Welcome to our very first Christmas guide! Hopefully we'll give you some good ideas for Christmas gifts and introduce you to some amazing small businesses that you may not have heard of before. Without further ado, let's start!
Gifts for foodies
Do they love to cook from scratch? Do they have a sweet tooth or like to try new things? Check out the following ideas for some inspiration!
- • Artisan chocolate. Can you ever go wrong with it? Choose between this gorgeous Japanese truffle selection box by Okashi 2 Sweets, this super cute floral milk chocolate gift by Cocoa Pod or this pink, milk & dark champagne truffle selection by Willie's Cacao. I want them all??
- • I just love "make your own" kits. They are so creative and you get to eat what you made, which is such a bonus. Choose between a mushroom growing kit by Grocycle for those oyster mushroom addicts (guilty!), a chilli sauce making kit by the Spicery for those who always go for the spiciest thing on the menu, or a chorizo making kit by Spicely Does it for the carnivores.
- • Perhaps they are more about drinking copious amounts of beer while watching football, in which case they might appreciate some special snacks selection box by Serious Pig (with vegetarian & vegan options too!). Or they might enjoy making their own cocktails, so a home bar garnish set by the Garnish Company will just do the trick.
- • If they've been talking about how they want to start making their own pasta for ages, this ravioli stamp from The River Cafe might be just what they need to get going?
Gifts for makers
You know who I'm talking about. That person who picks up a new craft every weekend, and generally prefers to make their own things rather than buy them. Here's some really good Christmas gift ideas that will make their heart sing!
- • Did they buy a sewing machine during the pandemic, and end up completely falling in love with dressmaking? Get them a dress pattern from The Patterns Room (a Greek business!). All patterns handily come in a pdf downloadable file, so it's perfect for any last minute Christmas gift shopping! Look at these beautiful clothes. Maybe you can convince them to make a dress for you too?
- • Are they an avid bread baker? If they haven't delved into the world of baguettes and ciabattas yet, a baker's couche or proofing cloth from The Bread Company might be just what they need to start.
- • DIY kits are the absolute best for crafters. Just pick one, from mosaics (I really like this lemon one from Montet Mosaics) to embroidery (look at all these gorgeous options from Annie Morris). I can guarantee you, you’ll make the crafter in your life very happy.
- • If you are frantically looking for a last-minute gift, a gift card is always a good idea. Obby offers over 2,500 classes and workshops, from calligraphy and floristry to pottery and woodworking. They are bound to find something they love.
Gifts for Earth lovers
I'd hope that all of us care about the environment but perhaps some of us do more than others to live sustainably. However, whether your friend is an Earth lover or not, the following gift ideas will definitely be of use to them!
- • I don't know if Ocean Bottle can be classified as a small business, but their mission needs to be shared far and wide, as the sale of each Ocean Bottle funds the collection of 1000 plastic bottles from the ocean. Isn’t that cool? And frankly, their water bottles look really sleek and come in a range of colours to choose from.
- • How about a cute reusable glass straw from Etsy Seller Scarlet Impressions?
-
• What even is a seed bomb, I hear you ask? Typically a little ball of mud containing lots of wildflower seeds. Wildflowers are essential for bees to collect nectar and pollen and they also act as a shelter for them. All you need to do to help grow more wildflowers is scatter them around onto soil and let nature do its work. These heart-shaped seed bombs by Etsy Seller Rosie In The Dell are simply adorable and would make a lovely gift.
-
• If the person you are buying a gift for likes crafting AND they care about the environment, look no further. They will love this beeswax food wrap making kit from Filberts of Dorset! Beeswax wraps can be used in place of cling film as a reusable alternative and they are super fun to make.
Gifts for home lovers
They love being at home, decorating it, taking care of it: their home is their sanctuary. Here are some gift ideas for the homebody in your life:
- • Ok, how about this little Christmas tree decoration from yours truly? This is the very first homeware product that I’ve designed myself and is of course made in-house (literally in my house, that’s where my studio is 😊 ) If your gift recipient likes minimal, Nordic décor, I have a feeling they will like this very much. Plus they get to keep it forever and put it on display for years to come.
- • Candles, candles, candles. Need I say more? Who doesn’t love candles? If you have no idea what they like, this bestseller set with lavender, chai latte and ginger & lemongrass from Vegan Bunny is most likely to do the job. I’ve purchased these myself for a gift and the recipient loved them!
- • Candles create the cosiest atmosphere, particularly during these dark winter days. These jesmonite tealight holders by Ruby Melo (yes, that’s me again!) would make a beautiful gift for someone who likes modern and minimal home décor.
- • Ceramic pieces always make such unique gifts. You can opt for a more rustic look with these gorgeous Sea side mugs from Physis Techne (I got them for my grandparents last year and they LOVED them!) or maybe go for a more playful feel with these Egg spoon rests from Elisa Ceramics.
Pampering gifts
The person you are shopping for might value some relaxation (and this person might be yourself, how about some self-care?)
- • This aromatherapy room & linen spray from Corinne Taylor is made used essential oils and is designed to freshen the air and lift the mood. It’s been in my shopping list for a while and I think I might be gifting this to myself for this Christmas!
- • I am a huge fan of selection boxes. Whether it’s different flavours of chocolate, different scents of candles, or in this case, lots of cute soaps with different ingredients and scents, it is such a nice way for someone to try a variety of different things. Designed and made by myself in my home studio, and beautifully presented in a gift box, this adorable luxury soap set was made to be gifted:
- • Although I’ll admit I am not into matcha (it just tastes like grass to me??), there’s something unique about preparing a cup of matcha tea, it does feel like a proper ceremony. Perhaps this matcha starter set from Moya Matcha, which includes a bamboo whisk, a ceramic matcha bowl and some matcha tea would be a nice gift for someone to bring some calm into their morning routine?
- • How about treating them to a delicious hot chocolate set by Cocoa Eleven, a small business based in Lancashire. This assortment contains their milk, dark and white hot chocolate so it will be a crowd pleaser!
- • I came across SBTRCT when I was looking for a skincare option to add to the list. I hadn’t heard of them before but it looks like it has been voted the best zero waste skincare brand for 2022. Given that the beauty industry produces 120 billion units of packaging a year, having a skincare brand be completely zero waste is quite the achievement, and perhaps their discovery set would make a wonderful pampering gift for your eco-warrior friend.
Well, that's pretty much it for this year. Hope you found some products to add to your gift shopping list or at the very least some inspiration!
Please subscribe to the Ruby Melo newsletter!