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You’ve been invited to their new home. But you can’t turn up empty-handed. You know the rules! Here's some advice on choosing personalised wooden gifts

You’ll no doubt be in the thick of your Christmas shopping. Not long now. And perhaps you’ve been pondering some wooden Christmas gifts? As there’s so much to choose from, we thought you’d welcome us highlighting our top five, based on popularity (and feedback) from previous years. So, here goes. Number one: Wooden carving board Who says tradition is dead? Our handmade wooden carving boards come into their own at Christmas time. They’re easily our front-runner. The perfect gift for a special couple, Dad, or even your own home.  Made from European oak, the weighty boards are 42mm thick and can be engraved on the front and back edges. Available in two sizes, we’ve even bespoke-made a four-foot long board to accommodate a three-bird roast! “Much better than I expected, and such a great gift. Thanks so much.” Kirsten B View our wooden carving boards  Number two: Gin & Tonic board A fun and thoughtful gift for anyone that likes a tipple. It makes preparation even more enjoyable. Such a handy size to have at the ready, they’ll love the quality of the oak – hand finished with Osmo TopOil. We can engrave your message on the side and on the base of the board. Their special board will be dedicated to them.  “A really thoughtful gift for us G&T lovers. I’ve bought a few!” Lorraine B. View our gin and tonic board  Number three: Bath caddy Recently featured on George Clarke’s Old House, New Home, this is as decadent as it gets. And demand is high. Handmade in a variety of widths, the sturdy wooden caddy houses four tea light holders, a wine glass holder and a tablet stand. Our bath caddies ensure the ultimate in relaxation. Just what they need after the Christmas festivities. Of course, we’ll engrave the edge or base with your personalised message to make it extra special. This is a gift that just keeps giving. “It’s transformed the bathroom into a serene place for lengthy relaxation. I’m told it was the perfect gift.” Tom S. View our bath caddy  Number four: Boot jack When it’s wet and muddy outside, there’s nothing more welcoming than a homely boot jack to help get those wellies off in quick-sharp time. And that’s why our wooden boot jacks are so popular. There’s room for (at least) one by every front door. Designed to withstand the elements, our jacks are finished with Osmo TopOil. They’re a decent weight too, thanks to the quality of European oak. If you give your loved ones a boot jack this Christmas, they’ll get inside faster for a warm cuppa! Lots of wellies to store? Take a look at our wooden welly boot stands. “Just the best, well-received presents!” Anna L View our boot jack Number five: Personalised key rings A heart-warming idea for so many, our engraved key rings are popular wooden Christmas gifts. Does Dad lose his shed keys? What about your parents and their summer house? Give them a homely, personalised key ring and they’ll never misplace keys again. We craft our key rings from small pieces of oak and engrave them with your own message. They’re then finished with Osmo TopOil to bring out the attractive graining.  A sturdy ring enables the key to be securely attached. “My father beamed when he saw his keyring, just for him. He loves it, thank you.” Clare P. View our personalised key rings   So, there you have it. Our top five wooden Christmas gifts, as chosen by our customers. We’ll be taking your Christmas orders until 16th December. As we make everything to order, the more notice you can give us, the better (especially for larger items). Rest assured, we’ll work hard to get your gifts to you in time for the big occasion. We love knowing we’re making so many people smile on Christmas Day.

