Willow Tree Collectables - How To Match The Right Gift With The Right Person

If you are looking to purchase a Willow Tree Collectables gift for someone, but you are not sure which one to buy, this handy little guide might just help you match the right gift with the right person.

First things first, why have you chosen to buy a Willow figurine? If you have a clear idea of what your gift is designed to signify, you will have a much better chance of getting choosing the right one first time. There are three main categories that a gift from the Willow Collection falls into:

1. A gift for a collector
2. A gift to celebrate an occasion
3. A gift for a special recipient

1. A gift for a collector of Willow Tree collectables

If the person the gift is for has a reasonable sized Willow collection, it is essential that you find out which pieces are missing from their collection. I know they can exchange the figure if they already have it, but that takes a lot of the enjoyment out of receiving the gift and just creates hassle for the recipient - and I'm sure that's not what you had planned.

There are a few ways to make sure you buy the right Willow Tree statue; first off you could just ask what pieces they have missing and what piece they would most like, but if you are like me, you will want the gift to be a surprise.

Your second option is asking their partner or someone close to them to see if they can give you any ideas of which pieces you should buy, but most of our partners don't share our passion to the same extent as we do, so this might be a long shot.

Do they have a wish list? More and more of us are adding wish-lists in all sorts of places like Facebook, Bebo or other social sites. They might have a favourite website they use to buy their Willow Tree from; often these sites allow you to create a wish-list - just an idea.

2. A gift to celebrate a life event or special occasion.

If it's a christening, birthday, communion, or the birth of a child that you are marking with your gift, than it is much easier. The range is categorised along these lines and the choice within each category is very comprehensive. Many of the pieces are interchangeable, the Willow Tree angel 'Celebrate' for example would make a suitable gift to mark any of the occasions I mentioned earlier.

While it's always worth checking to avoid duplicating a gift, if you are buying a gift to celebrate a special occasion like this, there is far less chance that you will be buying a figurine that is already owned by the person receiving the gift.

3. A gift for a special recipient.

The chances of buying the wrong gift for friends or loved ones who fall into this group is minimal. Generally speaking we have 'access to insider knowledge' in that these people are usually close to us and it is normally easier to find out which Willow Tree Collectables they already own.

Willow Tree Collectables - Quietly

People buy Willow tree collectables for many different reasons. Some folks buy them for themselves, because they are avid collectors, and they just have to have the latest release, others buy them as gifts for family, friends, or loved-ones as a way of marking a significant life event, and there are some people who buy them simply because the figure's neutral colouring matches the décor in their homes.

Whatever reason you choose to buy Willow Tree figurines (I'm guessing that as you are here that you collect them), you'll know that each one is lovingly created, from the smallest figures, like Willow Tree Congratulations right through to the larger pieces such as Willow Tree Quietly.

I want to look at Willow Tree Quietly today because it has a special meaning to me. Not only was this Willow Tree figure one of the first Willow Tree figures I ever owned, but it was bought for me at a particularly emotional time in my life when the sentiment ' Quietly encircled by love' seemed to epitomize my situation perfectly.

Quietly is one of the larger pieces in the Willow Tree range, although it's not one of the tallest, it stands just over 5 inches high and features a scene of a mother sat with her two young children (at least that's what I see anyhow). Even though the faces lack any expression, you can just sense the huge feeling of love that bonds the mother and her children.

The way the mother's arms encircle the children, the way the eldest child is snuggled in close and the way the baby reaches up to touch the mother, all emphasise the closeness of this special family unit.

To me, Quietly will always be a special piece, something I will cherish forever - and as I keep adding to my collection of Willow Tree collectables as new figurines become available, I will be very surprised if another figurine ever overtakes it as my number one favourite figure.

Willow Tree Quietly

Height - 13cm / 5 inches

Ref - 26100

Sentiment - 'Quietly encircled by love'

Willow Tree Angels - How's Your Collection?

Willow Tree angels have been with us since the launch of the Willow Tree collection back in January 2000, and have become one of the most popular sections of the Willow Tree collectables range of statues and ornaments.

