Gifts are sometimes so hard to buy. Especially when you’ve got brands chucking you ‘the best products for x relative or y friend’ at you left, right, and centre, and the dread of panic buying sets in. I’ve seen some absolutely fab gift guides floating around the blogosphere this year (faves so far down below), and even though it’s a pretty saturated area, one more won’t hurt.

Especially if it’s some fab finds from small businesses and etsy.

personalised bar jewellery / femina handmade // zodiac constellation necklace– dear mia // cat choker necklace – deluxe sparkle // witch heart necklace – cosmic joke jewelry // black and white bow choker with key charm – buttons & lace // baby pink velvet choker with bow and star charm – candyflower uk // sailor moon crescent wand – petitesalu

With the number of chokers available to buy on the high street, adding more to that list may seem a little bit redundant, but there’s nothing quite like a unique or quirky gift that you haven’t seen countless numbers off every time you pop into store. For my birthday this year, one of my best friends got me a velvet choker with my star sign on the pendent and it’s one of my favourite gifts ever.

With small businesses, you can get really cute pieces for your jewellery loving friends that are almost completely unique, or really fit their likes and hobbies. Like the little cat from Deluxe Sparkle, or the Sailor Moon wand necklace from Petitesalu. Cosmic Joke Jewelry is a fab store for friends who are a little bit witchy, or fans of mor gothic pieces.

watercolour cactus wall prints – dessi designs // succulent print typographic wall art – kind lifestyle shop // george eliot never to late print – lizjowen  // minimalist space poster – nordic design house // watercolour world map – velvet print // moon phases illustrated print ‘la luna’ – the lovely drawer // drink more gin – our type

I always used to think that buying art was a massive affair. with art dealers and investments involved, but the influx of cute prints, quotes, and fun & funky paintings from lesser known or completely independent artists has made turn to etsy or smallers sellers. I studied a lot of classics when I was doing GCSE art, but my tastes have always been more in the minimal.

Quotes are a fun present to give if you find one that really embodies the giftee. The ‘Aloe, is it me you’re looking for’ print is both a little bit punny and perfect for anyone who loves a succulent; and the DRINK MORE GIN print is gonna raise a smile (and a glass) with a lot of people.

My favourite prints from these are the moon phases, the watercolour world map, and the minimalist space poster. I love space, and the two galaxy themed works are simple enough that they’d never overpower a room or a gallery wall, but still noticeable. The world map is beautiful, and would be fab for anyone with even a hint of wanderlust.

penguin 2017 desk calendar on mini easel – sian shrimpton // wooden storage pot – happy little folk shop // minimalist fern ring dish – twig and cone // clay ring dish/trinket tray – little plum blossom // minimalist constellation astronomy pot – prints by pippa // white out 2017 wall planner – shot tower studio // wooden letters (personalised) – lathrisk woodcraft // gentle reminders white & gold pencils – ACDshop // rose gold wire bulldog clips – the designer card co

For the stationery addict, organisation fiend, home office lover, or that friend that needs a little push to get their life together. etsy has a fab and diverse range of products to suit. From the little desktop calendars like the penguin sat atop it’s own little easel, to ones you can print out yourself, there’s something for pretty much every price point.

Don’t even get me started on the stickers. I feel like I could do an entire sticker wishlist.

Trinket trays and desk tidies are always useful, especially if the giftee has a lot of rings or small objects that don’t really have a permanent home, or a stash of pens that roll around all day (if they don’t, then I highly suggest these white and gold ‘gentle reminders’ pencil set, they’re adorable), or if they’re a bit succulent mad. The astrological pot is multipurpose, super cute, pretty unique, and would match a whole host of colour schemes in any room.

If stationery isn’t their jam, you could always consider getting something a little more personal, and a little bit different: these wooden letters are a really cute ornament to pop on shelves or use as book ends, and they’re not particularly obtrusive, gaudy, or a fad in style. I think they’d make a really nice gift if you have someone to buy for, but you don’t quite know what to get them.

Those are my current etsy suggestions – I’m sure some others will pop up in the way of accessories or products (I highly suggest you check out spook & siren, as well as the other small businesses I championed in my post on why you should support independent artists and brands).

For my favourite gift guides this year:

– the under £20 gift guide – chapters of kat

– the girly gift guide – hello miss jordan

– the gift guide for boyfriends – ljlv

– the gift guide for her – rush & teal

– the gift guide for fangirls and fanboys – prompts by dee

Where do you usually get your gifts from? Will you be shopping independent artists and small businesses this year?

♥

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