Custom design for top Champagne brand It’s a fine day when you get to work on a bespoke project for one of the world’s greatest names in Champagne.  We were originally approached by Tewkesbury based, Capability Events. They have a well-deserved reputation for organising premium parties and events across the UK. Many celebrities and large organisations adorn their impressive client list. This time, it was Veuve Clicquot, a 250-year-old top Champagne brand that forms part of the Moet Hennessy group. Veuve Clicquot wanted to find a way to personalise their “arrow” presentation cases in store at the point of sale. This was to be an exciting promotion, to run in high-end stores such as Selfridges in Manchester and London. Capability Events had the challenge of creating a stylish and practical facility to undertake the case personalisation. Ben Leeke of Capability Events explains: “We devised and created a unique personalisation desk for Veuve Clicquot to use in Selfridges stores. The customer would purchase a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne and have the lid of the “arrow” shaped tin personalised; with their hometown and the distance from Reims in France, for example. We needed a custom-made wooden board that could hold the tin lids in place whilst they were being personalised in-store. The board needed to meet our style and quality credentials, given that it presented a high-end brand in a top retail store. We contacted John at Engraved Oak Company. He quickly understood our brief and came up with a design that worked perfectly and looked fantastic. The boards for each desk are made to order, and John’s turnaround times are always fast. We’ve also ordered some variations on the original board, for example, a board to hold Moet Hennessy Champagne bottles. As ever, John made this extremely quickly and to a high standard. The Veuve Clicquot team were delighted with their custom-made boards. They could understand exactly how they made the store operatives’ lives easier when undertaking the personalisation, whilst also maintaining the brand’s look and feel. The personalisation process felt polished and professional. Every time this promotion has run in a store, sales have significantly increased. It’s reassuring to have skilled craftsmen like John at Engraved Oak Company on hand to enhance our events when necessary. We cannot fault his craftsmanship, creative ideas and fast, friendly service.” Thanks Ben! We love working on custom projects, whether they’re for a company or an individual. Should you need a personalised wooden item and be unsure where to start, please do get in touch. We have a reputation for delivering a great job and we’d be delighted to help you. Contact John today.

They’re getting married and they’ve got everything. You haven’t a clue. If only you could find some unique wedding presents to buy… So many of our customers purchase their wedding presents from us. They tell us that, even when the couple has everything, there’s always room for our handmade wooden gifts.  Practical, personalised and timeless, they’re the perfect balance. With such a raft of great feedback, we know your happy duo will be delighted.   Without further ado, here are five fantastic and unique ideas for wedding presents. Unique wedding presents they’ll be thrilled to receive #1: Personalised chopping board There are chopping boards, and then, there are chopping boards. Crafted from solid European oak, your wedding couple will marvel at the workmanship that’s gone into their special board. At 42mm thick, they’re weighty and long-lasting. You’re choosing a high quality, British-made item here. It’ll take pride of place in their kitchen. Engraved with your personalised message on the edge and base, this is a keeper to help them remember their spectacular day. “Top marks for fantastic speedy service (arrived early) and a great quality product…bought as a wedding present.” Sue T  View our large personalised chopping boards   #2: Welly boot stand If your couple love the outdoors, indulge them with their own, personalised welly boot stand. Robust and strong, it’s designed to stand outside against a wall. Finished in Osmo UV Protection oil, it’s ready to withstand the elements. Choose from a stand to hold two pairs of wellies (his and hers), or up to six. Perhaps in anticipation of little feet? “We bought this engraved welly boot rack as a wedding present – brilliant. My daughter and son-in-law loved it.” Kenneth W View our personalised welly boot stand   #3: Tealight holder Perhaps, in your quest for unique wedding presents, you’re searching for something romantic? Let me introduce our tealight holders. Holding from two to ten tealights, your wooden holder will be crafted from a single piece of solid oak and hand-finished with three coats of oil to bring out the beauty of the graining. Add a personalised message for the couple and they’ll love using this; in the lounge, in the bathroom, in the bedroom. No reviews! A bit of creativity? “They loved it! Thank you so much. The quality is out of this world and your help with my order most welcome.” Anna C View our tealight holder   #4: Gin & tonic board What could be more thoughtful than their very own G&T board? Add a cheeky message on the base if you like. They’ll love using it to make refreshing drinks together in the evening. Designed and made with love, we want this board to take pride of place in their home for years to come. And so, it will. Your thoughtful (and unique) wedding present. “Fabulous ...once again! A really thoughtful gift for us G&T lovers. I have bought a few!” Lorraine B View our gin & tonic board   #5: Coat rack with shelf Satisfyingly heavy, this coat rack will last as long as their marriage. Choose from three to ten hooks – all finished in brushed steel. They’ll welcome the hidden fixings that prevent unsightly screws in the wall. If your wedding couple are still nest building, this coat rack is ideal. A homely sight when you walk in the door. And of course, we’ll engrave your personal message on the edge. “Was slightly put off at first with the price. But wow is it worth it!!” Sarah C View our coat rack with shelf   Want a custom-made gift? Commission us to bespoke-design your unique wedding presents. We love to bring your ideas to life. Based on one of our products, or something entirely different, we’ll create a gift that’ll be stand-out and adored. Need some inspiration? Get in touch and we’ll tell you what we’ve custom-made before.

