FIERCE CREATURES

Two Bristol creatives have collaborated to celebrate motherhood –the strength and courage as well as the cuddly softness –with a colourful new book exploring the extraordinary lengths mothers go to to protect their young

Bristol author Gabrielle When a bear appeared, growling, outside her family’s tent while they were camping in Yosemite, California, Bristol author Gabrielle Kuzak grabbed her penknife –she was ready to fight. “In that moment, I knew I would do anything to protect my children, which was good because they were all asleep!” she remembers. “It got me thinking about amazing mums protecting their young in the wild. Who are they? What do they do?”

The hair-raising happening got Gabrielle thinking about the incredible stories of motherhood that must exist in the animal kingdom and how great it would be to tell these tales in a book for kids. It wasn’t until a few years later, though, that she had time to make something of the idea.

Returning to Bristol, the family spent most weekends hiking, working towards a goal of walking the entire 630-mile length of the South West Coast Path.

During this time Gabrielle got bitten by a tick in Exmoor and contracted Lyme disease, spending 18 months battling debilitating symptoms and other infections triggered by the disease. Slowly she made a recovery, embarking on the book during lockdown –one really positive thing to come out of a difficult time –and herself demonstrating the book’s message: maternal strength is a marvel.

“Mothers are often portrayed as soft and cuddly which is partly true but the little-known stories in my book show that they are also strong and brave,” says Gabrielle, who enlisted illustrator and mum-of-one Hannah Broadway –creator of the 75-metre mural along Bristol harbourside –to bring the book joyfully to life. “Mums, across the planet, go to great lengths instinctively to protect, care for and bring up their young.”

Did you know, for instance, that an orangutan mother can make up to 15,000 nests in her lifetime without putting her baby down once? Or that a dolphin mother doesn’t sleep at all for the first month of her baby’s life to keep it safe?

Are you aware of which mother cares for its baby longer than any other mum in the world?

With both International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day this month, it’s a very good time to find out, and to celebrate and appreciate mums of every kind. ■

Send Mum some love

While some restrictions are starting to lift, this year’s Mother’s Day (on March 14th) will mostly be celebrated remotely. Dispatch some joy to help make her day.

ANNA CAKE COUTURE THE GIFT OF CAKE

Exquisitely decorated cakes and colourful boxes of macarons from the gorgeous Clifton shop and café are available to order for delivery in advance or to collect from the shop on the day. The 24 macaron box is £42.95 plus £6.50 for delivery nationwide. Last order date for Mother’s day delivery is Tues 9th March (for delivery on Thurs 11th). Last order date for collection on Sunday is Thurs 11th. Plenty of delicious goodies will be available on the day without having to pre-order. How on earth will you decide? Visit: thisisanna.co.uk

FRAMED PRINTS BY ROOM 212

DO YOU LOVE YOUR MUM TO THE MOON AND BACK? Room 212 is a shop and gallery and part of the wonderfully vibrant independent shop scene on Gloucester Road. On display, and featured on its excellent online shop, are many unique creations by local artists. We love this framed Super Moon by Emma Catherine. Priced at £65, or buy just the 32cm print for £35. Othe sizes are available too. Order online. Framed pictures can be collected from Room 212 on Fridays & Saturdays. Prints can be sent by 1st class mail. See the full gallery and some lovely gift card designs at the gallery’s website: room212.co.uk

AFTERNOON TREATS FROM HEARTFELT VINTAGE HAVE SOMETHING LOVELY DELIVERED

While the popular - Heartfelt Vintage tearoom in Clifton is currently closed, the team are operating a unique afternoon tea delivery and collection service on Fridays to Sundays. Baking delicious treats from scratch and packaging it beautifully to make the perfect Mother's Day gift or stay at home treat. Throughout March they are celebrating the arrival of Spring with their Spring Menu. To make the deliveries extra special Heartfelt Vintage is also collaborating with Snowdrops Studio to offer beautiful bouquets and there’s an added option to upgrade your delivery order to include a whole cake decorated with fresh flowers which is perfect for those celebration moments. Prices for afternoon tea start at £17.50 pp with gluten free, vegan and child options available. Deliveries can made up to 15 miles from Clifton. Deliveries up to 5 miles are free. Visit: heartfeltvintage.co.uk

