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ALL PRESENT AND CORRECT Our annual gift guide is back
STAR DECORATIONS, £5 EACH These bespoke ceramic stars are made from high-fi red stoneware clay and fi nished with a shiny glaze From Sarah Glazier Cermics, Whitchurch; www.sarahglazierceramics.co.uk
MILES HART PHOTOGRAPHY ©
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Star gifts
Can you believe it’s almost gift-giving season already? Here’s our pick of indie-tastic, genderneutral, hyperlocal presents to surprise your favourite people with this Christmas
This wool mix sophisticated coat is a stylish winter staple From The Box Edit Boutique, Goodsheds, Barry; www.boxeditboutique.co.uk BAGS AND CLUTCHES, FROM £49 Chic and sleek with bags of attitude
IHKYRA COAT, £100
BEAR HAT AND SCARF COMBO, £55 Catrin Ebbsworth’s handmade cosy knits are as adorable as they are practical From Cat’s Hats, Cardiff ; From Barney & Beau, Cardiff ; www.barneyandbeau.com From Barney & Beau, Cardiff ; www.barneyandbeau.com CLUTCHES AND PURSE, FROM £25 PURSE, FROM £25 The Equality Collection, The Equality Collection, made locally, aims to raise made locally, aims to raise awareness for gender equality awareness for gender equality and supports women and and supports women and girls in poverty From Eliza Eliza, Pentyrch; From Eliza Eliza, Pentyrch; www.elizaelizauk.com www.elizaelizauk.com
SIMPLISTIC WOLF SWEATSHIRT, £35 Howl you doin? A super-soft Howl you doin? A super-soft crew neck sweatshirt featuring a crew neck sweatshirt featuring a geo wolf design geo wolf design www.etsy.com/shop/catshatsshop
From Illustrate, Morgan Arcade; From Illustrate, Morgan Arcade;
www.illustrate.co.uk www.illustrate.co.uk
Humanos – a Cardiff -based streetwear fashion brand – creates abstract, creative and modern designs From Humanos, city centre; www.humanos-fashion.com
JUTE TOTEBAG, £33 Handmade, trendy and good for the environment – what more do you need? The Green Frog Vegan Store, Roath; www.thegreenfrogveganstore.com GLITTER LOGO T-SHIRT, £20
PLAITED HAIRBANDS, FROM £34 Upgrade your outfi t with one of these colourful, mood-lifting statement bands From Madog Millinery, Cardiff ; www.madogmillinery.co.uk
MUSTARD SCARF, £12.50 Stay warm and modish, with a pop of colour, wrapped up in this beauty From Stwff -Stuff , High Street, COLOUR-CHANGING UMBRELLA, £15.95 When it rains, each leaf on this design bursts into colour. The umbrella also has storm-proof reinforced fi breglass ribs – two reasons to be joyful From Boo Brolly, Penarth; www.boobrolly.co.uk
CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES
TORCALON T-SHIRT, £22 From a local ethical clothing Cowbridge; www.stwff -stuff .co.uk
brand comes this striking tattoo design, made with 100 per cent organic cotton From Rhinwedd, Bute Street; www.rhinwedd.cymru www.rhinwedd.cymru
MABEL SHEPPARD GLOVES, £49 these lightning-design gloves From Kiti, Pontcanna; www.kiticymru.com
WIDE BRIM HATS, £85 In her studio in Llandaff , Erin Maddocks creates headpieces and hair accessories, from fedoras to scrunchies From Madog Millinery, Cardiff ; www.madogmillinery.co.uk
BTWS AND SHWS, FROM £199 BTWS AND SHWS, FROM £199Getting serious Bowie vibes from
Funky, made-to-measure footwear that’ll fi t any manner of feet, no matter how wonky or odd shaped. Made by Anna Henderson in Pontcanna From Bwts a Shws Anna, available from Royal Arcade; @bwtsashwsanna
KIMONO, £39.99 Beautifully soft, these kimonos come in one generous size but are fl attering on all From Nest, Heol-Y-Deri, Rhiwbina; www.nestcardiff .co.uk
FASHION VANILLA SILK SCARF, £60 If you’re buying for someone with a thing for luxury accessories, this Karen Mabon scarf could brighten up their Christmas From Kiti, Pontcanna; www.kiticymru.com KATIE LOXTON POUCH, £14.99 Shimmer into the season with this metallic gold clutch, fi nished with the sentiment ‘time to shine’ From Zia Boutique, Mermaid Quay; www.zia-boutique.co.uk
This A4 print is by artist and building historian Bethan Scorey, who lives in Splott and has a studio space at O Da Nos Da in the city From Bethan Scorey, Cardiff ; www.bethanscorey.bigcartel.com
WELSH WITCHES PRINT, £25 Canton-based illustrator Efa Lois’s artwork mainly Canton-based illustrator Efa Lois’s artwork mainly positivity. This A2 print is one of her most popular positivity. This A2 print is one of her most popular pieces, depicting 30 witches from Welsh folklore pieces, depicting 30 witches from Welsh folklore GLASS ART, £14.50 Handmade glass designs which colour, form and texture From Gray Glass, The Bone Yard Studios; @grayglass1
CARDIFF ‘PARK HOUSE’ ILLUSTRATION, £10
