need a unique birthday present...
 

My fiance is turning 22, and I'm looking for part of her present to be unique, yet thoughtful. Something rare and exotic... possibly foreign.

Just wondering if the power of a forum can generate a valuable idea.

http://images.google.com/images?q=tb...b/images/1.jpg

You may want to provide a few more details. Otherwise, you get one of these.
What does she like? Quilting, sports, painting, trapshooting?

Girls always like jewelry.

How about a nice pearl necklace?

While you are at it, what is "foreign"? You didn't list your location. We can't help you with "thoughtful" unless we know more about her.

I posted this already in tilted artwork but what the hey...flowers that last forever, made in origami (japanese).

Blooms 4 Ever

I'm sure I can think up more...will come back later. :)

edit: thought of more already...a Lichtenberg figure...this is cool if when you fell in love with her, lightning struck, so to speak :D lol

Lichtenberg Figures

I remembered also, that once I got a really lovely gift. They can be a little pricey, but beautiful. I was given a small round necklace pendant made of murano glass (italian), called a Millefiore pendant. They're transparent and reflect light, and look beautiful on a thin gold chain. Here's a pic of a similar one:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70...i_pink1_L1.jpg

Whil browsing for millefiori, found this site that has other types of pendants...sacred tibetan pendants no less!

Tibetan Pendants

Check out redenvelope.com. They have a jewelery section that offers unique and artsy necklaces, bracelets, ect...

How about a big bottle of Scotch? That's forgien, unless you're from Scotland I suppose

ooooookay....

My humour was a little bit too subtle on that post. Please put your mind INTO the gutter, and re-read:

How about a nice pearl necklace?

edit: bad spelling

New Scientist has a unique gift guide online at http://nomoresocks.newscientist.com
they break it down into categories such as Technology, For the Home, Books, In the Garden, Sports and Hobbies, Toys and Games, Anything Edible, Green, Charities, Experiences, Extreme, and Seasonal
They seem to be a uk bias concerning sources, but It may jump start an idea or two.

Nothing is as unique as tearing off a limb and giving it to her, or better yet, give her a certificate for a taxidermist to stuff your penis when you die! She'll never be lonely again.

Don't worry BigBen, I got your joke!

Don't bank on the fact that "girls always like jewelry." They don't ALWAYS like it. I do, but in moderation and when it is a unique and pretty piece... my bf has given me some pretty Celtic and Arabic earrings, for example. (Might those qualify as exotic?)

Think hard about what kind of things she likes. Sometimes "exotic" can just mean a creative twist on something familiar. Personally, I always prefer thoughtful things rather than something extravagant or fancy. Handmade stuff is always a winner for me... my bf and I spent some time on our anniversary painting ceramic mugs for each other (with our own original "designs," ha! :) ) and believe me, I will use that thing as often as I can because I know he made it and was thinking of me. :) He also noticed I needed a new robe and brought me a really pretty one from his home country, all embroidered and stuff.

Burn CDs of music she might like, or songs that remind you of her... or buy an "experience" for her (tickets to the theater, rock climbing lessons, river rafting, etc) that she wouldn't normally do on her own, or wouldn't be able to do.

Let us know how it goes...

www.vladmaster.com

These are pretty neat.

If she is a jewelry wearer, chinese and japanese lettering might be unique, either find her name... or better find an adjective that you would use to describe her - -like beautiful, or sweet or something like that-- when people ask her what it means-- imagine the glow she'll have when she tells them...

Yeah, I got that right away.

Get her something that is useful, jeez. I hate when guys just splurge on stuff that I'm never really going to use (excepting my engagement ring and maybe flowers for a very special occasion). If she likes gardening, get her some flowers to PLANT and maybe a new spade. If she likes music, get her a new book of music, reeds, guitar strap, etc. If she likes a certain TV show or character, get her something with that on it that she'll use everyday.

You see my point- Don't just get her something shiny that she'll lock away in her drawer never to see again.

How about a massage? It's not incredibly unique anymore, but who doesn't love a massage? I have to agree with whoever posted about "experience" gifts...the best gifts I've ever received were experiences.

Get her a shrunken head. It's unique, thoughtful, and most likely foreign and exotic.

AWESOME.

"Look what I found honey! The guy at the store said it was CURSED! Isn't that exotic? AND THOUGHTFUL?!?!? I'm trying to say that if I ever lost you, it would be like a CURSE!"

above and beyond expectations
 

The perfect responses... I laughed, I cried, I got the clever ideas I wanted, and I had to clean the pearl necklace off myself. I guess I'm a nice guy for that one. It wasn't even her birthday, that one was extra. Now get your mind out of the gutter.

We are a young couple in the States, getting married in the carribean of jan '06. I'm the creative one, and I've already got the elaboratly framed series of photographs set, with poetry. The massage after the alcohol goes without saying.

I asked the mass of thinkers in the forum for the final piece of the present, and I have gotten just that. Does anyone know where to get a shrunken head? I'll continue to check back, and I'll let you know what I decide.

more
 

are there any more ideas?