Be Good at Gifting
The small brand gift guide.
Hopefully, you’ve seen the movement for Shop Small/Shop Independent/Just A Card this year. They are all about shopping with smaller brands even if it’s just for your holiday cards. Why is this so important? Well many reasons, including –
1. When you shop small you are usually buying from one person or a small team of people that are as passionate about the gift you are buying as you are!
2. Buying from smaller stores + brands is good for our economy
3. You get to be the best at giving gifts
It’s always good to get some recommendations for shopping so here are some of my favourite designers –
1. For the crafter – Le Petit Moose
Grab a brilliant weaver kit on Steph’s Etsy page, the best present for a lover of fibre art. I got the travel kit for my mum + she loved it! Or if they prefer to look but not do Steph has amazing fibre art pieces on her Etsy page too.
Image from Le Petit Moose Instagram
2. Sophisticated + Playful Jewellery – Aubeebop
Love the use of contemporary materials + techniques combined with traditional ones to make stylish colourful pieces. Forget what you thought you knew about jewellery with pearls Aubin makes them contemporary + timeless.
Image from Aubeebop Instagram
3. All in the detail – Jennifer Colquhon
Jennifer describes herself as “a scientific illustrator” + loves to get to know all about her subject, whether that be a potato or a boob. The A3 risoprints are a favourite, so detailed with a pop of colour. There’s a brilliant selection of cards + Jennifer also recently created some scarves!
Image taken by Mhairi Allan at FLOCK
4. Laser, Wood + Mark Making – Leanh La
Jewellery made from laser cut wood, it’s lightweight, textured + beautiful! Always love some geometric jewellery + these hand-painted gems from Leanh La are a great addition to any wardrobe.
Image from Leanh La Instagram
5. Decorate the tree right – Small Stories
Know someone that loves Christmas? Then you really need to get them one of these amazingly detailed decorations from Small Stories. Gabi prints her designs on wood + laser cuts them. Small Stories also has a great range of none Christmassy pieces including printed kid’s t-shirts + bibs.
Image taken by Mhairi Allan at FLOCK
6. The animal lover – Lindsay and Yoshi
Lindsay’s catnip toy is a big hit in our house with Alfie the cat + it looks ace too! Lindsay creates amazing designs of illustrated animals on an array of products so if you don’t have a cat but you love animals there will be something for you too! Like the reindeer cushion, which would become a prized possession signalling the start of a festive season every year.
Image from Lindsay and Yoshi Instagram
7. Necklace of dreams – Beth Lamont
Ceramics are a big hit right now + are set to stay that way. For the statement necklace wearer in your life, you can’t go wrong with a Beth Lamont necklace. I got this one + can tell you it goes with everything! Also, it has stood up to the test of a teething baby.
Image from Beth Lamont Instagram
8. Pattern + Cosy = Hilary Grant
These are stunning patterned scarves. Do you need to get a gift for a pattern lover who also loves being cosy? Then a scarf from Hilary Grant will make their day! I’ve just got Hilary’s knitting book which is brilliant, I’m hoping to get a chance to start one of the projects soon. So if you have a knitter or a want to be knitter in your life this is another good shout for them!
Image taken by Mhairi Allan at FLOCK
9. On your marks – Steph Liddle
Steph creates everything from vases to necklaces in ceramics covered in her unique designs and mark making. The simplicity of the patterns lets you look closer to see all the unique variations. Like the end of the brush stroke on her Stroke Vase or the deepening of colour as the lines cross on her Grid Necklace.
Image taken by Mhairi Allan at FLOCK
10. To sleep is to dream – Sòlas Sleepwear
Sleepwear just got a whole lot more interesting. Silk pyjamas, sleep masks + housecoats in modern yet nostalgic feeling designs are created by a design duo known as Sòlas. This Glasgow based brand will have some exciting developments next year and are taking orders through their Instagram now for these pieces. This is on my Christmas list!
Image from Sòlas Instagram
I have picked these designers because I truly love their work! I’ve either met them or chatted online to them + I own a good few of their pieces or they are on my need to have list. See buying from smaller businesses is more a frame of mind. Yes, you might not be able to buy someone six things but do they really need all that? Or do you get them a quality gift that comes with a story… “oh you love it? Brilliant! You know it’s a great designer! I found them on..”. Start a conversation about your gifts + make memories.
Happy festive season folks!
- Mhairi