More than ever before it's really important to shop small this Christmas and support our small independent businesses and that's why I'm back for the third year running with another Christmas gift guide for 2022. Double the impact of giving this festive season by gifting thoughtful homeware presents whilst also strengthening the small businesses of the UK - what could be better?
With a range of gifts for everyone from watercolour prints to embroidery kits I'm sure you will be able to find a gift for your friends and family from this hand-picked guide.
We spend a lot of time at home during winter so homeware gifting is always a big category! These gifts are perfect for your friend who has just moved into their new home before Christmas or maybe the family who are hosting your Christmas dinner for you - you can find them all a thoughtful gift here!
I would love to see your homeware gifts in situ this year so don't forget to tag me and the brand on Instagram, you can find me at @small_business_collaborative.
DesignosaurYEAH
Living in the city centre we're keen indoor gardeners and this plant trellis fits into most pots. Wrap your climbing plant around the diplodocus's wiggly neck, and dig it into your favourite plant pot, or straight into the garden - that's right, you can use this trellis inside and out!
With its cheeky little face this wiggly dinosaur trellis will bring joy to any room and makes an excellent housewarming gift!
Sustainability is really important to us, and is considered in every design we make :)
I love how this quirky this is, and imagine people not noticing at first and then smiling when they see what it is. Perfect gift for any keen indoor or outdoor gardener in your life.
Meet Small Business Owners Karli and Jacques: Hey! We're Karli and Jacques and we make, sometimes dinosaur inspired homewares, jewellery and accessories.
Creating colourful, fun and creative pieces for your dinosaur loving child in all of us to enjoy - is what we do! We try to use recycled and recyclable materials including our packaging and almost everything is made in-house in our sunny Brighton studio.
Price Range: £3.50-75
Follow on Instagram: @designosaurYEAH
Per Mano Mia
My 'Dot Dash’ abstract print is inspired by the discolouration of old stone buildings I’ve seen out on my travels.
I love creating a calm and relaxing environment with my work. I'm a strong believer that the spaces we live in have a huge impact on our lives and wellbeing and art allows us to create character within our walls, to show our personalities, our memories and experiences.
A print is such a great way of bringing in some colour into your home, and makes a great and thoughtful gift as the receiver will remember you each time they look at it.
Meet Small Business Owner Kirsty: Per Mano Mia is my print and art business started in 2021. Per mano mia literally means 'by my hand' in Italian, Italy being one of my most favourite places on earth!!
I come from a background in printed textile design and after taking various twists and turns in my career I decided to take the plunge and start out on my own. Each of my prints starts life as an ink or acrylic painting. I take inspiration from the shapes, patterns and texture nature makes and my work is an abstract interpretation of what I see.
Price Range: £12-58
Website: https://www.permanomia.com/
Follow on Instagram: @per_mano_mia
Mind the cork
The Onda e Sol Vase Duo are contemporary, eye-catching pieces that serve as a foundation for your beautiful dried blooms while boldly expressing a minimalist “less is more” attitude.
The amber hues and made-for-each-other aesthetic will complement any room in your home - from modern, midcentury, contemporary or beach houses. Slip dried blooms and grasses into each vase for a contemporary take on incorporating nature into your indoor spaces.
I keep mine in my office next to a candle and I love the pretty shadows it cast when I light it in the morning. So peaceful and beautiful and easy to update with the seasons changing.
Meet Small Business Owner Jenny: Mind the cork is on a mission to bring nature and joy into our homes in the form of beautifully created cork products. Craftsmanship, innovation and eco-friendly design are at the heart of the business.
I started mind the cork, initially as a hobby, because I wanted to explore this most versatile, sustainable and naturally beautiful material. I aim to create work that is planet AND people-friendly, which means being inclusive and accessible, as well as considerate to our natural environment.
Price Range: £18-49
Website: https://mindthecork.com
Follow on Instagram: @mindthecork
Glosters Pottery
A beautiful speckled blush high gloss glaze mug made in the Glosters Porthmadog pottery workshop. Each piece is made by hand and as such, may vary slightly in colour and size from those pictured.
The mugs are made from specialty stoneware clay and glazes from a local supplier. The stoneware mugs are strong, and durable, and can be used in both microwaves and dishwashers without a problem.