focuses on 70s aesthetics, Welsh mythology and focuses on 70s aesthetics, Welsh mythology and are unique and innovative in
From Efa Lois, Canton; www.efalois.cymru From Efa Lois, Canton; www.efalois.cymru
MORE THAN YOUR OPINION PRINT, £8 Local artist Kayleigh Fisher launched Obscene Self Love from her passion for empowering people – especially women. Fierce, feminine, unapologetic affi rmations are at the forefront of her work From Obscene Self Love, Roath; www. obsceneselfl ove.com
BESPOKE ILLUSTRATIONS, FROM £12 BESPOKE ILLUSTRATIONS, FROM £12 Minimalist, bespoke illustrations by Llandaff -based Minimalist, bespoke illustrations by Llandaff -based artist Charlotte Lloyd to bring a little simplicity artist Charlotte Lloyd to bring a little simplicity during this curious time during this curious time From CL Illustrates, Llandaff ; @cl.illustrates From CL Illustrates, Llandaff ; @cl.illustrates
MEMORY BOXES, FROM £95 FOR COMMISSIONS We all have sentimental items in our drawers at home; Canton-based artist Katherine Jones came up with the idea of commissioning memory boxes, assembling these meaningful artefacts into bespoke pieces of art to showcase them beautifully From Katherine Jones, Canton; www.katherinemgjones.com
O MA BYWYD MOR BRAF! PRINT, £14 Cardiff mum Sara Hampton-Jones recently collaborated with John Lewis to decorate their baby-changing and feeding baby-changing and feeding area with her prints From Shnwcs, The Heath; www.shnwcs.etsy.com SNOWDOMES, £45 Aren’t these delicately puttogether pieces the cutest? From Buddug, Warwick Studios; www.buddug.com
ART
CHRISTMAS ACCESSORIES, FROM £2.50 Handmade festive creations, from wooden star decorations and cards to earrings and art, are aplenty at Buddug From Buddug, Warwick Studios; www.buddug.com
WIRE ROBIN, £45 Manipulating wire into recognisable, one-of-a-kind sculptures is Barry-based artist Nina Lazarou’s forte From Wireworks by Nina Lazarou, Barry; www.ninalazarou.com
PYROGRAPHY ARTWORKS, FROM £50 PYROGRAPHY ARTWORKS, FROM £50 Using a pyrography machine – eff ectively a soldering iron Using a pyrography machine – eff ectively a soldering iron with a calligraphy tip – Peter Huzzey, who lives in Heath, draws incredible designs onto planks he selects from a local timber yard From Huzz Studio, Heath; www.huzzstudio.etsy.com
CHRISTMAS WREATHS, FROM £50 A little self-gifting never hurt anyone. Forbesfi eld’s handmade wreaths will add a touch of luxe to any home. Oh, and the business have a pop-up shop at chocolate shop of dreams Cocoa Therapy in Barry on 10 December From Forbesfi eld, Barry; www.forbesfi eld.co.uk
HOME
LACE IMPRINTED PLATES, FROM £20 Ceramicists Louise Hall handmakes beautiful porcelain tableware in her Cardiff studio; we’re loving the festive gold lustre edging From Louise Hall, Fireworks Clay Studios; www.madebyhandonline. com/collections/louise-hall
© ALEX SEDGMOND
SHOP SMALL If you’re a fan of shopping at independents, check out the Shop Local Wales platform. They are asking everyone to get involved and do their bit to support small biz, especially on the run up to Christmas. Wales has an abundance of talented makers and designers as well as fabulous fashion, inspired interiors, delicious eateries, coffee shops and delis... with all this on your doorstep, why would you shop anywhere else? @shoplocalwales; www.shoplocalwales.co.uk
TWO WHITE PAPER STARS, £9 Create a festive setting with these simple paper decs From Bodlon, Whitchurch; www.bodlon.com
ARECA PALM NOTEBOOK, £14 Floris is a zero-waste company that specialises in eco-friendly notebooks which are printed on recycled paper with vegetable-based inks From Floris, available at Ripple Living, Albany Road, Cardiff ; www.fl oris.uk
FINE CHINA TEA SET, £75 Screen-printed with a signature bee design, each tea set takes eight weeks to make, honouring the traditional fi ne china process From Blossom & Nectar, Pontcanna Mews; www.blossomandnectar.co.uk
PHEASANT & ACORN TEA TOWEL, £10 For unique textile-based gifts handcrafted locally, Anna Palmer’s got you covered From Anna Palmar Designs, Market House, Canton; www.annapalamardesigns.com WALL CLOCK, £20 Look closely and you’ll see the fl amingo has a giraff e’s head, and the fl amingo has a giraff e’s head, and the elephant has a cheetah’s body. And elephant has a cheetah’s body. And why not? Life’s too short for boring why not? Life’s too short for boring From Drab 2 Fab, The Bone Yard Studios; From Drab 2 Fab, The Bone Yard Studios; @drab2fab_cardiff CROCHETED PLANTS, FROM £7 Alex Fitzpatrick combines a love for both fl orae and
STAG BOTTLE HOLDER, £24 A sleek addition to your Christmas feasting table From Victoria Fearn Gallery, Rhiwbina; www.
