Our New Year Small Business Gift Guide

Shop small always!

There are so many talented makers and small businesses making incredible creations on a daily basis.

To encourage more to shop small I've put together a list of small businesses that I highly recommend. I have shopped with many of these talented individuals over the last year and discovered some fabulous new creations that I've got my eye on this year. 

Enjoy having a browse of my small business New Year gift guide. Hope you find some inspiration for gifting this year...

Ooh I like That Design 

Based in Somerset, George runs small business Ooh I Like That Design and is well known for her quirky humour and creativity.  

Being a qualified graphic designer, in 2014 George decided to team that together with her quirky creativity and start her own range of cards, prints, notepads and art.  

She now sells her designs in Scribbler across the UK (wow!). I love George's gorgeous and very handy notepads perfect for writing those all important small business lists on. 

Shop list pads and the full range at www.oohilikethatdesign.com. 

Unruly Print

Andy is an amazing small business owner and supporter.  Not only did he create and co-run Makers Market From Home in lockdown, (of which we of course took part in and met him through), he also has and runs his own small printing business.  

Andy has just released his first book 'Create with Andy G' which includes 7 different activities to explore and do and is a bargain gift for a crafty friend! 

Andy also creates original prints using a variety of mediums for those that perhaps aren't as creative but can appreciate good art! 

Shop Andy's new book & all of his prints at https://andy-greenacre.co.uk/shop/

Molly Lemon Art 

Molly is my sisters best friend and debatably the most talented person I know.

Besides the fact she has the best surname going (Lemon), she also makes incredible wood engravings that she sells as limited edition prints, cards and advent calendars. They are simply stunning.  

Molly's studio is based in the Cotswolds and her artwork is inspired by the countryside and nature around her.  

Molly prides her artwork and packaging being plastic free and donates to environmental charities through her work regularly.  

Shop online at www.mollylemon.com.  

Bluejay Made 

Gilli specialises in woven wall hangings and macrame rainbows and is based in Devon.  

She has recently released a new Christmas collection full of festive decorations for your tree and home, expect velvet and sparkles galore!  

Gilli also creates and sells her very own hand spun vegan art yarn so not only can you enjoy a gorgeous piece made for you in your home, why not have a go at making your own?!

I have a pom pom macrame rainbow in my Bovey studio, its super fluffy and always helps to hug after a bad day in the office.

Shop Bluejay Made's Christmas collection and full range at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BluejayMade. 

Charlotte England

Charlotte was another maker I came across at the Rural Living Show and absolutely loved browsing her stall.

Charlotte is an award winning creator of fun and whimsical art work and applies her gorgeous designs to prints, calendars, diaries, notepads and a whole other variety of products.  

I loved Charlotte's highland cow calendar and still have my eye on it for the New Year! 

Shop her incredible artwork including the Highland Cow calendar at www.charlottengland.com. 

Moonlight Glass Art

I came across this small business after exhibiting at the Rural Living Show on the weekend and purchased one of their glass Christmas Trees as a gift for a loved one.  

I can't wait for the recipient to display the tree on their fireplace it's going to look so Christmassy with lights behind it and I know she will absolutely love it.  Yay to buying handmade and finding wonderful treasures!  

Visit Moonlight Glass Art Facebook page to find out more.

Emily Nash Illustration

I came across Emily Nash Illustration from a browse in my local gift shop, Grace Favour & Home.  

Emily is based in Bristol and creates illustrated greeting cards and paper goods selling online and through stockists across the UK and USA.

I picked up two of her gorgeous packs of Christmas cards from Grace Favour & Home today.  They are beautifully packaged in a cardboard gift box as opposed to cellophane, and I love the mouse design on the cards including a "Merry Christmouse" and "Season Squeakings".  

Shop Emily's Christmas card range and other paper products at www.emilynashillustration.com.  

The Travelling Knot

Michelle runs The Travelling Knot in Exeter and started her business at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Michelle makes and sells her original stunning pieces of macrame homeware, plant hangers and coasters, as well as DIY macrame craft kits to make your own!  Michelle also runs macrame virtual workshops.  

Last year I bought myself a Luna wallhanging craft kit and couldn't believe how soft the wool was!  I really hope one day I can get Michelle at PST to run some macrame workshops in the studio. 

Shop DIY macrame craft kits and finished pieces at www.thetravellingknot.com. 

Louise Crookenden-Johnson Ceramics 

Louise is a ceramicist and creates birds, animals and personalised pet portraits from pottery.  

She then uses her incredible talents to paint and decorate each individual decoration by hand and you can just see from the end piece how truly stunning they are!

I met Louise online through taking part in Maker Mart From Home during lockdown and she's as lovely as her creations! I absolutely LOVE her Christmas Tree and Snowman tea lights which I can just see displayed on a mantlepiece.  

To shop Louise's Christmas decorations and range head to www.louisecrookendenjohnson.uk. 

The Sunshine Bindery

The Sunshine Bindery is ran by Mell who describes herself as a quirky, little dreamer.

She is passionate about spreading as much sunshine as possible and does this through her gorgeous illustrated paper goods, hand crafted journals and eco friendly stationery.

I absolutely love Mells' designs and after meeting her at Hestercombe Christmas market subsequently came back with 2 packs of hand illustrated Christmas cards amongst a host of other things!

Check out Mell's gorgeous designs at www.thesunshinebindery.co.uk. 

Stitching Me Softly 

The lovely Emma (great name) runs Stitching Me Softly from her studio in Bristol.  

Emma creates crochet based craft kits for teens and adults to enjoy.  From friendship bracelet making to plant pots to bobble hats, there's bound to be something you can enjoy crafting up this winter.  

If you're local to Bristol, Emma also runs crochet workshops and one to one lessons (sooo wish I lived closer). 

To browse Emma's range of kits and to find out more about her workshops head to www.stitchingmesoftly.co.uk.  

Draw Cut Print 

I am lucky enough to have Trevor, the maker behind Draw Cut Print as my Princes Trust mentor supporting me and my business on their Enterprise programme.  

Trevor's studio is based in Mortenhampstead on his farm where he rears turkeys, chicks and pigs amongst many other animals, all of which inspire his art work.  

Trevor creates limited edition prints and cards using original printing techniques. I love and have bought his Robin Christmas cards this year, of which 50p from each card is donated to Young Minds UK.  

Get your hands on some Robin Christmas cards and handmade prints at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/DrawCutPrint

The Dartmoor Artist

Based on Dartmoor, lovely Sarah has just been announced as part of the smallbiz100 for Small Business Saturday.  

Her small business all started after teaching herself to paint as she recovered from spinal surgery.  

Sarah creates art and homeware inspired by the Great British countryside.  I particularly love Sarah's Christmas handmade decorations, they would look perfect on the tree for years to come!  

Shop these beautiful decs and more at www.thedartmoorartist.co.uk. 

Annabel Rose Textiles 

Annabel creates artwork, fabric design and homewares inspired by the British countryside.  

She is based in Somerset on a farm and enjoys country life from her Shepherd Hut studio (cute!), which you can definitely see inspires her gorgeous product range.  

Annabel is dedicated to supporting British manufacturing and all of her products are printed and produced int he UK on 100% cotton.  I love Annabel's range of homemade aprons and definitely have my eye on them for a future gift! 

Shop Annabel's aprons and full product range at www.annabelrosetextiles.co.uk. 

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Thanks for reading my small business New Year gift guide. You can shop Pom Stitch Tassel gifts here.

Emma x