• Your mother might enjoy a fine wine or new stemware set.bottle wine and glasses with a wine image by mashe from Fotolia.com
  
  When choosing gifts for your mother's birthday, eschew bland, practical gifts for gifts that speak to your mother's interests and passions. Instead of buying her a new washing machine or ironing board, buy her something fun. If she enjoys photography, get her a new camera; if she has a passion for wine, give her an interesting vintage or a case of her favorite merlot. You should also consider giving your mother a gift she secretly wants but would feel guilty purchasing for herself, such as a massage or pricey piece of jewelry.
  
  

Gourmet Treats

• Use fresh herbs to infuse olive oils.olive oil image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
  
  If your mother likes to cook, give her a specialty item, such as a bottle of white truffle oil, a basket of portobello mushrooms, a case of filet mignon or a wheel of artisanal cheese. Fine imported teas or aged brandies might also find favor. You can personalize a gourmet gift by making it yourself. Create zesty olive oil blends by flavoring extra-virgin olive oil with lemons, rosemary or fennel; or make flavored liqueurs by infusing vodka with hand-picked cranberries, blueberries, gooseberries or currants. Use attractive ceramic or hand-blown glass bottles to contain your creations, as these will eliminate the need for gift wrap and function as secondary gifts themselves. Your mother might also enjoy handmade jams, jellies, fudges and chocolate truffles.
  
  

Bath & Body Products

• Tint bath salts with micas and oxides.Bath Salts and Scoop image by Rachel Smith from Fotolia.com
  
  Instead of buying your mother a garden-variety toiletry basket from the local mall, craft truly unique and luxurious products for her yourself. Bath salt mixtures are easy to concoct---simply buy unscented sea salt or Epsom salt and scent it with her signature fragrance. You can also add moisturizing oils to bath salts, such as almond oil or avocado oil. Layer your bath salts in attractive glass jars, or pour them into pretty muslin sacks. Make personalized bubble bath in much the same fashion using unscented soap. If you are an experienced crafter, make Mom a basket of soaps, lip balms, sugar scrubs or lotions.
  
  

Accessories

• Your mother might appreciate a set of gold cuff links.cufflinks image by Edsweb from Fotolia.com
  
  Celebrate your mother's femininity by giving her beautiful baubles, such as a new purse, a pair of soft leather driving gloves, a luxury silk scarf or a set of pearl earrings. Alternatively, make her a lovely, inessential present yourself. Fashion your mother an elegant headband using peacock feathers and seed beads. Ensure the smoothness of her complexion by sewing her a new pillowcase from amber satin.
  
  

Photos

• Your mother can use a photo printer to preserve favorite moments and scenes.The printer image by vin5 from Fotolia.com
  
  Your mother's birthday provides an opportunity to show her how much you treasure memories of her. If you have a particularly great picture of your mother, have it enlarged and framed. The picture need not be only of your mother; she might also like a family portrait or photo of the two of you together. She might like a photo of a beloved former home or vacation spot, or a shot that showcases a career highlight. If she is a grandmother, she will likely appreciate a picture of her with her grandchildren. Alternatively, give her a scrapbook or photo album, or buy her a photo printer so she can make scrapbooks of her own.