Personalised Mother's Day gift: a photo engraved on slate

Mother’s Day has its traditional gifts: the pasta necklace, the potted flower, the voucher for a massage. A photo engraved on slate has a different place: it stays in the living room, and mum shows it to everyone who comes round. We engrave them to order in our workshop in Talais, in the Médoc.

In France, Mother’s Day falls on the last Sunday of May, except when it coincides with Whit Sunday. In 2027, it is Sunday 30 May.

For a new mum

It is her first Mother’s Day, or close to it. Two images work particularly well:

The baby scan. It is already black and white and very contrasted, which makes it one of the images that come out best on slate. Our round demonstration slate carries a baby scan with a little heart and “12 weeks” underneath.

The baby’s first photo. Choose one that is sharp and taken in daylight. Photos from the maternity ward, taken in the evening under yellow light, often give a dull engraving. A sleeping baby, photographed near a window, comes out much better.

For the text: the baby’s name and date of birth, or simply “Mum”.

For a mother whose children have grown up

A recent photo of all of you, ideally taken at a real occasion: a wedding, a birthday, a holiday together. On the 30 × 30 cm square slate, faces stay large even with five or six people.

Another idea, which means a lot: an old photo. Her holding you as a baby, thirty years ago. You don’t need the negative or a scanner:

• lay the print flat near a window, in full daylight;
• photograph it with your phone, without flash, straight on so the image isn’t distorted;
• check that no reflection falls across the faces.

If the photo has faded or yellowed, the workshop layout option (€20) lets us bring the contrast back up. You receive a mockup by email, and we only engrave once you approve it.

For a grandmother

For a grandmother, Mother’s Day is her day too. A photo of her grandchildren always works. We have written a whole article on the subject: gift for Grandmother’s Day.

The layout

In advanced mode, on the personalisation page, you can cut the photo into a heart or an arch, add the children’s names in handwriting, a frame of little hearts, or a flower or daisy motif. One photo and one line of text is often what looks best.

Ordering in time

The slate is engraved within 48 to 72 hours, then delivered in 3 to 5 working days. For 30 May 2027, order before 20 May, and earlier if you choose the layout option. Won’t you see her on the day? The “It’s a gift” option at checkout sends the parcel straight to her with your note on a card, and no invoice inside.

The slate costs €49.90, engraving and support included. To choose the photo, read engraving a photo on slate, which photo to choose, then design yours in the shop: the 28 cm round slate or the 30 × 30 cm square slate.

Frequently asked questions

When is Mother's Day?

In France, it falls on the last Sunday of May, unless that day is Whit Sunday: Mother's Day then moves to the first Sunday of June. In 2027, it is Sunday 30 May.

Can you engrave an old paper photo?

Yes. Photograph the print with your phone, lying flat near a window, without flash, keeping it nice and straight. If the photo is faded or damaged, the workshop layout option (€20) lets us rework the contrast before engraving.

What is the last date to order for Mother's Day?

For 30 May 2027, order before 20 May. The slate is engraved within 48 to 72 hours, then delivered in 3 to 5 working days.