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Gifts From Around the World, Just for Grandmothers

Choices that Reflect Her Wide Interests

By , About.com Guide

Maybe she's a globetrotter, or maybe she does her traveling from her armchair. There's a special kind of grandmother whose boundaries include the whole world. Ordinary gifts for grandmothers just won't do for her. She'll love gifts from around the world, or gifts that will benefit someone in a country far away. For birthdays, Mother's Day and Grandparents Day, surprise this special grandmother with a gift that suits her wide horizons and her big heart.

1. Gourd Birdhouse

These hand-painted gourd birdhouses from Peru are sure to make a grandmother smile.Photo © The Animal Rescue Site

These hand-painted gourd birdhouses, fair-traded from Peru, evoke smiles as easily as they host our feathered friends. One of these whimsical birdhouses will make a lovely addition to Grandmother's back yard, and each one comes with a bonus. Since it is offered through the Animal Rescue Site, the sale of this item will fund 14 bowls of food for animals living in sanctuaries and shelters. Why not order two?

2. Nautilus Necklace

jewelry gifts from around the worldPhoto © Novica

This unique necklace features a nautilus shell carved in bone, accented in silver. The creators, Warren and Robbin, pride themselves on making jewelry with a low environmental impact. Currently living in Bali, the pair of artists created this piece to commemorate the finding of their first nautilus shell in Fiji. It's a special gift from around the world for a special grandmother.

3. A Flock of Chicks

Charitable giftsPhoto © Heifer International

A flock of chicks may seem like an odd gift to give a grandmother, but this one isn't actually going to Grandma. Heifer International helps families around the world become self-sufficient. This flock of chicks, for example, can supplement a family's food supply and income. If you want to give a more generous gift, go for a goat or a llama. A heifer costs $500, but you can buy a share for $50. Grandmother will love the fact that you've become so socially conscious.

4. Subscription to The Sun Magazine

Magazine GiftsPhoto © The Sun
In contrast to magazines that seem almost entirely ads, The Sun is non-profit and ad-free. For more than thirty years, this innovative magazine has published stunning photographs and provocative writing from around the world. It has been compared to Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion. The grandmother who is a thinker will love The Sun.

5. Ebony Salad Servers

These salad servers made from African ebony or mpingo wood are a Fair Trade product.Photo © Gifts With Humanity

These salad servers are created from African ebony (mpingo wood) combined with handles of bone.  The crafters use a batik process using wax and dye to create the patterns on the handles. One of several styles available, these salad servers are a Fair Trade item produced by African artisans for whom wood carving is a traditional skill.

6. Girlfriends Pin

unique gift from around the world© Courtesy of Ten Thousand Villages
Made from recycled soda cans, this pin makes a whimsical but sentimental gift. Give it to Grandmother to represent the generations of women in your family. It's a Fair Trade item made by disabled artisans in Kenya.

7. Handmade Tote Bag

handmade gifts from around the worldPhoto © Gifts for Grandmothers

These lovely tote bags are handmade by grandmothers in Kelowna, British Columbia, but that's not the only reason to buy one. The women who sew these bags belong to a group known as Gifts to Grandmothers, and they support African women, especially grandmothers raising their grandchildren and widows raising children. Grandmothers will love using one of these bags and knowing that another grandmother has benefited from the purchase.

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