My Independent Christmas Gift Guide

So if you're like me and still not finished (or really even started) your Christmas gift buying, I thought I'd put together my gift guide for some of the best small independent businesses, that I've bought from.

Also full disclaimer, most of these gifts are aimed at women, other than perhaps the artwork. The men in my house always send me lists of items they want, which always involve clothes or music equipement or vinyl. So the items below are things I've either bought for myself, my daughter or my girlfriends. I'll keep them in categories, as simplicity is what's need at this frantic time of year.

Beaumont Organic are a Manchester based, sustainable clothing brand, who have most of their items produced in a small factory in Portugal. Overseen by founder Hannah Beaumont, who launched the business in 2008, the items are made in small batches from sustainable and recycled fabrics. I was recently gifted a knitted tabard which has been made from recycled bottle tops, which you would never know, as it's soft and cosy. It's well made and comes in 2 colours, rust or olive and is a great versatile item, which you can layer over almost anything. There are also lots of other lovely items online that will take you from season to season.

Bonte are a recent discovery for me. I first saw their chequerboard, hand blocked dress whilst visiting Domestic Sciencein Tetbury and bought it on sight. I've since bought the Quincy dress and have worn both numerous times. At a good price point and made sustainably in India, I know I'll continue to buy from this London based brand.

Damson Madder were introduced to me by my daughter. Again a London based, female led studio, founded in 2020, their designs are fun and quirky. I recently bought the Antonella striped PJ's for my daughter for her birthday. They are pretty expensive for PJ's but Damson Madder are very transparent about their sustainable values and you can't put a price on that.

Fern & Fell was created by Sharon Lomas when she moved to Cumbria for a slower pace of life. Inspired by her natural surroundings, these are some of the nicest smelling candles I've had.

Dalt Vila reed diffuser by Hunter Jones in Rye, is one of the lovliest and longest lasting room scents I've bought. The products are hand made in Rye UK and sold through their shop or online. Inspired by an evening in Ibiza old town, this conjures up heady summer nights for me and I absolutely love the scent it's infused our home with.

Books

If anyone is ever stuck for buying me a gift, they always buy me a book. I am a book worm. I love reading and looking at beautiful photography and interiors. My home is filled with books, floor to ceiling in many of the rooms. These are just some of the books that I've been gifted this year.

A Home for All Seasons created by stylist Kay Prestney and photographer Becca Cherry, showcases homes which have used natures finds to style their homes through out each season. A visual feast with some simple styling ideas that you can create in your own home.

An Artists Journey by Tiny Stories is a beautifully photographed book documenting the travels of it's author and how those travels have inspired her creative life. A gorgeous book for anyone looking to unlock their creativity through the world around them.

The Poetry of Spaces is a guide to creating meaningful interiors by Sarah Andrews. This book was gifted to me by a friend and it couldn't be more in tune with how I like to create an interior, using antiques, art, found items and flowers. A beautiful visual book.

Jewellery is always a lovely personal gift to give. My daughter particularly loves it and I enjoy finding small businesses who make unusual pieces sustainably, mostly from recycled gold or silver waste, to give to her. Some of my favourite brands are:

Corinne Joy Jewellery who is based in North Wales and uses only silver waste to create her designs. I've bought my daughter, over the years, a North star necklace and these earrings, both of which she wears all the time.

Missoma who are a bigger organisation and make lovely items from gold and silver waste. They have also done a range of collaborations with other creatives including Lucy Williams & fashion designer Harris Reed.

Rachel Jackson is the go to for buying gifts for the fashionista in your life. I particularly love the electric love mini garnet ring in her collection for my daughter.

Antiques and Interiors are a gift that most people with their own place to call home appreciate. Some of my favourite independent sellers are:

Medium Room for great art. Natalie always has paintings that I covet and has an amazing eye. Her stock sells pretty quickly so stand by your phones.

Collins & Green run by Julia Collins who has a masters in the history of art & has the most beautiful stock. Interesting, colourful, thoughtful and abundant. If you can't find something you like on her website, then you simply don't like art.

Folie Chambre sell a curated selection of european antiques and vintage, but also design a small collection of their own, all made in the UK. I particularly love their Christmas baubles which come in a range of great colours. This is a forever gift which will just keep giving, year after year.

I also have an online antiques shop The Old Potato Store which has a range of art, small homewares and items of furniture available.

Courses

There is nothing better, for me, come the new year, or those inbetween twixtmas days when i've eaten all the left overs in the fridge, watched every film I want to watch and read all my new books gifted, than to get stuck into some learning. This year I've asked my daughter to buy me an online course from BBC Maestro and I can't wait to start it! So if you are stuck for something to buy that person that seems to have everything, I would recommend a course for them. It can be either online that they can plough through at their own pace, or a workshop they can attend with like minded people. There are many to choose from all over the country but these are a few I would recommend and yes there is a shameless bit of marketing here for one of my own courses which I can offer you a 20% discount code for. Keep reading for the full info :)

The Contented Mole offers a myriad of workshops which are run from her beautiful house in the depths of the Cheshire Country side. Annabel is a flower grower so many of the courses revolve around flowers or nature. Check out her website for her calendar of events for 2025. It might be worth dropping her an email if there is no information available yet for whats coming up?

Fiona Pickles is the master of large format floral installations but she's also been a wedding florist and gardener and is now an artist. She runs workshops from her home in Yorkshire.

Daylesford Farm run lots of workshops including floristry, cooking and baking. Check their website for their calendar of events.

Ok for the shameless plug from me. Some years ago I wrote a brand styling and photography course with my friend Roberta from Hunt The Pearl. Both myself and Roberta have over 30 years experience between us as a professional photographer and brand stylist for some of the countries leading interiors brands. We have also both run or have ran, succesful antiques businesses of our own. So we put our knowledge together and wrote an online course which you can download and work through at your own pace. It's been sold to hundreds of students all over the world, who have found it super helpful with their own photograhy and online content for their small businesses. It's available to buy from my website and for the Christmas period we are offering you a 20% discount of the usual price of £135 if you use code SHOT20 at the checkout. You'll receive 5 hefty modules with over 30 excercises to take and a private FB group you can join for more input from myself and Roberta, should you need or want it.

Use this link to apply the code or simply type SHOT20 at the checkout.

Product Styling and Photography E-Course

Happy Shopping and a very happy Christmas to you all xx