victoriafearngallery.wales crafts, creating cacti, plants and gifts hand-crocheted from 100 per cent cotton From Knots & Cotton, Fairwater, Cardiff ; www.knotsandcottonshop.etsy.com
GOLD HEART VASE, £25 Local ceramicist Llio Davies creates handmade homeware and jewellery, her aesthetic being clean and minimal From Llio Davies Designer Maker, Red Door Studios, Pontcanna; www.lliodaviesdesignermaker.com
POTTED SUCCULENT, £19.99 Complete with stylish pot, this delightful houseplant, like all the other plants from Little Green Corner, can be delivered for free up until Christmas From The Little Green Corner, Penarth; @thelittlegreencorner
THREE-PLANT HANGER, £35 Sarah Howey set her macramé business up in September after her hobby went into overdrive during lockdown From Knots of Love, Pontcanna; @knots.of.love.x
HOME
IRIS COASTERS Luxury terrazzo home accessories, handmade by a couple of Welsh gals – Emma, from Barry, and Livv from Wenvoe From Lumo & Sonne, Vale of Glamorgan; www.lumoandsonne.com MINI MARBLE BOARD AND SPREADER, £18 New business Tŷ Deco opened at the start of November and specialises in houseplants and homeware From Tŷ Deco, Church Village; @ty.deco SPOONS, £7.50 EACH This artist’s desire to make functional pieces results in ceramics that explore the balance between fragility and strength From Sarah Glazier Cermics, Whitchurch; www.sarahglazierceramics.co.uk
Founded by Rosie Blatchford, this macramé home décor business off ers everything from wall hangings to accessories and festive wreaths From Rose MÔR, Cardiff ; www.rosemorshop.etsy.com FATHER CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS, £15 These decorations are individually handmade, going in the kiln twice for up to 12 hours at a time – a labour of love From Glass at the Spinney, Aberthin; www.numonday.com/ shop/glass-at-the-spinney CERAMIC MUG, £22 From the potter’s wheel to your cupboard, this mug was made by Robyn Cove in her local studio From Robyn Cove Pottery, Tongwynlais;
MACRAMÉ COASTERS, £8 www.robyncovepottery.etsy.com
DRIED FLOWER BOUQUET, FROM £12 Newly formed dried fl ower business Wilde Posies is the brainchild of Alex Wilde, from the South Wales Valleys From Wilde Posies, Ynysybwl;
www.wildeposies.com
FOR CARDIFF GIFT CARD This is redeemable in over 70 businesses across Cardiff city centre – whether you’re a coffee lover, a vintage fashionista, a culture seeker or sports fan. A custom amount of money can be loaded onto the card as a Christmas gift www.cardiffgiftcard.com
BATH SALTS, FROM £4.50 Made from local raw Welsh honey and seven diff erent types of salts, including Epsom, to help you absorb magnesium into your system From Blossom & Nectar, Pontcanna Mews; www.blossomandnectar.co.uk
BOMB COSMETICS BATH BOMB, £3.15 EACH Fizzle those stresses away with nourishing, essential oil-infused bath blasters From Zia Boutique, Mermaid Quay; www.zia-boutique.co.uk
SEBON DA, £6.50 Made in Wales, Sebon Da (‘Good Soap’) is made with the fi nest natural ingredients by Cardiff Life 2020 award winners The Goodwash Company From The Goodwash Company, Barry; www.goodwash.co.uk
FROM £7.99 These self-heating sleep masks relieve tension in the muscles and skin around the eyes, and the balm has been designed to be massaged onto pulse points From Health & Her, Brunel House; www.healthandher.com
ETHICAL WASHBAG, £33 Carefully curated gifts that have been ethically and sustainably sourced, and are vegan, are all you’ll fi nd at The Green Frog you’ll fi nd at The Green Frog The Green Frog Vegan Store, Roath; www.thegreenfrogveganstore.com SLEEP BALM AND MASKS, dried rose petals will fl oat around From Miss Patisserie, Cardiff ;
