Call me crazy but I started my Christmas gift buying months ago. Last-minute Chrissie shopping gives me the heebie jeebies! If you’d like to get in early too, here’s some inspiration. Everything below is food-related, and made with creativity and love in my home town, Melbourne.
Let’s support artisans and small businesses instead of the soulless multi-nationals. Happy shopping! xx
1. Aacute Soy candle with gingerbread scent. $22 USD. Hand poured 100% natural soy wax candle, packaged in a miniature retro oven box. Available on etsy, along with the full Bakery Range of 24 scents, including Hot Jam Doughnut, Choc Brownie, Buttery popcorn and Crème brulée!
2. EAT.ME.DO Tea Time socks. $18 AUD. 100% cotton socks featuring your fave Aussie bickies! Available here and at these stockists, along with other delectable wearable treats like jelly baby earrings, Iced Vovo brooches and Cheezel rings!
3. BrewSmith Bacon-making kit. $22 USD. Yes, bacon you can make at home (OMG)! Contains cure, salt, sugar, meat thermometer, recipes, curing bags and instructions. Available on etsy, along with homebrew beer and cider kits.
4. Lene Kuhl Jakobsen Round square bowls. $55 AUD for a set of 3. Small bowls, each hand-thrown from a cube of clay hence the beautiful uneven rims. More info here, available from these stockists.
5. Full Tilt Nanna Hand crocheted fortune cookie with custom message. $11 USD. These cute little cookies can carry announcements, secrets or any other special wishes. You could place one on each Christmas lunch plate! Available on etsy, along with crocheted carrot, eggplant and chill pepper baby rattles!
6. Neryl Winter Harvest (detail). Limited edition archival ink giclée print. A3 size $95 AUD. Original hand-drawn illustration inspired by Australian label Gorman’s Winter Harvest dress. Hand-numbered and signed, printed on natural cotton rag art paper. Created by artist Neryl Walker. Available here, along with more beautiful art, cushions and stickers.
7. Evie Barrow Tooth fairy pouch. $14.81 USD. Hand-made ode to the most important food-eating tool! Cotton/linen, hand embroidered and lined inside to keep teeth safe and easy for the Tooth Fairy to retrieve. Comes with a hand numbered booklet. Created by Melbourne maker Evie Barrow. Available on etsy, along with gorgeous original art, one-of-a-kind textile characters and gift tags.
8. Lucy Folk Taco friendship band. $65 – $75 AUD. Colourful bracelet with silver or gold taco, by Melbourne’s queen of wearable food. Sterling silver, yellow gold plate, rose gold plate and cotton. Available online here, at these world-wide stockists and in-store at 1A Crossley St, Melbourne.
9. Kitiya Palaskas Chicken drumstick brooch. $20 AUD. Double-layered laser cut acrylic, gold-plated pin back, packaged on a riso-printed backing card. Available online here, along with Kitiya’s fab felt-cut food art, stickers, patches and jewellery.
10. WirelyHome x Zin+Bert Concrete platter and side table. $48 USD (for platter only, stand sold separately). WirelyHome collab with concrete artist Erin Devenish (Zin+Bert). Concrete platter treated with food-safe honeydew wax that fits on Wirely’s plant stands, converting them into side tables. Available here, along with Wirely’s stylish candlesticks, oven door hooks and tea towels.
11. Kirsten Perry Hand-built ceramic jug. $200 AUD. Imperfectly perfect sculptural jug by Melbourne ceramic artist Kirsten Perry. Available here, along with Kirsten’s uniquely beautiful cups, planters and cushions.
12. Arteveneta Pasta measure. $33 AUD. Never cook too much or little pasta again! American oak or walnut pasta measure hand-crafted in Prahran by a father/son team. Available here, along with cheese boards, pepper mills and salt cellars.
13. Emma Dilemmas Emporium Nautical gingham reversible apron. $33.32 USD. Classic red gingham self-backed half apron made from vintage cotton, with appliquéd anchor and ric-rac trim. Available on etsy, along with cute cushions and lots more vintage-style aprons.
