Moonko Christmas Gift Guide

Christmas seems to have come around pretty darn fast this year. I’m already seeing Christmas trees up and hearing Christmas songs at the shops. There’s a vast array of jumpers available for those in the Christmas spirit and it’s getting ridiculous the amount of people who I’ve heard have finished their Christmas shopping. Yep already in November.

It’s sometimes hard finding gifts for loved ones and friends especially when you want something a little different or unique. Independent sellers are a great way to tick all these boxes and you can be happy knowing a lot of hard work and care went into your perfect pressies.

Moonko is one of these brilliant independent sellers. Based in a bright and cheerful shop on Division St, Sheffield you can buy a vast array of wears from many established and up and coming designers. There’s also a lovely website for those to far away from the shop.

Here’s a selection from the store that really caught my eye.

Merchant & Mills Rapid Repair Kit
This is a brilliant thing to give as a present because it’s so handy. It holds everything that you might need for those last minute repairs on clothing. I have one and it’s saved me plenty of times when the hems have come down on my trousers. The tin is small and portable and will suit complete novices who need to use it in an emergency up to those who frequently sew. Merchant & Mills are a well known brand in the drapery and tailor world so you can rest assured that the quality is top notch and that you’re giving the best.

Available online and in store for £15

Bonbi Forest Locket

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These look stunning! They’re available in silver or gold plated brass and all the artwork is unique. As you can see there’s a nice selection with some more Christmas themed than others. I love how different they are and how quirky the charm on the chain is. All the illustrations are drawn by Lee May Foster-Wilson and have been drawn with love and care. The lockets are a nice enough size to wear everyday or save for best. I’m sure there’ll be a locket with a design to suit everyones style and tastes. Added bonus they come in a little organza bag to make them extra special.

The store has a nice selection in and they’re available in the jewellery section of the website for a great price of £19

Nathalie Bond Handmade Candle and Soap

This is one of those gifts that your nose will persuade you to buy. The geranium candle smells beautiful and luckily Moonko have it in two sizes. The geranium soap contains rose petals so will leave you feeling pretty and smelling flowery fresh. Both the candle and soap are handmade with natural and organic ingredients so are great for those of us that are sensitive to strong fragrances and nasty ingredients. All Nathalie Bond products are created in Sheffield and I’m sure you’ll be falling in love with the collection soon.

The Handmade Small Candle is £11 and the Handmade soap is £5.

Stoneware Whisky Cup

Everyone needs a wee dram of whisky or a hot toddy during winter so why not have a proper whisky cup to drink it out of? And if you’re not a whisky fan then use it for the drink of your choice! There is a great range of cups available but these really caught my eye. They’re handmade in Scotland by Tom Butcher so each one is different and has it’s own character. They’ll stand out in any household and be useful to everyone.

Get your own whiskey cup for £10

 

Donna Wilson Squirrel Beaker and Tea Towel

I love the entire Donna Wilson collection but the squirrels put a big smile on your face. Everyone uses a cup for their morning cuppa so what better gift to send. Tea towels are always useful too especially one that tells you to “Use my tail to dry your dishes.” These would be great for students and adults alike. You’ll definitely know who the cup belongs to. The illustrations look great and vibrant and the quality is brilliant with the cup being handmade and printed in Stoke-on-Trent and the tea towel printed there too.

The beaker is available for £15.25 and tea towel for £12.

 

Hopefully this list will have given you some ideas and steered you towards the independent scene for gifts this christmas. Everything should be available in Moonko’s store and online (subject to availability). Locals can also make use of the click and collect service which coincidentally gives you an excuse to go shopping. Don’t get stressed out in big stores this year and remember to treat yourself!

 

York Coffee: The Perky Peacock

York is one of those places that suits everyone. It’s historical, touristy, quirky and studenty all at once. It’s even better for hidden gems of the coffee variety. We’ve become quite the York lovers over the years and added together with our love for coffee, cake and artisan foods we thought it was a no brainer to share our knowledge with you.

Perky Peacock at Lendal Bridge.

One of our all time favourites is The Perky Peacock. Perky is in two locations, one in the tower at Lendal Bridge (blink and you’ll miss it) and the other on Gillygate very close to York St. John Uni. It’s all ran by the wonderful Nicola Peacock and her fantastic team. Nicola knows all there is to know about the food and coffee they sell and can put together an excellent bacon butty on Via Vecchia’s cheese bread. The coffee comes from Origin Coffee Roasters and no matter who makes your drink the coffee is wonderful. All food products are baked freshly every day and sourced locally which should keep everyone visiting York very happy. If you manage to get to the Lendal Bridge one early enough you’ll find yourself being led there by the smell of bacon.

