This year, more than ever, local businesses need your help; this is why I am doing as much holiday shopping as I can in my community. There are so many benefits to shopping small, like purchasing unique, quality, handmade items while supporting local makers. I’ve compiled a list of some of my favourites with links to shop!
Under $100
North Star Pendant/Bracelet
Daria Day
$88
Inspired by the constellations that adorn the night sky, Daria Day’s elegant North Star collection features an amethyst, citrine, or peridot gemstone set in a sterling star setting. Each link of the sterling silver chain is made by hand and the gemstone is hand-cut by artisans in Northern Pakistan. It takes an artisan 10 days to make one bracelet.
Shop Local Businesses Sweater
Steph’s Originals
$67
We all know by now how much I love to represent small businesses! There is no better way to do so than with this adorable sweater! Steph’s made-to-order clothing is all done by hand. She is located near Georgian Bay.
Cosmic Mug
Pavlo Pottery
$60
“Made by hand on the potter’s wheel, this Cosmic mug embodies wonderment and fascination with the skies above. Each piece features Mother of Pearl and Gold Lustre colours, stars, and moon designs that create an eye-catching iridescence effect, and are unique to each individual piece, meaning each mug is entirely one-of-a-kind.”
I own this mug and I wish that pictures could do it justice! It is just beautiful!
Handcrafted Hiwaga Candle
Mahiwaga
$55
Use code “LOVELYLOCAL20” for 10% off your purchase.
Based in Toronto, Mahiwaga is a line of handmade fragrance goods and home accessories inspired by the tropics and the Pearl of the Orient Seas. All of their ingredients are sourced locally with pure soy wax, lead-free cotton wicks and phthalate-free fragrances.
I love their unique Hiwaga Face Pots; they’re made by a mother & son artisan duo in the Philippines using a manual hand-spun pottery wheel. Because of this, each Hiwaga face pot has its own unique throw lines and texture. You can re-use the pots when your candle has burned as a plant holder, home accent, makeup brush holder and more!
Under $50
Friendship Bracelet
Kind Karma
$50
This 14KT gold-filled necklace represents the unique bond of friendship. Kind Karma is an ethical jewelry line made by homeless and at-risk youth in Toronto. In addition to hourly wages, youth receive proceeds from sales to support their education and housing.
“Sleigh The Patriarchy” Sweater
Sassy Saturday
$44.99
Shop Sassy is all about feisty, feminist apparel and I love it. This sweater comes in 5 different colours and is currently 10% off. It might just be an early Christmas present to myself!
Druzy Bangle
Love Light Jewels
$44.99
I am in love with these adjustable Dazzling Druzy Bangles from Love Light Jewels. They come in 8 stunning colours including gold, champagne and silver. Druzy stone is said to bring balance and strengthen the spirit of the wearer.
Agate Phone Grip
Maple + Love
$44
Agate Phone Grips are all the rage and it’s no wonder! Not only are they beautiful to look at, they’re also a great tool to take that perfect selfie or tilt your phone back and watch a video. Each stone is unique and no grip is the same!
Under $40
You’re A Babe Bath Mat
Bichette
$38
How cute is this ultra-soft cotton bathmat? I love the little pick-me-up that the person who receives this mat will get every time they hop out of the shower!
Fair Isles Beanie
KPGKNITS
$35
There is nothing like a warm and cozy handmade hat. Not only are they adorable but they are useful! KPGKNITS are designed and created in St. Catherines.
Hello Monday Planner
$35
Use code “lovelylittlelocal15” for 15% off your purchase.
If you follow me on Instagram you know how much I love these Hamilton-made planners! Have you ever bought a planner with the intention of writing in it daily only to fall behind and feel discouraged? With Hello Monday you don’t need to worry about falling behind because they are undated! Just pick up where you left off. Choose from 3 different layouts and a variety of adorable patterns. I have the coffee cup design in the planner and the bullet journal. I use the bullet journal for doodling, reminders and to-do lists.
Handmade Gemstone Bracelets
Eleven Hints
$40
Receive 20% off from November 27th- November 30th.
I have two bracelets from Hamilton’s Eleven Hints so I know that artisan Serina puts love and care into her beautiful work and packaging. My stunning rose-quartz with a white Rondelle crystal and pink Rhondite bracelets glitter and gleam gorgeously on my wrist!
Highlands Perfume
Nadorah
$36
Lovingly blended in small batches, Highlands is a luxury perfume infused with Egyptian chamomile from Hamilton-based Tea Amo. This high-quality, clean fragrance will transport you to Ontario’s Haliburton Highlands!
Under $30
Headbands
Femme Faire
$30
Femme Faire is a sustainable and ethical brand committed to using slow fashion practices. Their high-quality, handmade products are created by women artisans locally and abroad. Femme Faire also donates part of its proceeds to women’s shelters.
Rose Quartz Choker
Praiana Jewelry
$30
I love all things rose quartz; it’s my favourite gemstone and symbolizes romantic and self-love. I ran some polls on my Instagram stories to find out people’s favourite Praiana piece and this beautiful choker was the winner!
Holiday Lippy Kit
Lip Service Beauty
$25
Keep chapped winter lips nourished with this vegan roll-on cranberry lip oil, candy cane lip balm + tinted champagne cheer lip balm. They come all wrapped up and ready to be gifted in this cute little bag!
Wine Glasses
Curly Ambition Co.
$27
Wondering what to get your wine-loving pals? Look no further! These cute, made in Hamilton wine glasses make the perfect gift! Choose from a wide selection of designs.