The large mug is perfect for hot chocolate with marshmallows - or any other drink you like and the A slightly smaller version of the handmade mug, perfect for kids and adult beverages alike.
I love that this mug comes in 3 sizes, I love big mugs, and this will be added to my favourite mug rotation for sure.
Meet Small Business Owners Tom & Myfanwy: Tom & Myfanwy founded Glosters Pottery in 2014. Glosters is an affordable handmade ceramics brand building a skilled team with an eye for quality in North Wales.
Focusing on well designed functional pieces Glosters has become known for its iconic mugs.
Price Range: £4.80-80
Website: https://www.glosters.co.uk/
Follow on Instagram: @glosterspottery
Nina D
My homeware range captures the essence of Scandinavian tradition where dining is cherished and a time to re-connect with loved ones. A time to listen share stories and make memories.
Placemats and coasters are handcrafted in UK. Birch wood serving trays are handmade in Sweden and our 100% linen napkins and table runners are handmade in Lithuania. All our products are using sustainably sourced materials.
This elegant birch wood tray is handcrafted by one of Sweden’s most sought after tray manufacturer Åry Trays. Hand illustrated pattern in ochre yellow and natural tones. Named after the oldest square in Stockholm’s Old Town (Gamla Stan) with its golden facades and striking architecture. Stortorget translates to ‘the big square’. The birch wood is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Meet Small Business Owner Nina: I was born in Sweden and grew up with wonderful family traditions, especially from my Mother who delightfully set the table for celebrations and insisted we enjoyed everyday mealtimes together as family. Rituals I recognised in England when I moved here twenty-five years ago to study in London and also the spark behind my homeware business NINA D.
Each design is meticulously hand illustrated and inspired by a place or a person in Sweden. Each illustration is created by hand (never by computer) using watercolour and carefully selected paper. I create depth by layering to produce a striking two dimensional effect.
Price Range: £6-50
Website: https://nina-d.co.uk/
Follow on Instagram: @illustrationheminspiration
The Modern Crafter
Learn to embroider with the bright & merry beginner festive Peace Joy Love Kit. The pattern is hand designed by Siobhan and is printed on organic cotton which is kinder to the environment.
This joyful kit comes with everything you need to stitch the pattern including full skeins of DMC threads to give it a luxurious feel. Kits are packaged in a letter box gift sized box and gift wrapping together with personalised gift messaging is available.
Craft kits are the gift that keeps on giving, it's fun and relaxing to do and the finished product makes for an excellent thoughtful gift afterwards.
Meet Small Business Owners Rachel and Siobhan: The Modern Crafter is a design-led craft brand that provides high quality punch needle and embroidery kits for all abilities. Run by sisters Rachel & Siobhan who strive to inspire their customers to be creative and let their minds relax whilst crafting, with a finished make they can be proud of.
Everything is carefully designed by hand, made by hand and has a focus on sustainable materials such as their own brand of 100% British Wool. Siobhan studied fashion & textiles and is the designer for the brand as well as many other high street retailers. The duo are authors of Punch Needle, 15 Contemporary Projects.
Price Range: £25-75
Website: https://themoderncrafter.co.uk/
Follow on Instagram: @the_modern_crafter
Rosa Harradine
This handbroom is perfect for a variety of uses: kitchen floors, studios or workshops, hallways, vans, wooden stairs, hearths… the list goes on!
It is made by hand from broomcorn, a natural fibre, along with hemp cord and a cotton strap. It is stiff but has wispy ends so is ideal for sweeping dirt as well as dust. Made to be used and completely biodegradable at the end of its life.
Rosa's beautiful brooms remind me of traditional Korean Ramie hand brooms and I love how they are both practical and beautiful to look at.
Meet Small Business Owner Rosa: Hello, I'm Rosa. I make brushes and brooms from natural materials and aim to make pieces that are beautiful as well as useful.
I was chosen as a TOAST New Maker 2022 by the fashion and homewares brand who selected five makers demonstrating excellence in skill, originality and craftsmanship.
My long-term goal is to grow my own fibre for making brooms, as well as plants for making natural dyes. I strive to leave a small impact on the earth and this would be the ultimate in my quest for sustainability.
Price Range: £20-40
Website: rosaharradine.com
Follow on Instagram: @rosaharradine
My Papercut Forest
My Papercut Forest is an environmentally conscious design brand based in Brighton.