The team put together a great range of sandwiches everyday and the shop at Gillygate do wonderful warm sandwiches and platters to suit everyone’s tastes. The bread Perky uses is an art form by itself, none of this plastic bread or stuff that looks rustic, all the bread is supplied by the guys at Via Vecchia so is artisan to the very core and is literally produced 2 minutes away from both shops on the Shambles. Bluebird Bakery also have some input with their temptingly gooey brownies. Honestly you’ll have to take one home. Both sites are completely different to each other but still a great place to chill out with a lovingly made coffee and a slab of cake. The ranges of cakes they have everyday is amazing and their NobHobs rival the Mcvities version.

In Cat’s uni days Nicola even made porridge with marshmallows along with a hot chocolate with marshmallows. Unforgettable really. If you have a take out drink from Perky take a look at the cup and try not to smile.

Things to most definitely try: Bacon butty on cheese bread and a flat white.

Things to look out for: Any cakes that catch your eye and the awesome tote bags. Help promote Perky Peacock! Oh and watch out for the rising water line when it rains badly at Lendal Bridge.

Christmas Shopping with Busy Bees Paper Beagle

I’ve wrote about Paper Beagle before because I love the company and I hope you do too. It’s a company with heart and soul that helps the beautiful bees all while making us eco-friendly. They do some gorgeous wedding favours but I’m going to show you what you can buy to make someones Christmas that extra bit special.

These bracelets are gorgeous. They’re called ‘Honey Bee Mine’ and would be great for any ladies in your life. The colours are reminiscent of honey and the bee charm reminds you on who your gift is helping. The bracelet itself looks quite dainty but the charm makes it special. All the materials used in the bracelet, and the gift box, are responsibly sourced and it (like all the Paper Beagle products are created in the UK.) An added bonus is that looking at the bee will quite possibly remind you of an English Summer. The bracelet can be purchased here.

Something a bit more Christmassy with a modern twist is the hessian Christmas wreath. I think these are a great idea as they’re a modern take on the traditional, look cool and stylish and because they’re made from hessian can be disposed of responsibly. Why not buy one to put up in the living room rather than on the outside door? You can choose between red or green ribbon to fit in with your decor. Excellent! The wreath is also available in yarn for something a tad different. Want more info on the hessian wreath? Click here.

We have the wreath sorted so what about some personalised stockings. These are again made from hessian and look very different than the normal red ones. You can have everyone asking where you got the lovely stockings from. They’re a small size for small gifts and would look great with the kids initials or for the grown-ups. The rustic charm will have you dragging them out every year. They’re available here.

This next gift is something that every woman (or man) with a head of hair frequently use… hairpins! These ones are very quirky and are made from brass so the colour will stand out in most hair colours. The ‘bee hive’ hairpin is part of the wedding favours collection but would make a great stocking filler and let’s face it they’ll most definitely get used. They also come to you already in a gift box so what’s not to love? Go take a look here.

Every year you always have those people that you want/ need to buy a little bit of something for but never know what to get. Maybe you don’t want it to be too expensive but you want to show your appreciation. I would recommend the Grow Your Own Christmas Tree Kit This is a present that’s a little unusual. Basically it’s a small gift box with seeds for a Christmas Tree in it. Give your gift, let them plant it and watch as their very own Christmas tree grows. It’s practically a present that will last a lifetime with the right care.

So we’ve talked about gifts but what about wrapping them? Paper Beagle has the solution and a very cute solution it is! This Candy Cane Wrapping Paper Set includes one sheet of paper, one snowflake printed tag, a length of jute string and an edible candy cane. Your presents will definitely stand out under the tree wrapped in this! The paper, tag and jute can be recycled after and the candy cane eaten. True christmas spirit!

Has an extra special treat we’ve been given an exclusive offer for all of you UK buyers! If you purchase something from Paper Beagle you’ll also receive a set of 6  gift tags for free… These ones to be exact.  Just add them to your basket, along with your other purchases, and enter the code RUDOLPH on the page. There’s no minimum spend just the requirement that you’ll love your purchase, and I’m sure you will.

All of Paper Beagle’s products are available to buy from Not On The High Street and to keep up to date you can follow them on Twitter, @paperbeagleUK.

NB If the promotional code doesn’t work for some reason please contact either myself or Paper Beagle and we’ll sort it out asap. x