Wife to my high school sweetheart, boy mama to sweet baby boy Macrae, and two fur babies Shiloh and Milo, a full time high school history teacher, and overall enthusiast for life. Avid podcast listener, iced coffee drinker, and organized chaos manager. My passion is to encourage and inspire. To cultivate an intentional life, a life full of joy and an abundance of grace.
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This year has taught us so many things. The year that so many of us are counting down to forget, has left us with such valuable lessons. From soaking up the moments at home, to valuing and appreciating the time spent with close family and friends. 2020, more than ever before, has reminded us the necessity to support our local businesses, community and small shop owners. I have never been more excited about a particular blog post and gift guide. And there is SO MUCH to unpack here, so pour yourself a cup of coffee, grab your Christmas gift list and get ready to shop. Introducing to you, the essential small business holiday gift guide.
Support Small Business
I am so happy to share so many wonderful shops of small business owners. I spent incredible amount of time dedicated to this post. Time spent researching, planning, and prepping all to be sure that this small business holiday gift guide is everything YOU as a shopper need for all of your holiday wish lists. As well as, everything to the local shop maker and creative, as a way to honor, support, and appreciate their business. So, please, I encourage you, shop! Shop from these stores, purchase their handmade products, believe in their dream and allow for the community of makers to feel all the love and support this holiday season. A special thank you to the generous makers who so graciously sent over product for me to use for this gift guide. I can absolutely assure you, you are going to LOVE what is coming next!
Gift Ideas For Her
Gifts for HER! Whether you are shopping for a wife, mother, sister, daughter, or friend, I have compiled a detailed and dedicated list of gift ideas for her, featuring exclusively small businesses. Some of these businesses have been gracefulandfree staples for the last few years, while others are more of a recent find. I can assure your heart that you will absolutely be pleased with the quality and design of the small business gift ideas for her.
Jewelry, such a sweet statement and excellent gift. If you are shopping for a sister, mom, daughter or friend, you can absolutely not go wrong with a pretty piece of jewels. These sweet small businesses are full of all the heart and can bring so much joy. I know you are just going to love these small businesses.
Stamped & Finch has been a staple on gracefulandfree ever since the beginning. I have been sharing my sweet friend Lindsey’s business of stamped jewelry since my very blog became. And a customer for years earlier. I know you will absolutely love what her store has to offer. She offers so many different styles from earrings, bracelets, necklaces and more. She also customizes each piece and can stamp initials, a word, date, or any other significant option on her gold and silver pieces.
Copper & Quinn is your next go to for all things earrings. The absolute sweetest collections of resin, leather, clay, metal and stud earrings. You will not believe the price for the quality. All earrings are under $15 and free shipping for orders more than $30. Please check out Copper & Quinn and enjoy shopping the gorgeous earring selection. Be sure to pick yourself up a pair as well, believe me it is hard to resist!
Roxy Road Clay is a newer jewelry business I had the joy of discovering. It is local to the Atlanta area, love supporting those close to home, and features the sweetest handmade clay earrings. This sweet shop is on Etsy and would make for an excellent stocking stuffer this holiday season. My favorite earrings to wear on handmade pieces from small businesses because you can feel good about what you are wearing on your ears as you are supporting someone’s dream.
Another sweet Etsy shop that I love sharing and supporting, Ivanelee Jewelry. A handmade earring boutique featuring gorgeous and unique polymer clay earrings. I strongly encourage you to check out this sweet Etsy shop as you are going to be so impressed by the creativity and designs. Making another fantastic addition for gifts for your sweet friends this holiday season.
This 90s baby is so ecstatic that hair scrunchies and accessories have made a comeback in the last couple of years. Shop Andi is your go to place to shop and style all things hair accessories. So many gorgeous options, styles, and patterns and all at a great price. Shop Andi hair accessories make for the perfect stocking stuffer this holiday season.
Seed and Root is another great and local handmade shop near the Atlanta area. Featuring the sweetest accessories, set your calendars because the holiday collection is launching December 5th at 11am EST. Featuring hair scrunchies, hair scarves and headbands, Seed + Root is definitely a place to favorite on your Etsy account.
With as much screen time we have all been getting this year, from more time on our devices, to virtual meetings galore, it is so incredibly important to make sure we are taking care of our eye health. I discovered blue light frames this year, and I am so happy to include Gleam Eyewear as part of this small business holiday gift guide. This small business features stylish, non-prescription anti-blue light glasses. Gorgeous styles and frames that would make an excellent gift for those in your life who spend.a lot of time behind the screen.
Stationary always makes for a great gift and even better when you can personalize that stationary with not only a name, but also a special place. Natty Michelle Paperie is a beautiful hand-lettering shop based out of Athens, Georgia. Natalie’s inventory of her personal handiwork will have you swooning as you can easily pick out an item for anyone and everyone on your gift list. Beautiful cityscape mugs, ornaments, art prints, and customized notepads, there is definitely something for everyone.
The Crafted Prints is a beautiful stationary and home decor store based out of the beautiful, San Francisco, California. This ethical and sustainable company donates 10% of their proceeds to fighting against human trafficking. I encourage you to not only shop small this holiday season, but also shop purposeful. The Crafted Prints is your place to do just that, featuring beautiful planners, journals, notepads and stickers.
Rachel Allene’s entire shop is a testament to this gem of a woman’s heart and passion for encouragement and light. Her store is one of my absolute favorites to shop, as I usually pick up a new favorite mug with every release. Additionally, her coffee mugs were featured on my favorite products of 2019 post last year. Rachel’s beautiful hand-lettered coffee mugs make the absolute perfect gift for that sweet friend in your life. Believe me, she will be so happy with this gift and will think of you every morning as they go for their first cup.