EMILY DENNYS CERAMICS

Handmade in her home studio in Nightingale Valley Bristol, Emily Dennys makes beautiful porcelain lamps, vases and wall panels, and more. Her designs feature relief work of flowers, grasses, buds, berries and thistles. To Celebrate the wonderful women in our lives, Emily is offering free UK delivery for International Womens’ day and Mother’s Day purchases, just use the discount code: WONDERFULWOMEN when ordering.Prices from £12-£250. Offer runs 8th March-14th March. Visit: emilydennysceramics.com and follow her story on Instagram.com/emilydennysceramics

THE FRUIT BOX COMPANY MOTHER’S DAY SPECIALS.

THE MOTHER’S DAY BASKET: Choose seven jars from a

THE MARA COFFEE GIFT BOX

A PERKY PICK-UP

Mara Coffee is a new Bristol based coffee company, specialising in single origin coffee from Africa, founded by two travel enthusiasts with a love for great coffee. Their goal is to take you on a coffee discovery introducing you to new and incredible varieties from the home of coffee. Take time to explore! The Gift Box has been curated for the coffee lover in your life. It has a little bit of everything allowing them to sit back, relax and enjoy some incredible coffee. This premium coffee gift box includes: 2 x 250grams of premium African speciality coffee from 2 different regions, awardwinning vegan African chocolate, coffee scoop with clip, official Huskee cup (8oz), postcards for each coffee region, personal message on your behalf to the recipient and it’s gift wrapped and presented in a Mara Coffee box. Priced at £41. Order online at: Maracoffee.com great selection of the delicious Mrs Darlingtons range of jams, pickles, chutneys etc., or add a jar of South Gloucestershire Honey. £24.99. The Fruit Box Company also have a special ‘Mother’s Day Fruit Basket’ which is packed with a selection of the freshest fruit for just £32.99. And... for even more gift ideas and specially customised produce boxes, visit the website and place your order. Visit: thefruitboxcompany.com

ARTISAN HOMEWARE

BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED CERAMICS Artisan Homeware’s new ceramics collection features intricate patterns and elegant forms inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement of the 19th Century. The Garden Room collection of Bowls, Bakeware, Teaware and Kitchen Accessories is made from premium stoneware handdecorated in deep blues, cobalt, turquoise and aqua, soft greys and leafy greens. Artisan Homeware is an independent Bristol-based online homewares store sourcing beautiful, high quality artisan-made homewares from around the world. The Ceramika Artystyczna ceramic co-operative in which the Garden Room collection is produced is based in Boleslawiec, Poland. It has a rich 126 year history of innovation and creativity and an enduring commitment to maintaining the highest levels of quality in artisan handiwork. Prices from £5.95 to £71.50. Order online at: artisanhomeware.co.uk/garden-room

MADE IN ENGLAND BLANKETS

COSY AND SOFT

Based in Bath and inspired by the West Country, The Natural Blanket Company’s blankets are impeccably stylish, luxurious and made from 100% natural Merino and pure wool. The company believes in the environmental sustainability of their products, longevity and preserving the heritage and tradition. The Natural Blanket Company’s products are sourced and woven in the British Isles with a strong belief in supporting British manufacturers and artisan producers and with a commitment to quality and value. Prices from £40.00; See the full range at: thenaturalblanket.co.uk Instagram: # the_natural_blanket

HARVEY NICHOLS HAMPER - IT’S ALL ABOUT HER Celebrate the most important woman in your life with the All About Her Hamper available to order from Harvey Nichols. The ultimate treat for Mother’s Day, this extra special selection features luxurious handchosen beauty heroes alongside Whispering Angel rosé and milk chocolates truffles that will really make mum’s day. Set contains: Estee Lauder advanced night repair 30ml, La Mer The Tonic 100ml, 111 Skin rose gold sheet mask, Charlotte Tilbury matte revolution in Pillow Talk, Whispering Angel rosé, Harvey Nichols milk chocolate truffles. £210. Shop this and many more gift ideas at: harveynichols.com

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