Here’s my (mostly) hyper local gift guide for 2025
I’m trying to give more gifts that are from small businesses and here is a list of makers I love, so you can do the same.
If we’re friends who give each other presents, maybe look away now? This certainly contains either things I’ve bought for you or things I’m going to buy for you so like… don’t read it, yeah?
Ok so number one on the list isn’t local at all but we’ve been friends for 30 years so she’s… local to my heart? The rest of my recos by the way are in no particular order - this isn’t a MySpace page - but I gotta put this gal at the top of the page.
She finds, restores and fits these precious metal lockets by herself and they are gorgeous. I bought myself one for a special present to myself a couple of years ago. Have a look through her “available” highlights reel.
Katie Waggett is a photographer turned illustrator of sweary animals and her prints are so joyful. Check out her recent series of bold text screen printed over imagery found on vintage postcards.
She’s just launched some iron-on patches and these are On. My. List. These are a part of a collab with local kidswear brand Rupert and Me too!
Here’re her market dates if you want to shop in person.
Beading extraordinaire and totally extra. If you have a large or small person who loves colour then you will find something from Oana. I bought this insanely gorgeous embroidery from her last year (actually I swapped it for a pink vase) and I kept it. None for you!!
Oana will be selling at the Bull on Bell Street’s Christmas Market on 22nd Nov and Frieth School fair on 6th Dec.
If you live in and around Henley and you want charity Christmas cards, you can stop looking cos I found them for you. Frances is a papercut artist and excellent human and 20% of these beauties go to the Red Cross Gaza Crisis Appeal. They’re £2.50 each which is a ridiculous bargain for the quality. Also amazing for art - I have this beautiful print of hers waiting to go up in my studio. Wouldn’t it be perfect for an adventurous child too?
Catch Frances at The Bull On Bell Street on 15th Dec. And she's hairwrapping at Frieth and Nettlebed's fairs!
I freaking love Jenny’s zines and I will give you a review of her graphic novel, Biscuits, when I get off my phone and read it. Get a zine or five instead of Christmas cards (one friend gets a Frances card, one friend gets a Jenny zine). Show me a person who doesn’t either (or both) want a quiz about celebrity ears or to learn about feminist art history.
Holy moly, this woman is off-the-scale talented. These dried wreaths and bouquets are created fully by Lyndsay, from seed to fully formed art piece. She grows, picks, dries and arranges these confections herself. My mum instantly bought a wreath the second she laid eyes on her stall. And the ethereal flower crowns - don’t get me started. I just saw she’s got a new installation outside Flyte Bar in Henley.
Henri literally delivered this gorgeous lil soap dish to my door and if that’s not good service, I don’t know what is.
I’m saving up for one of her big bowls, I think - bloody hell, they’re nice. I know she’s about to restock if she hasn't already and she has a bunch of markets coming up - here ya go.
Annie is another gorgeous florist who grows her flowers (you amazing women! what!) and I think either a wreath or a ticket to one of her workshops would be such a beautiful present - she’s got a yoga plus wreath making one on 23rd Jan - can you imagine anything more restorative in the bleak midwinter? Also some of her wreaths literally grow 🤯
These diffusers and candles smell insanely good. I got the very last of the collab she did with Moomi Botanicals, sorry... but how cool?! Putting your dried flowers in your diffuser pot. You could defo DIY that combo by buying from both these queens.
Ok, I actually don’t want to tell you about this one because she’s my own secret but I can’t make it to the only fair she’s doing this year so I can’t compete for her stuff with you anyway. Last year I got some amazing gorgeous stuff for my friend Laura which I stashed away for her summer birthday and then I lost it in my house. It literally turned up last week so it's in the post now and here's a pic that I took just for you:
Anyway, Christine is at the Watlington Christmas market on 6th Dec.
Lastly, for more small and local business recos, follow Jenn!
Right that’s it, go and spend your Xmas gift budget on some cool handmade stuff.
I'll be at three more markets this year & I've got two workshops booked in so far - also a good pressie. I'll update my website stock when I'm done with my markets.
And if you’re reading this and thinking “wtf, Charlotte, where’s my mention?”, message me, cos I wrote this in five minute bursts and undoubtedly the second I share it, I’ll realise I forgot someone (you?! I’m sorry!)