Wood anniversary gifts are traditionally chosen to celebrate five years of married bliss. You’ll appreciate the symbolism. Wood (especially oak) is strong and long-lasting, just like a happy marriage should be after five years.If you’re searching for wooden gifts for 5th wedding anniversary recipients – perhaps for your husband, maybe for friends – we create personalised, handmade gifts from the highest-grade oak. Wood anniversary gifts follow fruit and flowersIt’s fun to focus on the traditional gift for each year of marriage. Most of us know it starts with paper at one year. Did you manage that? It’s then cotton at two years, leather for three years and fruit or flowers for four years.All seems quite straight forward so far!Well, now you’ve got to wood: the tradition for 5th wedding anniversary gifts. It’s the perfect material to choose something a little more long-lasting.Whether their taste is modern or old, wooden gifts are timeless. There’s something rather tactile about wood – we’re compelled to touch it and run our fingertips over it. Everyone loves to receive a gift made from wood.Wooden gifts for 5th wedding anniversary ideasYour choice of gift will depend on the recipient. Should it be a couple – perhaps friends or relatives, our personalised chopping boards are popular. If it’s a gift for your other half, consider our bath tray or tealight holders (just add bubbly).Here’s a little inspiration for you:Idea 1: personalised chopping boardsWith many shapes and sizes to choose from, our boards stand proudly in any home. Practical as well as beautiful, we’ll engrave your personal message on the edge and base. They’re fabulous wood anniversary gifts.Our Gin & Tonic Chopping Board is a favourite. The perfect way to prepare your tipple. And a classic option is our Medium Chopping Board. Whatever you choose, they’re all created to order from solid, European oak – handmade in Worcestershire. View our personalised chopping boards Idea 2: bath trayA slightly more romantic 5th wedding anniversary gift is our bath tray. With a nod to relaxing evenings, it sits comfortably over the deepest bubble bath, holding everything they might need whilst amongst the bubbles: tealights that sit safely in dedicated holes, a tablet holder and a wine glass holder slot.With different widths available, you can add a personal message on the edges in addition to the base (a secret message perhaps?) It’s as sturdy as they come – and the perfect finishing touch to any bathroom. View our bath trayIdea 3: tealight holdersHandmade in many sizes, tealight holders make thoughtful wooden anniversary gifts. Sit them on the hearth or perhaps in the bedroom. With the tealights lit, they’ll soon create an intimate atmosphere – perfect for 5th wedding anniversaries!From two tealights upwards, we’ll create the size you want. And the bigger the holder, the longer your personalised message can be. We include the tealights, so they’re all set, having unwrapped your gift. View our tealight holdersWant to add a bit more fun?Our personalised wooden key rings raise a smile every time. Add your celebratory message or recognise their special place; be it their garden (man) shed or a storage chest of special things in the home.Any wedding anniversary is a time for gifts: the 5th one is no exception. With a wooden theme, be as creative as you like with us, and know they’ll love the result. We’ll even custom-make your gift if it’s not based on our range.Got a burning question about our wood anniversary gifts? Please get in touch.P.S. The traditional gift for a 6th wedding anniversary is sugar. Really. We can’t help you there, but we’re sure you’ll have fun looking…