Their products range from craft kits and seed paper cards, to personalised boxes and miniatures. All the products are carefully crafted to bring a smile to the face of every recipient. The materials used are locally sourced and use FSC wood and paper. Founded in 2012 as a side business and re-branded as My Papercut Forest in 2018, this small business has been featured in The Guardian, Creative Boom, Prima, Mollie Makes and Good Housekeeping.
My Papercut Forest is a playground for founder Silvina De Vita’s imagination, a place to try out new ideas, artworks and designs. With a small team that helps prepare orders, every single product is thoughtfully made and packed with much love. We aim to bring fun, and to make your world a bit more creative and beautiful.
Meet Small Business Owner Silvina: A graphic designer by training, illustrator and art historian, Silvina has a big problem... she gets bored very easily! That means she’s always exploring some kind of new activity.
In 2018, Silvina decided to rebrand her business. After years of trading under her own name (which caused a lot of SEO problems), it was time for a change. Silvina was named by her mother after the Argentinian writer Silvina Ocampo. In Latin, Silvina means “from the woods or forest” so that’s how the brand came to life. Forests are her favourite place in the world. For the logo, the three trees represent her three children. They are the air to her lungs.
Price Range: £3-200
Website: https://www.mypapercutforest.co.uk/
Follow on Instagram: @mypapercutforest
Tracey Cooper
Tracey Cooper is a luxury British lifestyle brand, she designs bright, contemporary homeware & gifts all with an original piece of art at the centre of each design. All her work is bright and joyful that can bring colour, beauty and originality into the home.
By celebrating British Manufacturing, she can also ensure the highest quality fabrics and craftsmanship. All products are designed by Tracey and then manufactured in Lancashire producing a quality original product for the home.
This Bee Double Oven Glove is the perfect mix between practical, useful, and pretty - They are 100% Cotton, with polyester inner heat proof wadding and are machine washable.
Meet Small Business Owner Tracey: I am Tracey Cooper I originally trained as a Graphic Designer, but for many years have been working as a therapist within the NHS. My mindfulness illustrations have transformed from a hobby then a side hustle and now into my dream job.
Price Range: £11-55
Website: https://www.traceycooper.co.uk/
Follow on Instagram: @tracey.cooper.artist
Time and Tide Aerial
Victoria’s print collections are for spaces that are deeply rooted in nature and for people who feel grounded at the sight of the ocean.
Her photography has taken her to New Zealand, home to the UK and most recently to Norway capturing seascapes. Her collections are centred on abstract aerial shots of the magical shoreline and are often taken just before or after sunrise in the golden hour; all prints feature photographs taken by Victoria.
She works with local UK printers to produce fine art prints and cards, all of our papers are sustainably sourced and FSC certified and cards are packaged with environmentally friendly envelopes. We also offer a wide range of 100% recycled and carbon neutral papers and all packaging is plastic free.
The print Victoria sent for the shoot of this gift guide almost looks like it's painted, it has so many layers and the print quality is very high-quality.
Meet Small Business Owner Victoria: Victoria Benjafield is a self taught drone photographer and specialises in Fine Art Aerial Seascapes; she founded Time & Tide Aerial in 2020 whilst living in New Zealand over Covid as a way to travel and get into nature and a new passion was quickly born.
Her dramatic photography reminds you of the beauty of the ocean; moments dancing on moonlit shores, waking up as the sun rises with loved ones, calm moments of reflection and solitude, and offer a glimpse of adventures yet to come.
Price Range: £3.50- 180
Website: https://timeandtideaerial.com/
Follow on Instagram: @timeandtideaerial
If you'd like to see the full Christmas gift guide for 2022 please visit this link.
Have you added any of these unique homeware pieces to your wish list for Christmas 2022 or have you spotted something that would fit perfectly in a loved one's home? I would love to hear if you have supported any of the small businesses featured so don't forget to tag me on Instagram, @small_business_collaborative.
Thank you so much to all the brands who got involved this year. I've loved discovering so many new brands and as usual, kept a lot of things on my Christmas wish list.
If you also enjoyed the photography used in the gift guide then I'd like to give a huge shoutout to Emily - we had a lovely shoot at her home, creating these amazing images and if you'd like the same for your business then she is kindly offering all gift guide readers a discount if you book before the end of 2022.
You can find her offers on page 16 of the gift guide or below:
