Handmade

Flicking through Christmas pictures to beat the January blues might seem like an odd sort of cure but I found a handful I thought I would share - a handmade present to my boyfriend's Mum - some organic dead sea bath salts scented with Rose and Lavender. If you recognise the shape of the jar then you're a fellow Nutella lover and I'll level with you; sometimes I enjoy a teaspoonful or three straight from the jar. I once read somewhere that how you package a homemade gift is almost as important as what you make and I've tried making my own giftboxes, printing my own wrapping paper but with this jar of joy I kept things very simple. The little luxury was some printed linen ribbon I was very kindly sent by Lyn Abraham of Squeak Gift and Party who sell handmade gifts, decor and trimming in the heart of the Peak District and not 15 minutes from my front door. There's something lovely about discovering a brilliant local shop, seller or crafter. I frequent the local market every week and feel very lucky that Ashbourne, the market town I'm based in, is full of gorgeous independent shops so shopping local is something of a joy rather than a fraught effort. I've been inspired recently by how many people I have seen making successes of small businesses . . . . . About time I revamped my own little Etsy shop after a long period of neglect. Watch this space!

Happy Wednesday all,