Gifting Bundle
Sarah’s Soaps
$27.00
This “Wintertide” gift-set includes Sarah’s Wild Pine and White Pine Salve, Juniper + Peppermint lip butter and Peppermint and Fir Needle mini soap! Each soulfully created product is made using plant ingredients. Connect with nature and give the gift of self-care.
Festive Candles
Julianna Candle Co.
$25
Julianna’s candles are vegan, cruelty-free, phthalate-free and petroleum-free. This lovely collection is made in Waterloo with 100% soy wax for an eco-friendly, clean burn.
Clay Earrings
Cicely Crystals
$16-24
I love my bold, beautiful statement earrings from Cicely Crystals and how they complement my outfits. There are lots of styles and colours to choose from.
Macrame Plant Hanger
Concrete Jungle
$30
Inspired by the 1970s, Concrete Jungle sells trendy macrame plant hangers, wall hangings and home decor to accent any space. Each product is one-of-a-kind and made in Hamilton!
Lavender Body Butter
Bichette
$25
Lovefresh is a Toronto-based luxury line of natural beauty products. The Lavender Body Butter is 100% natural and luxuriously soft on the skin. I love how it smells and makes my skin glow.
Under $20
Hamilton Prints
Hamont Doodles
$20
For the proud Hamiltonian, Hamont Doodles captures Hamilton’s most iconic locations in her best-selling prints, postcards and stickers.
Reusable Cotton Rounds
Honey And Glow
$14
Honey & Glow is an independent, hand-made skincare company that provides all-natural alternatives to everyday products. They’re also made right here in Hamilton using many locally-sourced ingredients. These organic cotton, reusable rounds are a great gift idea for the eco-conscious make-up lover.
Mugs
This Little Homestead
$15
If you’re looking for a cute and practical gift, mugs are a great idea! This Little Homestead sells a variety of seasonal and non-seasonal mugs along with signs and shirts. There is something for everyone!
Olive and Gold Earrings
Hourglass
$20
Use code LOVELY10 for 10% off your purchase.
These elegant clay earrings are made by a small BC-based business. Clay jewelry has become increasingly popular in fashion so I hopped on the bandwagon and own several pairs! Love them!
Crazyknots Headbands
Crazyknots
$12-16
Use code LOCALLOVE for 10% off your purchase.
Crazyknots is a mother/daughter team from Toronto who makes headbands, masks, scrunchies, pet bandanas and more. Perfect for stocking stuffers!
Shampoo Bars
Pale Blue Dot
$18
These shampoo and conditioner bars leave hair soft and manageable. They are also colour-safe, vegan, cruelty-free and last 50-75 washes. What a great way to cut down on plastic!
Cat Nip
Frank And Oph
$12.95
For your pals with a furry friend! Made in London, Frank and Oph’s organic cat-nip will be a hit with the felines. I tried it with my kitties and they loved it! Be sure to check out the super cute handmade crochet cat-nip toys.
Reusable Straw
Stainless Sea
$11.99
These reusable, telescopic straws are made from high-quality, food-grade stainless steel and come with both a brush cleaner AND a bamboo case for only $11.99. The straw’s length can be adjusted to fit perfectly in any size cup. Durable and eco-friendly, Stainless Sea also donates a portion of all sales to ocean conservation.
Under $10
Scrunchies
Jeanelle Design
$6.99
Use code EMMA15 for 15% off orders over $30 + Free Canada-wide shipping!
So, let me just say that I have a lot of scrunchies but Jeanelle’s handmade scrunchies are my favourite because of how soft and silky they are. I can sleep in mine with no discomfort and they complement any outfit.
Resin Coasters
Serene Creates
$9.95
Handmade art crafted for everyday living! For yourself or anyone on your gift list, you will find trays, coasters, keychains and more designed to suit anyone’s lifestyle.
Cinnamon Bath Bomb
Pink Posh Fox
$6
Who doesn’t want their bathroom to smell like fresh cinnamon buns? Pink Posh Fox products are completely natural, cruelty-free, vegan and organic. There are tons of gift-sets and goodies to choose from!
Vitamin-E Stick
Cici’s Raw Beauty
$8
A great stocking stuffer, this lip balm made with pure Vitamin E oil, beeswax, castor oil, olive oil, apricot oil and jojoba oil, is scent-free and feels soft and buttery on the lips.
Holiday Teas
Kenneth Avenue
$9 for 50g
Kenneth Avenue is a luxury tea company from Guelph that offers an environmentally friendly shopping experience. Their Christmas teas include Gingerbread, Nutcracker, French Vanilla and Cranberry Apple. Yum!
Christmas Cards
Paperbec
$6.50 each
Paperbec is a Hamilton-based artist. Her greeting cards are sustainable and made using tree-free paper. I love the warmth of her gorgeous, watercolour paintings. Send a card this holiday season and warm someone’s heart.
Shea Soap
Mamaa Trade
$5
Another great stocking stuffer idea is handcrafted, fairtrade soap made in Canada by Mamaa Trade. These luxurious soaps will cleanse and nourish the skin.
Sugar Scrubs
Browchickawax (dm on Instagram to purchase)
$5
I’ve always loved a good sugar scrub in the wintertime; it does wonders for ingrown hairs and dry skin. Choose from 3 scrumptious scents including I Peel Good, Let Me Check My Busy Lavender and I’m Eternally Grapefruit. I enjoy all three and I can tell you that they smell good enough to eat!
Hamilton Stickers
The Mix
$4-$5
Rep that Hamilton pride with these great stickers created by The Mix. Perfect for laptops, water bottles, binders and more.
Leave a Reply