14. Esther Sandler Fruit salad stickers. $2.96 USD. Stickers printed from an original hand-embroidered piece. Use them to brighten up your snail mail or decorate your Christmas presents! Each pack features 7 fruits. Available on etsy along with Esther’s colourful bags, purses, cushion covers and magnets.
15. Takeawei Fried egg brekky plate. $35 AUD. Handmade in North Melbourne. Fried egg plate to make your mornings sunny side up. Perfect for toast! Hand-painted, food safe, dishwasher safe and microwave safe. Available online here, along with lovingly hand-crafted mugs, tumblers, and plant hangers.
Footnote: This is not a sponsored list. These are all items I genuinely love!
Be sure to check item availability with the sellers and stockists; and confirm that delivery is possible before Christmas.
Etsy shop prices are in USD. All other prices are in Australian dollars. Here’s a currency converter.
If I had to choose what gift, I would have wanted them all! So cool & alternative! 🙂
Thanks Sophie. Yeah, I’d be pretty happy if someone bought me everything on the list!
Hi, Wow! I’m thinking that you really should do a video tutorial, your guide is amazing. Would love to be your neighbor.
Ha! Thank you. I did once toy with the idea of doing video tutes but the thought of putting myself out there in 3D is way too terrifying 🙂
wow, i hope i found that kind of awesome ethnic craft!!!
Thanks Dedy. I guess being local it is indeed ethnic! 🙂
I don”t think you are crazy at all. I like to start shopping early. None of that last minute craziness for me. It looks like you have a terrific selection of gifts. I’d love to be on your list!
Thanks! I reckon the lead-up to Christmas is crazy enough, with the actual present wrapping (my favourite part), winding down work and preparing the menu for Christmas day. Only 77 sleeps! Yikes!
Lovely to see what your local looks like Sas. What a fun round up of items! We try to do the same with our Christmas shopping and we’re blessed with some craft fairs that are entirely focused on locally produced goods. Have fun getting organized this year!
Thanks df. I love a good craft fair too. Craft fair season is about to get into full swing in Melbourne soon. Can’t wait 🙂
Ha! That fried egg plate is awesome!
Isn’t it! Love it too.
It is never too early to start Christmas shopping. When the holiday arrives you will be relaxed and can enjoy the holiday.
Yep, that’s the plan!
wow, you’re so organised! I try to shop for Xmas during the year but it rarely happens 😉 The candles are so me – esp the popcorn scent!
The candles are amazing! There are actually 24 ‘flavors’ to choose from! I know, I’m so organised. I have a big box in the cupboard that I fill throughout the year, along with a detailed list. Such a nerd 😉
I think I’m in love with those round square bowls… 🙂
So beautiful aren’t they! I have them in mind for a couple of family members. Hope they’re not reading this 😉
Fantastic, as usual. I’m the same, Sass — I feel nervous that I haven’t already made my list! I am coveting that gorgeous Takeawei plate with the egg — for myself. Oops.
Thanks Sandra. Yep, coveting the Takeawai plate for myself too (and just about everything else they make. I need one of their massive mugs too) 🙂
I can’t believe you’re talking Christmas already. Stop! ; ) Far too organised. Although I love your finds and am chuffed to be amongst them. I’ve also been on the look out for new ceramic bowls – thanks for the leads! xx
I know!! I can’t help myself. I’m a list-maker and organiser from way back 🙂 Love your teeth dudes so much, and their matching wrapping paper.
Saskia that is cray cray (hip young folk talk right there, you see 🙂
you are so organised, I tip my hat to you lady. And all those things are awesome…I’ll have them all!
Thanks, yeah I’d be pretty happy to have everything on the list too (I’ve put my money where my mouth is and bought a few of them)! xx
Thanks Sas! I’m in great company here. So much to love…where do I start!
Pleasure treasure! I loved putting this together. Soooo many clever peeps in Melbourne, yourself included 🙂