Tag: Shop small

African Artisan Homeware at Motherland Fans

African Artisan Homeware at Motherland Fans

Motherland Fans is a British based business offering a range of African artisan accessories, jewellery and homeware; either African inspired or made with West African cloth and materials. Learn more about this brilliant shop, why you should shop small and why plants can make the 

Unique Easter gifts – for people that have had enough of chocolate (whatt??)

Unique Easter gifts – for people that have had enough of chocolate (whatt??)

‘I don’t like chocolate’ might just be one of the most controversial things you can say, something at the very least that will stop a conversation cold 🙂 Easter is such a fun time of year, we’ve waved goodbye to winter and pastels, daffodils and 

Fun Easter gifts for kids – Easter gift guide

Fun Easter gifts for kids – Easter gift guide

Easter is THE time for indulgence and celebration and for kids that means chocolate and good times during the school holidays.  If you’re on the hunt for fun Easter gifts for kids, to keep little hands busy, engaged and excited we’ve got the recommendations for you. Ways to make Easter the most egg-celent time of year. Chocolate treat boxes to crafts; Easter egg hunts to dress up, we’ve got tons of ideas. 

Milky Panda – Cute Bunny Rabbit Carrot Kawaii Novelty pen  

These bunny carrot pens will be the cutest addition to your Easter crafts table. Something they can keep and use again and again.

Emma Bakes Elevate This – Easter Treat Box

This Easter Treat Box is playful, fun and full of delicious Easter crowd pleasers, plus an Easter game too. Mini eggs, creme eggs, lindt bunnies, jelly beans – what will they reach for first? 

The Rusty Hare – Easter Egg hunt Clue Cards

Personalised Easter Egg Hunt cards. A fab idea to keep everyone entertained and something you don’t need to make yourself, win win!

Colton Crafts Co – Paint Your Own Easter craft kit

This craft kit is a fun way to celebrate the build up to the festivities and help decorate the house when the Easter bunny comes calling.

Pebblelane Bath Bombs – Chick bath bombs 

Bringing Easter cuteness to bath time. Bring the fun to all of your Easter activities.

Little T United Kingdom – Personalised Easter bunny egg holder

The kids will love these cute Easter egg holders, anything with their name on is always a winner.

Flourish Store Gifts – Personalised bunny ears 

They’ll feel like doing the bunny hop for hours with these cuties on. 

Bergin and Bath – Needle felting kit – Easter Egg decorations 

A gorgeous and fun craft idea to get everyone egg-cited for Easter and all that chocolate.

Colour by Crayon – Easter Crayon gift set 

The perfect companion for a little drawing down time this Easter. Such cute crayon figures the kids will love.

Emma Bakes Elevate This – Mini eggs white chocolate fudge

Easter crowd pleaser – these mini eggs white chocolate fudge are a playful twist on the favourites and will make a colourful addition to the Easter table. 

Tweedside Design Co – Personalised Rabbit Easter gift bag 

Something to store all of their treasured eggs in, if they last that long 🙂

Looking for fun Easter baking to do with the kiddies? Try our Easter Nest Doughnuts or our Mini egg ice-cream.

Always looking for gift inspiration? Join our mailing list for gifting tips all year round, for every occasion:

Gifts to help relax and unwind – Mother’s Day inspiration

Gifts to help relax and unwind – Mother’s Day inspiration

Mother’s Day is a special time of year when you can treat your Mum, or any special woman in your life and show how much they mean to you. You want to buy something they’ll love and that is meaningful and will encourage them to 

Baby Arc – unique baby clothes ideas

Baby Arc – unique baby clothes ideas

Baby Arc is a small, family run business that offers baby clothing, matching parent and child clothing and accessories. Find out how they got started, their passions for making unique baby clothes and the best inspirations for gifts for the whole family  Visit Baby Arc 

Afro Puff Ltd – Afro-centric children’s clothing

Afro Puff Ltd – Afro-centric children’s clothing

Tamika runs Afro Puff Ltd and makes Afro-centric children’s clothing using a variety of African print fabrics. Learn about the inspiration behind Tamika’s designs, see tons of her brilliant products and read her passion for shopping small here. 

Check out Afro Puff Ltd on Instagram 

Meet Tamika, small business owner of Afro Puff Ltd

Tell us a little bit about Afro Puff Ltd.

How did you get into creating Afro-centric children’s clothing?

I’ve always loved the colour and vibrancy of African print fabrics. I love finding out about the stories and meanings behind some of the designs.  

I  am from the Caribbean so didn’t grow up with the fabrics around me but admired them from afar.  In my early 20s I would ask friends to bring back fabric for me whenever they would return on family trips to Africa.  When I decided to make children’s clothing, it wasn’t even a conscious thought that I would specifically use African print, for me, it was already a given. 

Using the fabrics has allowed me to feel closer to my African heritage and putting these prints in the mainstream with simple and fun to wear designs allows parents and children to feel connected to rich African heritage and stories.  If we see more of these prints out there, it becomes the norm and not just something we wear during black history month for example.  Children will feel pride in wearing these beautiful prints

Afro-centric children’s clothing, Afro Puff Ltd
Gorgeous skirt, gorgeously modelled. Afro Puff Ltd

Why do you think it’s important to support small businesses?

Supporting small businesses gives us the opportunity to really appreciate creativity, variety and difference.  When someone makes a product in a small business, a lot of love and care goes into the whole production process and this is what makes it extra special for me.  Of ten you find products tend to be one of a kind, especially if they’re hand made – it’s so difficult to get exactly the same design for every item.  For me, this is even more relevant because although someone can choose the same fabric, depending where I cut the patterns on the fabric, you could end up with a totally different looking piece.

What do you think makes a great gift?

