Some of the best gift ideas are hidden right out there in plain sight... What do they already have, and value?

When you run across a great deal at a flea market on the Desert Rose gravy pitcher that Aunt Mary’s nephew just broke, grab it. (In fact, if it’s a great deal, grab it even if her own pitcher isn’t broken yet! - those babies are hard to come by.)

Neighbors of ours have about 20 different bird houses all around their yard... One more will obviously be welcomed enthusiastically, by human and bird alike.

How about a charm for your goddaughter’s charm bracelet? A gift certificate for a new rubber stamp for the stamp-crafting enthusiast? A coupon for a new specimen for the bearded iris afficionado? ..."What do they have that they’d like more of?"

Or if not precisely more, then perhaps also... You might like to find, or make, something that matches a displayed set of colorful dinnerware, for instance - a bowl, napkins, pillows, or the like, with a painted or embroidered Willow Ware or Old Rose pattern?

However, it might be useful to tell this cautionary collector’s tale... I collect Christmas ornaments - folk art-type Christmas ornaments. If someone gives me a bunch of Victorian-looking fancy baubles just because they’re Christmas ornaments, they’ll likely be passed on, regretfully. And mostly, I like to find new ornaments myself; not only is my own taste assured, but the discovery is part of the fun. If you’re going to add to a person’s collection, whatever it is, you’d do well to find out the rules the person has for herself in growing it.

One other word of warning: Don’t think it’s up to you to start a collection for someone! And better verify that the two elephants that have been given to your daughter constitute a collection in her mind before you give her a third... and a fourth... and a fifth.