Now more than ever, small independents need your support. #shopsmall has been popping up all over Instagram this week.
I feel that the internet giants don’t need our help this Christmas but the lovely small independent retailers who make our high streets a bit different and the little online businesses who make and sell in small quantities definitely do.
With this in mind I am making a conscious effort this year to do as much of my gift buying as possible with small independent retailers. Over the coming weeks I will be sharing some of my favourite artists, designers, makers and and small interesting retailers with you.
This weekend we were due to be participating in a fabulous Artisans Pop Up in the lovely village of Minchinhampton, sadly it has been postponed due to lockdown #2, however we are hoping to reconvene in the spring. For a small village there is a lot of talent! and our group only scratches the surface of the talented bunch residing in these valleys. So I am starting off with sharing the work of some of my very talented friends who were due to appear at our artisans pop up this weekend.
Nicki Schmiegelow specialises in beautiful lambswool felted knits, her scarves are easily identifiable and it always makes me smile when I see people in stroud wearing one. As a project Nicki asked all of her fellow artisans to choose colours and a pattern for their own scarf and she knitted it. we were all quite different and I think each one was very definitely an extension of personality - it goes without saying mine is blue and pink !! Nicki also offers a bespoke service , which is the ultimate personalised gift.
cotswold brown hare fine art print £85
wild garlic hare fine art print £75
chrstmas cards in support of food bank £5
Gemma Pitman is an artist specialising in wildlife Within her animal series there is a ‘map’ or ancient track to be found in each piece. she marries the location with the animal linked to that area.. I love Gemma’s hare paintings. This year Gemma has designed some fabulous Christmas cards with a donation from every pack going to food bank.
individual soaps £5.95 each
body oil £18
soap bundle £15
Fiona from Soap Folk has had to move into a larger soapery this year. Her organic certified soaps are the absolute perfect stocking filler - as all of my family will testify ! Gorgeous packaging designed by the lovely Susie Hetherington (fellow artisan) and heavenly ingredients and scents are why Fiona sells out within a day at every artisan event we do. My absolute favourite product though is Fionas Rosehip and safflower body oil, gentle, nourishing and soothing it would be a treat in any Christmas stocking.
Gemmas cow fine art print £65
highlanders in the shade fine art print 355
queuing for winston’s original oil
Galina Gardiner is an artist well known in our valleys, her cow paintings capture the very essence of the village of minchinhampton where she lives. The village plays host to a family of highland cattle who move around as a family unit in the summer months when the cows are free to roam the common. Galina’s paintings are beautiful and make you smile every time you look at them, I especially love her big food paintings as Winstones ice cream holds a special place in my heart!
stoneware dishes from £7
stoneware dishes from £12
stoneware dishes from £12
You all know how partial I am to Starling pots ceramics, I love them so much I added them to the website!
cashmere cable kit socks £36
angel wing linen top £40
sheepskin hot water bottle £60
Sophie also co owns another successful business called hughug which sells gorgeous handmade sheepskin hotties and booties for babies alongside ethically sourced clothing printed with cool motifs. - I keep awaiting for miss B to grow out of the lightening bolt linen t-shirt she has so I can have it!!!!
great tit original artwork £240
‘Queen of the waterways’ fine art print £50
Christmas cards £2.50 each or £8 set of 5
Stephen Baxter is a wildlife artist inspired by the beauty and peace of nature. At his happiest in a woodland or by a lake listening to the sounds of birds. Stephen creates and sells original artworks, fine art prints and beautiful cards.
Carol Honess is an artist and printmaker inspired by the natural world. Ink drawings, ferns, and seedbeds are printed in my favourite tones of smokey blues to create cards, original artworks and textiles. From £15