Bringing your holiday home

Whenever I travel to somewhere new, I always like to bring a little bit of my trip home.

I love collecting either things for my home of pieces of jewellery as little reminders of my holidays. One of my favourite bracelets was bought after far too many glasses of wine at Trastevere market in Rome, and I have framed prints in my kitchen which were bought on the first trip away I had with my other half. It’s nice when you go into someone’s house and things tell a story, don’t you think?

So the other week, when we had nearly reached Abersoch and my son decided he was desperate for the loo, it was more than a happy accident that we pulled over at Parc Glynllifon near Caernarfon. With a play area for children, pretty woodland and fab Black Cat cafe selling locally sourced food and drinks, it was a hidden gem I can highly recommend.

Luckily for this eagle-eyed mama, there is a stylish gift shop selling gifts all made in Wales, with loads of gorgeous things from designers including my friend’s sister, who I have written about before, Cathryn Weatherhead. Adra Home is a treasure trove of handmade gifts, and I had to treat myself to a couple of things.

I bought a print which reads ‘Croeso’, or ‘Welcome’ in Welsh; A card, which says ‘World’s Best Mum’, also in Welsh; and another which has a cute illustration of a witch and a baby, and the words ‘Best Friends’. I didn’t realise until I put a picture of this one on my facebook page and my Welsh friends pointed this out, but it’s actually an image from children’s book Rala Rwdins. I need to get hold of a copy of a few of these books, as I absolutely love the images. I’m going to get my prints framed later on today.

The black and white image Is a card I bought from the art gallery in Llanbedrog, Plas Glyn Y Weddw, last week, by designer Gwyn Williams.

Finally, because I can’t resist a bit of bling, I bought a jewelled necklace from a boutique in Abersoch called First Light. Love it!

What are the best things you’ve bought on holiday? As I write this I’m thinking I once bought a jumper in Pisa as it was so damn cold! I’d love to hear your travel shopping secrets.