what skill do you have? if you are basic to intermediate, a bead store should get your brain boiling with ideas. I made my mom some earrings out of (someone else's) fimo clay with a simple pin and hook set up. I'm pretty uncoordinated, so I had a woman who runs a shop where she often repairs the funky jewelry check my loops and connections before I mailed the giftie off. My son made me a necklace a few years ago from a bag of small multi-color wooden beads and a sterling hula hooper. He strung it on waxed linen thread and used the two slip knots to connect it. It survived his young cousin pulling on it for thre days when I went to visit her.
you guys are lucky to have mothers who welcome and see the value in handmade gifts. If it doesn't come with a price tag my mother thinks it's crap! Think I might have to make her something. hehe!
