Gardens (www.longwoodgardens.org). Choose a fleece hoodie with a beautiful swirly tree graphic on the back, or perhaps a flowerpot mug. The Shop has top-notch bath & body items, stationery, and home accessories; the Greenhouse side of the store has books, tools, pots, wind chimes, and live plants your mother will love.

Check out the website of Mt. Cuba Center (www.mtcubacenter.org), a horticultural treasure dedicated to the study, conservation, and appreciation of plants native to the Appalachian Piedmont, and sign your mother up for a tour or class she would enjoy.

Rockwood Park and Museum (www.rockwood.org) has a jewel-box of a shop that feels a lot like an antiques store. Located in the Gothic Revival mansion, the store sells unique jewelry, textiles, and home décor items. Vintage-look products are featured.

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (www.winterthur.org) has a wide range of Mother's Day gifts. Known for  heartwarming designs from traditional to shabby chic, Alice's Cottage features textiles including scented sachets, petite pillows, towels, mugs, mats, and totes. Or choose a 100% wool hand-embroidered belt by Jenny Krauss in assorted colors and designs, $70. A unique China back stamp bracelet is available for $59. Liven things up with a colorful silk tissue holder for $14 or a four-inch high blown glass mini vase for just $9. ________________________________________________________________________________

The Brandywine Museums & Gardens Alliance promotes the art, culture, history, and beauty of the Brandywine Valley, and provides a central resource for journalists. For more information, visit www.brandywinetreasures.org or contact MaryLynn Mack, 302-295-2390; mlmack@dehistory.org

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