BATH AND BODY
KARTELL BY LAUFEN ACCESSORIES, FROM £24.35 KARTELL BY LAUFEN ACCESSORIES, FROM £24.35 The Tap end off ers luxurious accessories for The Tap end off ers luxurious accessories for www.misspatisserie.com
the me-time room (AKA the bathroom) the me-time room (AKA the bathroom)
ROSE POMEGRANATE BATH MELT BAR, £7 If you’re into pure indulgent bliss, add this to your bathwater. Its shea butter will soothe skin, and the you as you bathe From The Tap End, Pontyclun; www.thetapend.design From The Tap End, Pontyclun; www.thetapend.design
MAN’S STUFF MAN’S STUFF TOILETRY SET, £8.90 This no-nonsense sixpack includes face wash, muscle soak and hair and body wash From Stwff -Stuff , High Street, Cowbridge; www.stwff -stuff .co.uk BEAUTY SLEEP BEDTIME COLLECTION, £40 Wrap your body in beautifully blended botanicals with calming aromas before blissfully drifting off From Neal’s Yard Remedies, Morgan Arcade; www.nealsyardremedies.com
JELLYCAT DRAGON TOY, £20 Do you even live in Wales if you don’t have a hugging-size dragon in your house? From Nest, Heol-Y-Deri, Rhiwbina; www.nestcardiff .co.uk
BIG AND LITTLE KIDS
WHO AM I? GAME, £6.99 WELSH SHAPE SORTER, £22 A wooden toy that introduces shapes, colours and Welsh language From Mwnci, The Welsh Toy Company, Llandaff North, Cardiff ; www.mwnci.co
WOODLAND STORES AND THEATRE, £165 A shop on one side and theatre on the other, this space-saving imagination centre is ideal for shared role play games From Barney & Beau, Cardiff ;
The classic family game with a novelty, Christmas twist From Stwff -Stuff , High Street, Cowbridge; www.stwff -stuff .co.uk
BI-PO PRINT, £10 Perfect for the little one’s bedroom From From Shnwcs, The Heath; www.shnwcs.etsy.com
www.barneyandbeau.com
ANGEL DOLL, £18.95 A pretty, magical, snuggly combo From From Little People Store, Heol y Deri, Rhiwbina; www.littlepeoplestore.co.uk
NOVELTY NAIL VARNISH SET, £4.55 Neon nails are on trend, right? From Stwff -Stuff , High Street, From Stwff -Stuff , High Street, Cowbridge; www.stwff -stuff .co.uk
BALANCING CACTUS, £26.95 Does this development-enhancing toy prickle your fancy? From The Honeycomb Toys & Books, Grangetown; www.thehoneycombtoys.com
TOY APPEAL St David’s Toy Appeal, which benefi ts thousands of local children each year, is back for 2020. Simply shop for a gift that is suitable for boys or girls from ages 0 to 16, then donate it, unwrapped, at the Toy Appeal stand at St David’s. Gifts can include toys, beauty products, clothing and stationery. This year, you’ll also have the option to make a contactless cash donation, which will be used to purchase gifts. www.stdavidscardiff.com DJI MAVIC MINI VIDEO DRONE, £449 This palm-sized ultraportable drone, with its 2.7K camera, is one for the big kids From Camera Centre UK, Morgan Arcade; www.cameracentreuk.com
REINDEER LAMP, £30 This rechargeable USB night light off ers just the right amount of glow to read with little one From Oli & Pip, North Cardiff ; www.oliandpip.com
CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Holiday Stitch, £21, from Disney Store; faux fur bear pramsuit, £18, Marks & Spencer; Fisher Price Rollin’ Rovee, £60, Hamleys. All available at St David’s
SANTA’S SLEIGH IS ON ITS WAY TO CARDIFF BOOK, £4.99 See kids’ faces light up as the adventure unfolds in the parks, streets and buildings that surround them From Little People Store, Heol y Deri, Rhiwbina; www.littlepeoplestore.co.uk
