I love visiting independent stores and gift markets at any time of the year, to wander round looking at the treasure trove of loveliness and finding beautiful presents for loved ones - and little treats for myself! But at Christmas I think independents really come into their own. The stores are beautifully decorated, the gift stalls are fabulously festive and there is always a warm welcome! They've been adding to the loveliness all year... It's just really special and I know they are waiting for you to pop along and give them their time to shine!
Today is my absolute favourite day of Just A Card Indie Week, because it's the day I get to shout about my favourite independent businesses! All of these designers, makers and independent stores are doing an incredible job of enriching our lives through creativity and / or community. This year I've decided to focus on independents who are local to me. I've created a little paragraph about each, but please take a look at their shops and social media to find out more. You might just find some fabulous Christmas gift ideas...
Little Red Craft Room
Copyright Little Red Craft Room
Claire is the chief creator at the Little Red Craft Room. She works using mainly cards and papers, but she also enjoys taking a mixed media approach to her products and often includes wooden embellishments, buttons and enamelled elements. Claire particularly loves to make bespoke orders and says, "It’s such a privilege to be asked to create something unique and special."
Winnie & Olive
Copyright Winnie & Olive
Winnie & Olive is a flower shop in Kinver and a gift shop in Wall Heath run by Heather with the help of her mother, Vanessa and their team. Heather says that Winnie & Olive is named after her great Grandmothers in honour of her heritage and their traditions of creativity and customer service. Heather loves to paint and has found her niche in painting unwanted furniture creating a hub for the craft, while Vanessa focusses on floristry using only British grown flowers. The stores support many local artists, makers and designers with a focus on looking after the planet. Heather says she loves hearing what her customers think of her shop and is shaping her business based on what they ask for.
Copyright Vicky Yorke Designs
Winnie & Olive is also the exclusive stockist of my eco-friendly handmade ornaments this Christmas.
Rebecca Handy Jewellery
Copyright Rebecca Handy
Rebecca's love for the coast and the British countryside are her main inspiration. Each piece of jewellery is designed for you to capture your own treasured memories with handcrafted nature themed keepsakes. Her jewellery is created by hand with time, care and attention in her private studio just a stone's throw away from nearby fields and woodland.
Horsefair Vintage
Copyright Horsefair Vintage
Amanda runs Horsefair Vintage, a Worcestershire store with up-cycling furniture at its core and expert advice on hand about all stocked products.
Through The Hoop
Copyright Through The Hoop
Jen makes beautiful wire word hoops, signs and keepsakes. She has sadly already closed her 2022 Christmas book due to high demand ( - go Jen!), but she has other lovely pieces in stock to celebrate your special occasions and milestones.
https://mademe.co.uk/shop/through-the-hoop/
Laura Marie Aromas
Copyright Laura Marie Aromas
Alex is at the head of this family run small business located in the heart of Worcestershire. She makes h
andmade natural soaps, lip balms, bath salts, bath dust, wax melts and aroma crystals, which all smell incredible and feel amazing to use! Plus there are doggy soaps and doggy balms to pamper your pooches too!
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lauramariearomas
Instagram @lauramariearomas
Glass Art Designs
Copyright Glass Art Designs
Beckie
loves creating unique and beautiful fused glass art. Everything she makes is individually hand-crafted in her studio in the Worcestershire countryside. She's inspired by the beauty of the natural world and light shining through coloured glass. Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/GlassArtistUK
The Farmers Den
Copyright The Farmers Den
A warm welcome and a tasty bite awaits you at The Farmers Den, Cookley, an independent coffee shop offering locally sourced products including light lunches and breakfast sandwiches. Or if you prefer, pop in for a hot drink and a yummy cake!
Crafted Preserves
Copyright Crafted Preserves
Located in Stourbridge between The Black Country and the rolling hills of Worcestershire, Pete & Levene turn freshly picked fruit into the most delicious preserves. They say, "We experimented not only with the apples and vegetables from our own garden, but with fruits gathered from hedgerows, other produce grown by friends and neighbours, as well as seeking out herbs, spices and more exotic things from far and wide." The result is a truly delicious selection of jam, which makes a lovely gift that can be enjoyed at any time of year.
www.craftedpreserves.co.uk
Facebook Crafted Preserves
Country Kate
Country Kate is an independent gift shop, based within the charming village of Kinver. Kate has always had a love for arts, crafts and the countryside. She studied art and textiles, which inevitably led her to set up 'Country Kate' in 2015. She began by making all the items by hand, but soon realised that she couldn't keep up with customer demand. Now she supports a huge number of British craft businesses, selling products from her treasure trove shop! All items are sourced because of their handmade nature, and to support small independent businesses. Earlier this year I was lucky enough to work with Kate to create a bespoke illustration, which acts as a shopfront for her newly revamped online store.
Copyright Country Kate
Pop over to the Country Kate website to see a super-cute animated version of this illustration - and shop all of the lovely products at Country Kate!
www.countrykate.co.uk
Instagram @countrykategifts
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Countrykate1
Webbs Garden Centres
Copyright Webbs Garden Centres
The Webbs story goes back to the mid-nineteenth century when the family were seed merchants in Wordsley, Stourbridge. The name Webbs came to stand for unwavering quality and soon led to becoming royally appointed seedsmen to the Queen. Now the dedicated team at Webbs continue the story in their three award-winning garden centres - in Wychbold, West Hagley & Cheltenham and by offering the same high standards to customers across the UK through online shopping. As an independent family company Webbs offers help, advice and most of all great quality. I'm very grateful to Webbs for their support of my licensed products over the years, previously stocking my entire 'Sand Dunes' gift collection (in collaboration with Widdop) and today stocking a selection of my mug collection made in collaboration with Captivate Brands. As well as beautiful garden centres, gift shops and cafes, Webbs also host seasonal events, such as The Enchanted Gardens and Hygge Dining Igloos (pictured), which are open this Christmas. I actually went to both last year and would highly recommend for a really festive experience. Check out the Webbs website and social media for more information. 
Me and my 'Sand Dunes' gift collection in a Webbs garden centre
One of my mugs spotted in Webbs Garden Centre, West Hagley
Instagram @webbsgc
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/webbsgardencentres
There are SO many amazing small businesses that I know I will have forgotten some really special ones... and for that I am truly sorry. (Also, this has taken rather longer than anticipated to pull together and I do have to get back to my own small biz...😃) So, if you are a small independent business please feel free to pop over to my post on Facebook or Instagram and list it in the comments there. I really do want you all to shine this festive season - you deserve it! xx
Please note this post is not sponsored.
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