Buy Yourself Flowers: Floral-covered Gift Ideas

In some parts of the world, like this writer’s homeland in the northern United States, the only flowers seen consistently during the winter holiday season are poinsettias. The rich red leaves are almost ubiquitous, synonymous with the chilly winter weather and visible breath in the frosty air, and stand out beautifully against the lush green interior scenes of wreaths, garlands, and trees.

But why limit yourself to a single style for the holidays when you can enjoy the likes of chrysanthemums, sakura, and peonies for year-round floral delights? Below you’ll find six blooming gift ideas to treat yourself to a bouquet that you can enjoy well past year-end celebrations.

A bloom-filled design exclusive to MUSUBI KILN, the green base of this Arita ware chawanmushi bowl is dotted with simple white shapes, accented with gold leaf to resemble a glorious field of chrysanthemum flowers. Follow our simple chawanmushi recipe for a soft eggy dish surrounded by a pretty visual of white and gold, or fill it with soups, desserts, and more. It’s a beautiful piece to warm your heart and delight your eyes.

Even in the middle of a gloomy winter, the promise of spring helps keep us going. You can enjoy that sense of renewal and refresh with the beautiful hand-painted scene of plum blossom branches on this matcha bowl. A tiny vibrant green nightingale sits on one of the branches, appearing to sing a song. The organic material of the Kyo ware bowl offers a comfortable handfeel, so you can cozy up with a bowl of matcha and dream of spring things to come.

A delightful little addition to any surface, this small, spherical Imari Nabeshima ware box is decorated with peach blossoms. Put it on your desk to secret away snacks or use it during a meal to hold a bite-sized side dish. Wherever you place it, the never-wilting flowers will put a smile on your face—and as a symbol of longevity and protection against evil, you’ll feel a sense of security, too. Perfect for when the winter wind rages outside your window.

Yellow is the color of happiness, often chosen to bring cheer to a room. Add soft pink peonies to the vivid hue, and it’s all but guaranteed to lift your mood. Although we’re talking about self-gifting here, this Kutani ware teapot set comprises of five teacups in addition to the sasame teapot (the term for when the filter is crafted directly into the pot) so you can share with four loved ones. What better way to pass the holidays than with the warmth of Japanese tea, accompanied by the dancing petals of pink peonies and the laughter of friends?

Speaking of sharing, this chopsticks set is the final recommendation for your floral-filled home. Two pairs of Wakasa lacquerware chopsticks are included in this set, both adorned with a gentle design of cherry blossoms, with their petals delicately hand-painted onto the surface. The set also comes with matching Hasami ware chopstick rests, in the shape and color of sakura blossoms. Fun fact: They are made using molds traditionally reserved for crafting rakugan, a classic Japanese confectionery.

Floral motif on a vase? That’s double the flower power. The camellia blooms on this Kutani ware vase are not the typical pink, red, or white, but rather a bold gradient of blue and green hues to make the bouquet you choose truly pop. The technique that gives this vase its unique appearance is called ginsai, in which an artist applies colorful glaze over silver leaf, enhancing the texture and vibrancy of the finished product. A glossy glaze to finish, and this piece is one that will catch your eye wherever it’s placed.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of the flower-inspired pieces MUSUBI KILN carries—we would be remiss if we didn’t also mention the hanazume collection, whose name translates to “filled with flowers”. Still, if you’re looking for inspiration to buy yourself something lovely for the holiday season, we hope this gift guide has proven useful. Don’t forget to treat yourself while checking off your gifting list!