This gift shop idea will break the mould

But help finding the perfect cheeky present is at hand, with the opening of a new shop offering plaster casts of body parts.

Owner Lee Watson, 37, opened The Wee Treat – Scotland’s only bodycasting workshop – in Bruntsfield Place just over a week ago.

The casts are described as “amazing gifts” and “truly unique pieces of art”.

“Our customers tend to be women coming along to have bums, boobs and bumps done – although we had a man who had his chest done, and it looked great.

“Often the people who come in are getting it done as a gift for an anniversary or for Christmas.

“They are really giving the gift of themselves.”

The Wee Treat opened its doors in Dunfermline in May, but Lee took the decision to move to Edinburgh as the majority of customers had come from the Capital.

The process of taking the cast takes 40 or 50 minutes – depending on the body part – with the completed cast ready for collection in around seven days.

Most pieces are created in metallic colours but can be painted in any choice of colour and there is the option of having a design added.

The average cost of having a cast done is about £39.

Lee – who also works as a firewalk instructor – started off doing body casts as part of confidence classes she runs for women.

“It went really well and the whole thing quickly grew arms and legs.

“I think all women – and it is usually women who have it done – have body confidence issues. To have this cast done and look at yourself as a piece of art rather than what is in the mirror is hugely beneficial to your confidence, because it’s all about being objective.”

But although The Wee Treat is decidedly cheeky – it’s not that cheeky.

Lee said: “We do not do intimate castings, although we have been asked!”

The Wee Treat also sells Fair Trade gifts, cards and art and hosts eclectic workshops including “Granny Chic” crochet and “knicker making”.

Sarah Williamson, 26, who had a cast of her pregnancy bump made, said: “It was an amazing experience having my bump cast. It gave me something other than photographs to capture the memory.

Emma Paterson, 32, said: “I hated my body after having my kids, then I had my breasts cast and it made me look at my body in a different light.

“What I saw in the mirror was bad, but the cast was brilliant.”

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