If you’ve browsed our range, you’ll know we create many different personalised wooden boards; from chopping to cheese boards. Not to mention bread and carving boards. All handmade from the highest grade of oak. It’s important you know how to care for your board once it’s left our Worcestershire workshop. How we finish our personalised wooden boardsA natural timber with distinct character, you’ll want the colour and graining to look at its best. All our personalised wooden boards are finished with two coats of Osmo TopOil. This is a matt, food-safe oil that protects the surface, whilst leaving it ready to do its job. The oil soaks into the surface of the board, preventing the oak from drying out and protecting the surface for many months to come. It should provide enough protection for six to twelve months; dependent on the amount of use.Wooden boards are the preferred choice for many leading chefs; not to mention home cooks. They’re gentler on knives, keeping them sharp for longer. And they’ll give you a lifetime of service (whilst looking fantastic) so long as you care for and clean them correctly.When should you re-apply oil?It’s easy to tell if your wooden board needs another coat of oil. It will be starting to dry out and might show signs of staining. Our advice is to wait until the board is ready. Over-oiling is not advisable.What oil should you use?We’re great fans of Osmo TopOil. We’ve been using it on our range for years. Less coats are generally required, and the finish is superior to many other oils we’ve tried. In our opinion, it’s the best way to protect your board and maximise its life.You can buy Osmo TopOil from Wood Finishes Direct.Of course, there are other oils available and traditionally, Butcher’s Oil has been a popular choice. So long as the oil is food-grade, clear and matt in finish, you’ll not detract from the look of your board.How to oil your wooden boardYou’ve got the right oil and your board needs a fresh coat. What next? It’s a simple three-step process:1. Lightly sand the board with fine sandpaper (we use 240 grit). This will lighten any staining, lift the grain and smooth out any marks from usage.2. Using a clean brush, apply a thin coat of oil. Leave it to soak in for ten minutes.3. Using good quality kitchen towel (we use Plenty), wipe off any excess oil. Then put the board somewhere safe to dry overnight.How to clean your wooden boardAfter each use, your wooden board should be wiped clean with warm soapy water. You can also use a light antibacterial cleanser, like Dettol. Then ensure it’s fully dry before storage. And that’s it!NEVER use harsh cleaners (they’ll take the surface off).NEVER put your board in the dishwasher.NEVER submerge your board or leave it to soak in water.Wood can soak up water, making it swell. When left to dry again, the moisture content reduces rapidly. This process presents a big risk of splits and cracks appearing. By committing to the right cleaning regime for your board, you’ll keep it looking gorgeous for longer.Where to store your wooden boardThere’s no doubt that personalised wooden boards look fabulous in the kitchen. And that’s great, so long as they’re not stored too close to a heat source; for example, an Aga or range cooker. Excessive heat will dry the wood out, risking distortion in shape. Find a spot that’s clean and dry, but not too hot.We create our personalised boards to enjoy a long and happy life with you. This practical and straight forward advice should enable you to achieve just that. If you need any specific guidance in caring for our wooden boards, or any other product, please do get in touch. We’d be happy to help you. Want to browse our range of personalised wooden boards? Click here.

It's nearly Christmas... so we thought we would run a competition to win one of our handcrafted personalised large oak cheese boards with top and bottom engraving and the V-groove, worth £160.To enter go to our Facebook post and Like and comment on the post saying what you would like engraved if you win the board.Or visit Cheese Boards on our site to order yours now for delivery in time for Christmas.The draw will take place on 18th December 2018 at midday and the winner will be announced on our Facebook page.Note knives not included. Good luck...

It's Mother's day on the 26th March, so what are you getting your Mum? If you go to our Facebook page and like the Mothers Day Gin & Tonic post you will be entered into our draw where you could win one of three Gin & Tonic boards, with your choice of personal engraving on the front edge. Or visit Gin & Tonic Chopping Board on our site to order yours now for delivery in time for Mothers Day. The draw will take place at 12pm on 21st March 2017. Good Luck...  

Take a look at some of our latest bespoke wooden gifts; a bath caddy and a heart made for one of our lovely customers. We are very proud of the quality of both these products, I think you will agree they look amazing our customer certainly thought so. If you require a bespoke oak gift please contact us directly and we will be happy to help.