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The Lindenlea Story

At Lindenlea Keepsakes, we believe the most meaningful gifts are the ones that last a lifetime. Based in the small town of Tapanui, West Otago, our work is inspired by a love for all things heritage and heirloom. As a mother of teenagers and a daughter of baby boomers, I’ve always felt the importance of keeping family stories alive. My own connection to ancestry runs deep, from inheriting trinkets and paging through family photo albums to listening to stories of my relatives’ service during the war. These experiences shaped my belief that memory deserves to be honored and passed down. I started Lindenlea Keepsakes after seeing a gap in the market for gifts that do more than mark a moment — they carry it forward. Our parents, the baby boomer generation, hold memories, recipes, and wisdom worth preserving. Through carefully crafted engraving on glass, leather, crystal, and metal, we help those legacies live on for children, grandchildren, and beyond. Every product is more than an item; it’s a vessel for family stories, milestones, and friendships. Whether it’s a handwritten recipe, a child’s drawing, or a heartfelt message, we transform it into a lasting keepsake that bridges the past and future. At Lindenlea Keepsakes, we don’t just make gifts. We create reminders of love, legacy, and connection.

Who am I?

Helen van der Linden

Born and bred in Eastern Southland, I am a 7th generation Southlander on both sides of my family. The photos of my paternal grandmother as a Landgirl during WW2 inspire me to pass her tenacity to my children. Stories of my maternal great grandfathers time as a Major during WW2 and a key figure in the Gore RSA's early years push me to ensure our children's children are aware of not just the enlisted, but also those who stayed home to nurse the returned, run farms and keep the home fires burning. I am naturally sentimental and want to ensure that there is a way for all families to pass down the important recipes, poems, dates, names and stories to the next generation.