There are currently 39 Willow Tree Angels available in the Willow Tree range, and 14 other retired angels that are no longer being made. Many admirers have been collectors since the first angels were introduced, and have bought each angel as and when it was launched. If you have managed to collect the entire set of angels, you are very lucky, many people who have come to the Willow Tree collection a little later than launch, have struggled to find some of the first retired pieces, but they do become available every now and then.

To help you with your angel collection, I have put together a list of all currently available angels and a list of the retired Willow Tree angels so that you know what to go out and hunt for - Here we go:

Current Angels

A Tree, A Prayer Angel
Angel of Autumn
Angel of Caring
Angel of Friendship
Angel of Grace
Angel of Harmony
Angel of Healing
Angel of Hope
Angel of Learning
Angel of Light
Angel of Miracles
Angel of Prayer
Angel of Spring
Angel of Summer
Angel of the Garden
Angel of the Heart (Tall)
Angel of the Heart (Small)
Angel of the Kitchen
Angel of the Spirit
Angel of Winter
Angel of Wishes
Angel of Wonder
Angel's Embrace
Bright Star Angel
Celebrate Angel
Courage Angel
Dreaming Angel
Good Health Angel
Guardian Angel
Just for You
Loving Angel
Remembrance Angel
Serenity Angel
Sign for Love Angel
Thank You Angel
Thinking of You Angel
Welcoming Angel
With Affection Angel
With Love Angel

Retired Willow Tree Angels

Angel of Giving 2001
Angel of Hearth 2001
Angel of Joy 2001
Angel of Love 2001
Angel of Song 2001
Angel of Strength 2001
Angel of Comfort 2003
Angel of Light 2003
Angel of Patience 2003
Angel of Protection 2003
Angel of Beauty 2004
Angel of Freedom 2004
Angel of Kindness 2004
Angel of Christmas Spirit 2006

If you are still adding to your Willow Tree collectables and have one or two Willow Tree Angels missing, this list should help you complete your collection. Keep up the search because they are out there, it might take a little time to find them all, but isn't that part of the fun?

Willow Tree Collectables

Willow Tree Collectables were first introduced to the world back in January 2000. When the collection was first put together by Susan Lordi, it consisted of just 16 pieces (15 Willow Tree angels and 1 Willow Tree figurine) plus a nativity scene. It's amazing to consider that from those humble beginnings, we've ended up with the literally hundreds of Willow Tree pieces we have today.

The Willow Tree collection was conceived to convey our most cherished sentiments towards our family, our friends, our loved one's and to the people in our hearts; the range has expended to encompass almost every conceivable human circumstance and the original inspiration of the Willow Tree range is as strong today as ever.

Willow Tree collectables have always been an intimate expression of our closeness to others, with the sculptured figurines representing sentiments, qualities in others, or just events in our lives that symbolize our existence. The artist behind the Willow Tree Collection, Susan Lordi, had these thoughts in mind as her inspiration for her creations.

The evolution of Willow Tree figurines, continues even today, as the artist identifies feelings and emotions we have need to express to each other. These emotions are manifested in pure, simple sculptures that convey love, hope, strength and intimacy, all emotions of life lived to the full.

The inspiration for the name Willow Tree came from the way a willow tree appears summon us by gesturing with the bows of its branches, the majestic way its foliage moves with the wind seemed to echo all human emotion. Willow Tree figures are designed to be upright like a tree, and are frequently fashioned carrying objects from nature or small animals that echo the human qualities or virtues that they represent.

Willow Tree figures are sculpted to imply beauty, elegance, grace and serenity, with emotions expressed through gestures alone. The position of a hand, the tilt of a head or the way two figures interrelate, demonstrates that suggestion is such a powerful sensation.

It is often remarked that Willow Tree collectables have no visible facial expressions, and for good reason, the emotions are left for the observer to decide which makes them very personal to their individual owners.

Contact

If you have any questions or observations about this website that you'd like to make, please send me an email to:

monster9121 [at] ymail.com