Bespoke Birthday Gift

One of my favourite things about creating bespoke pieces is hearing the stories behind them. Every commission is different, and often the most meaningful designs are inspired by special people, treasured memories, and places that hold a special place in someone’s heart.

For this commission, I was asked to create a bespoke jug as a 70th birthday gift for a lady called Jackie from her daughter. When designing bespoke pieces, I always start by gathering as much information as possible. The details people share often become the most important parts of the finished piece.

The brief was full of lovely personal details. Jackie was born and raised in Walberswick, and it remains a place that is very close to her heart. She loves the beach, the harbour, and the iconic black huts.

I was also sent photographs of Jackie and her beloved dog, Dolly, so that I could include them in the design. They love long walks in Walberswick together.

I was told that Jackie isn’t particularly fond of very bright colours, so rather than using a bold palette, I chose softer, more muted colours inspired by the Walberswick landscape.

Once I had gathered all of the inspiration, I created an initial sketch. This gives my customers the opportunity to see the design before painting begins and allows us to make any adjustments if needed.

After the sketch was approved, I could begin bringing the design to life on the jug itself.

One of my favourite details was a hidden number 70 painted onto the ferry hut. I love including little details that aren’t immediately obvious and reward a closer look.

Another special request was a tiny crab hidden inside the jug. This was inspired by a family memory shared between Jackie and Layla involving a particularly crabby crab encountered during a walk on Walberswick beach. It’s these small personal touches that often become the most meaningful parts of a commission.

To make the gift even more personal, I also added a birthday message to the base of the jug.

The finished piece became a celebration not only of a milestone birthday, but of Jackie, Dolly, Walberswick, and the memories that connect them all together. As you can see Jackie was over the moon with her special birthday gift!

If you have an idea for a fully bespoke piece, I’d love to hear from you.

Thea x