Finding something unique is always important when I’m choosing gifts.  You want it to be special and maybe something you wouldn’t necessarily come across in a high street shop. You want it to stand out and certainly have a wow factor. 

Gift ideas for new Mums, Afro Puff Ltd

What are your top tips for finding the right gift for someone?

Start early!  Listen to what people are saying to you so you can really find out what they need or would want even if they don’t think they do.  I try as well to make a little note on my phone of the item or where to find it so that I’m not scabbling around at the last minute.

What are your recommendations for favourite places to buy gifts?

I love Etsy, UK Jamii, Janet’s list and I save posts that I come across on Instagram with gift ideas.  It’s an all year round thing!

Unique range of face masks, Afro Puff Ltd

What is the best gift you have ever received?

I love to travel so on my 30th birthday, my husband surprised me with a family trip to Spain and a special video collage of messages from friends and family that he’d put together on a really soppy backing track – I cried like a baby!  It was so lovely.

Visit Afro Puff shop on Etsy for more gifting ideas 

I love Tamika’s designs using African textiles and prints. The quality of her products look amazing and the stories behind the prints, the connection to heritage and the pride in your identity in my opinion make these clothes even more special. Amazing shop full of unique clothes for your little ones. 

If you’re on the hunt for gifts for new parents and want to pair one of these with some tasty treats, check out Emma Bakes Elevate This, vegan, dairy and gluten free confectionery and gift hampers for every occasion.

Looking for other unique gift ideas? Take a look at my Indie Birthday gift ideas – for all the quirky, fun gals in your life or Vegan Birthday Hamper – EmmaBakes gift ideas

Looking for gift ideas. Join our mailing list for tons of suggestions so that you’re never be scratching your head again.

Unique gift ideas to wish them a Happy Birthday

Unique gift ideas to wish them a Happy Birthday

Birthdays seem to come round so fast, at least it always seems like they do. If you’re anything like us, it can seem daunting to come up with thoughtful and unique gift ideas each year that they’ll love. If this sounds familiar, our unique gift 

Topbroidery – unique jewellery and gift ideas

Topbroidery – unique jewellery and gift ideas

Kirsty runs Topbroidery, a small business based in Glasgow, Scotland, specialising in Polymer Clay Earrings. Unique Jewellery, Keepsakes and Embroidery. Topbroidery also provide personalised gifts too. Learn more about the range of clothing, jewellery and keepsakes Toproidery offers; how it all began with ‘groatie-buckies’ and 

Indie Birthday gift ideas – for all the quirky, fun gals in your life

Indie Birthday gift ideas – for all the quirky, fun gals in your life

Birthdays seem to come round so fast, at least it always seems like they do. If you’re anything like us, it can seem daunting to come up with thoughtful and unique ideas each year that they’ll love. Our Indie Birthday gift ideas collection should help you out and give tons of inspiration for all the quirky, fun gals in your life. For people that have their own style and want something a bit more unique than your typical gift ideas. 

There are some fab small businesses shown here, so if you see something you like, be sure to check out their whole shop too. So much creativity, you won’t be stumped for gift ideas again! 🙂 

Childstar Samantha – Black cat print with Rainbows 

A fun and vibrant illustration to brighten up their room. If they love Bowie and cats, this is definitely one for them.

Emma Bakes Elevate This – Mini Birthday Cake chocolates 

The perfect postal present to send some birthday love. Six handmade and decorated Birthday cake chocolates, finished with white chocolate drizzle and sprinkles to recreate that classic Birthday cake look.

Angie Beal designs – Jeff Goldblum wrapping paper

Original designs from beloved 80s and 90s cult classics. A perfect way to wrap gifts with tons of personality.

Laura Danby – Schnauzer Dog brooch

A beautifully crafted, quirky acrylic brooch – the perfect statement jewellery gift for dog lovers

The Blank record store – Retro personalised mixed tape

The enduring gesture of the mixed tape is just as loved as ever. If you’re looking for personal and thoughtful indie birthday gift ideas, this is one to check out.

YUK FUN Long Dog tote bag

Bursting with personality, check out this playfully designed tote bag – fab and unique indie birthday gifts all round.

Toastdkits – S’mores gifting kits

A playful DIY s’mores gift for foodie lovers.

Floral Crafty Designs – Fox earrings

Cute polymer clay earrings. Brilliant indie birthday gift ideas for animal lovers

Maple and Grace – craft quote pencils

The perfect gift for the crafter in your life. A selection cute pink pencils with crafting quotes they’ll love

Emma Bakes Elevate This – White Chocolate gift box

Handmade white chocolate truffles finished with designs inspired by retro sweets. Cookies & Cream, Jazzies and Jelly Beans, what would be their favourite? A unique gift for milky bar lovers everywhere.

Origami Bloom – Rainbow paper tulips

Lovingly crafted, a bright and beautiful bouquet of origami flowers. A quirky twist on the classics

Eva Fay designs – Hexagon stud earrings 

Neutral tones with a splash of gold. These unique earrings would make a gorgeous gift

All of the indie Birthday gift ideas featured here are created and sold by small independent businesses. Show them some love by shopping small and getting something truly memorable for their Birthday.

Looking for more unique gift ideas for special occasions? Click here to join our mailing list so you won’t miss out ever again.

Looking for other gift inspiration? Check out Chocolate gift ideas – EmmaBakes selection box or Vegan self-care from Etsy. Taking care of yourself and our environment. Win, win.

Vegan friendly Valentine’s – a sustainable gift guide

Vegan friendly Valentine’s – a sustainable gift guide

Valentine’s just has a way of sneaking up on you. It feels like no sooner have we celebrated New Year than its February 1st and eyes turn to Valentine’s Day. Be it celebrating love for that special someone or for all of the special besties