Oh let me introduce you to my sweet friend, Sara. We have connected through Instagram and I just value the joy and encouragement she always brings. Her sweet business, Steady and Flight is full of so much heart, helping you live your most outrageously beautiful life. And her collection of adorable coffee mugs do just that.
Sweet Lauren, the shop owner of Avonlea Design Co. features her beautiful art work all focused on encouraging a life of joy. Her shop is stunning, full of all the most joyful and encouraging designs. From coffee mugs, prints, ornaments and more, you will definitely find something special.
Time to talk candles! Goodness, who doesn’t love lighting a candle full of all the holiday scents during this most special time of the year. Let me tell you about your newest candle obsession. Introducing to you, the Cherokee Rose Candle Company. This company based out of Holly Springs, Georgia hand pours 100% soy wax candles. This is a top shop for gifts, highly rated on Etsy and full of the perfect gift to bring any female in your life. From hostess gifts, to a teacher gift idea, to just a sweet gift for a friend, Cherokee Rose Candle Company is a must. I strongly recommend the wooden dough bowl candle, available in 5 holiday scents. The holiday scents include Candy Cane, Santa’s Cookies, Holiday Cheer, Frosted Balsam, Christmas Trees.
Another spectacular candle company worth supporting this holiday season is Lula’s Candle Company. This small business is based out of Atlanta, Georgia and is female founded, made and run. Lula’s candles are 100% soy, vegan, cruelty-free and non-toxic. Therefore, this is a candle you can feel SO good about lighting around your home. The candles are gorgeous, in beautiful tins, and make the entire house smell so good. I strongly recommend shopping Lula’s Candle Company for this holiday season.
Sharing sweet Sara’s company, Steady and Flight one more time to showcase her beautiful, hand-poured essential oils based candles. Her holiday candle collection is stunning and smells absolutely fantastic. From the holiday collections, to the single candles, and the stocking stuffer set, Steady and Flight would make for such a great gift this holiday season.
Gift Ideas for Him
Is it just me, or are men just difficult to shop for. Whether it is your significant other, brother, father, or friend, all our men in our lives deserve to be celebrated with a good gift this season! I am so excited to share a few favorite small businesses I discovered that are absolutely perfect for this holiday season.
Every man on your list will instantly become easier to shop for with the stunning Etsy shop of Wilhelm and Friends. This shop is based out of Vancouver, and features beautiful, hand-made leather goods. From luggage tags, key chains, and cord organizers, these leather goods make for an amazing gift for the men in your life.
Another great Etsy shop with the perfect gifts for all things men, Be Creations & Designs by rvmetalshop. This shop features metal work that is sustainable and recyclable created, and designed in a barn in North Georgia. My personal favorites from this shop include the state bottle openers and the ornaments. I absolutely love the Rocky Mountain National Park ornament, J and I traveled to the park in September and I believe that this will be a sweet ornament on our tree to remember a special trip.
Gift Ideas for Them
Gift ideas for them featuring small businesses. My idea for this section of the holiday gift guide was to provide a few gift ideas that work wonderfully for the entire family. From gifts that allow the entire family to be together, or create a memory for the kids, or celebrate a special moment, here are small business gift ideas for them.
Get excited because Primed Fine Arts is the perfect gift idea for a group of girls. These art kits allow you to have your own virtual painting party. The kits come included with every single thing you need to paint a beautiful canvas. With instructions, paint, palette, brushes and a blank canvas. You will be painting a beautiful masterpiece in no time. I had. so much fun creating my piece, and I strongly believe this will be perfect for a group of girls for the holidays.
Illustrated by Court provides stunning and beautiful illustrated Christmas ornaments. This graphic-design business creates beautiful pieces of statement stickers, custom ornaments and more. Specifically, the custom illustrated ornament would make for the sweetest gift this holiday season.
Gift Ideas for the Home
Another great gift idea for the holidays, are gifts for the home. Gifts that are intentional and provide inspiration for the four walls that we live the real and messy in, every single day. The two small businesses below are incredible companies that provide amazing gift ideas for the home decor lover. From prints to farmhouse decor, you will absolutely love the Creative Farmhouse and Copy and Shadow.
I have been obsessing over the Instagram feed of The Creative Farmhouse now for several years and was so thrilled to partner with these two mamas from Kansas for this small business holiday gift guide. The Creative Farmhouse features modern farmhouse style and decor items that would make for an excellent gift. From the DIY kits that provide not only beautiful decor, but also a fun experience for the entire family, or the gorgeous farmhouse signs. You will most definitely find something you love and can support.
Copy and Shadow just recently launched their brand new website and it is stunning. A hand lettered and accent print shop that features beautiful designs for the home. The prints are all reasonably priced, allowing you to easily add a frame yourself, to make for an intentional gift.
Gift Ideas for Stockings
I love the idea of stockings. This year, J and I are filling each other a stocking with small, but intentional gifts. Also, both the pups get a stocking full of treats, and I am SO excited to plan theirs out. If you love stockings as much as I, then you will love these ideas from below, featuring small businesses and the little things that can help make everyone’s season bright.
Well friends, the most ambitious and extensive blog project to date is officially complete! I hope you found this to be incredibly helpful, and purposeful for your holiday shopping. I hope that you feel encouraged and inspired to intentionally gift this season and support small businesses now more than ever. Your support means everything. From sharing this gift guide with your family, friends, on your socials, it would mean the absolute world. As this is a gift guide straight from my heart, to support and love on all the beautiful small businesses. Wishing you all the best this holiday season, thank you for everything.
xo. Haley