This weekend is the last bastion of sanity before the entire population gears up into 'Festive Mode'. Shops will go into overdrive, extending their hours to cater for the hordes which are about to descend like locusts on their produce.
I haven't even written a list of people to buy for yet this year, but have made a few ad hoc purchases here and there.
It has been known, in the dark and distant past, for me to be ultra organised when it came to present buying, but as there are more and more demands placed on my time, I find it difficult to summon up enthusiasm to join the herds jostling to buy something that, within a few months, weeks, days or even hours, will have become a passing novelty to the eventual recipient.
So it's heartening to find that there are some wonderful market places springing up on the internet where you can buy some lovely one off pieces as truly original presents. My favourite at the moment is Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/) - an absolute Aladdin's cave of small businesses who produce anything from jewellery, vintage clothing and gingerbread goods through to ceramics. There are literally thousands of companies who ply their wares on Etsy, but if you have a vague idea what you're looking for (i.e. you know that Sally would love a neckless with a bird motif) then a quick search will bring up lots of results.
I haven't even written a list of people to buy for yet this year, but have made a few ad hoc purchases here and there.
It has been known, in the dark and distant past, for me to be ultra organised when it came to present buying, but as there are more and more demands placed on my time, I find it difficult to summon up enthusiasm to join the herds jostling to buy something that, within a few months, weeks, days or even hours, will have become a passing novelty to the eventual recipient.
So it's heartening to find that there are some wonderful market places springing up on the internet where you can buy some lovely one off pieces as truly original presents. My favourite at the moment is Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/) - an absolute Aladdin's cave of small businesses who produce anything from jewellery, vintage clothing and gingerbread goods through to ceramics. There are literally thousands of companies who ply their wares on Etsy, but if you have a vague idea what you're looking for (i.e. you know that Sally would love a neckless with a bird motif) then a quick search will bring up lots of results.
Some of my favourite Etsy stores are PrinceDesignUK (poppy and heart ceramics), Gingerbreadstreet (gingerbread decorations, hearts and wreaths), and PopWall who do amazing lifesize decals for indoor and outdoor walls.
If you love quality handcrafted goods check Etsy out but be warned, you may be gone some time! Mebees see you in there ;-)
Something truly original to give as a gift is a piece of stained glass. Julia Mills is a Stained Glass artist based in Cornwall, but you can find her at http://www.juliamillsgallery.co.uk/ - pieces range from under a tenner (check out the Tiddlers link) to hundreds of pounds for stunning pieces of contemporary glasswork - all absolutely delightful.
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