GIFT GUIDES
2021 Online Shopping Gift Guide — Shop Australian Made
Have a Maker Christmas
Buy Direct from a Maker this gift-giving season, from our community of Australian small businesses and support small, local, handmade and ethical
Yep, it’s that time of year again. But this year is different.
This year is on the tail end of a rather difficult couple of years for us all, particularly the creative members of the Australian maker community.
They’ve been managing lockdowns, constraints to supply chains, homeschooling, and most importantly, the cancellation of large scale design markets in many states.
So this year, let’s send a message of support with our wallets.
Buying directly from a maker, through their own website, is 100% the best possible way to provide as much bang for your support buck as possible.
You see, when you buy directly, your money goes entirely to the maker themselves.
To give you a helping hand in providing this much needed encouragement to a vital segment of the Australian community this gift giving season, we’ve prepared a gift guide of amazing products created by makers of our community.
Go on, show them you care.
In the process you’ll find yourself with some super special, limited edition and often handcrafted gifts to give, and your money votes for a better world.
One where conscious consumption means buying directly from the person that makes the product, just like the old days.
We’ve included deadlines for delivery as they pertain to each of the businesses, so make sure you get in fast to avoid disappointment.
Click through to view more of the online stores. You might even see something you can send to someone as a massive HINT.
The links below will lead you through to the makers own online store. It might be on Etsy or it might be a standalone website. Either way, you can be certain if you use these links you are buying directly from a maker in the Australian community.
With a prolific output to rival Picasso, Heidi Helyard produces a range of limited edition jewellery and homewares from polymer clay, resin, fibre craft and repurposed materials.
Always advancing her own skills, Heidi’s emphasis on handmade with a keen eye for colour, pattern and contrast, Heidi’s style is instantly recognisable, highly coveted, and worn with pride.
Delivery Deadline:
Australia wide — 10th December
Based in Sydney, Blake Clay is a small handmade business owned and operated by Rhianna Blake. Producing wheel-thrown and hand-built forms with a strong focus on practical application, Rhianna produces a range of clay pieces with original glazes.
Delivery Deadline:
Regular Australia Post: Friday 10th December
Express Post: Wednesday 15th December
Inspired by the sea in her home studio on Gayamagal land in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Nicole Redenbach of Meraki Fire carefully crafts ceramic jewellery. Featuring handmade findings using recycled silver, Nicole’s surroundings; the beaches, the rock pools and the local bushland are evidently echoed in her simple and wearable designs.
Delivery Deadline:
Last orders by Thursday 16th December for delivery before Christmas
A Fiery Heart founder Gisela Spallek combines her love for colour and light by creating one-of-a-kind glass objects in her solar-powered kiln. Inspired by nature, her small collections of distinct, contemporary pieces make impressive gifts.
Delivery Deadline:
Order by 5 Dec (Parcel Post) or 12 Dec (Express Post) for guaranteed Christmas delivery within Australia
Artist and textile designer Victoria McGrane launched The Scenic Route to share her intricate illustrations inspired by her love of travel and the fresh colours of this wide brown land.
A super special offer this year, $5 from every one of these calendars sold, is donated directly to the Reef Restoration Foundation to fund coral nurseries in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Plus you get free shipping on calendars using the code CORALREEF!
Delivery Deadline:
Australia Wide — The cut off for Christmas deliveries is 29th November
From her studio in Woy Woy on the Central Coast of NSW Australia, Philly Cowdrey hand makes statement earrings (that come in their very own gift box!). Pops of colour, patterns and shapes, Philly’s earrings make a foolproof gift for the bold and eccentric people in your tribe.
Delivery Deadline:
Australia Wide — Wednesday 8th December for Parcel Post or Wednesday 15 December for Express Post
International Orders — Friday 26th November
Outer Island was founded in 2016 through the collaboration of partners Amy Ranck (graphic designer) and Stephanie Chambers (artist). The Sydney based couple are avid birders, snorkelers and bushwalkers who love to travel and love to collect. They hope their work inspires people to think about and appreciate the planet while simultaneously transporting them out of their everyday environment.
Delivery Deadline:
Australia Wide —
Encourage a loved one to learn a new skill, both in practice and in mindfulness. Sol Threads makes easy-to-use beginner embroidery kits that include video tutorials to take all of the guesswork out of learning a new hobby.
Delivery Deadline:
Australia Wide — 13th of December
All Betsy Blonde pieces are created by Jacqueline Betsy, in her studio amongst the Otway forest. A lover of jewellery from an early age, Betsy Blonde’s work is created using traditional metal working techniques incorporating hand selected gems and found vintage glass pieces. Every piece features silver or gold, sourced in Australia.
Delivery Deadline:
Since 2018, artist and photographer Charlotte Brandis has been designing simple, beautiful and superbly Australian keepsakes. Reflecting her deep respect for our landscapes and wildlife, you cannot go past Love From Shop for an extensive range of gifts like tote bags, brooches and notebooks, fabulous for hard to buy for family members.
With added options including greeting cards and gift wrap, you can consider Love From Shop your one and only gift shopping stop.
Delivery Deadline:
Australia wide — For Christmas deliveries, please place orders by 12th December
Michael Kovacs, aka Kurly, a life-long illustrator and lover of Australiana, has dedicated his business to producing some seriously super fun and gloriously colourful stuff.
From Galah shorts (pictured) to Chiko Roll stubby holders, Seagulls on tshirts, Cheezel socks, Brush Turkey beach towels…. You name an Australian cultural trope, Kurly has a product. Any gift from Kurly Wurly Bar will be the conversation starter of the day.
Delivery Deadline:
Australia wide — 20th December
Kiwi-born and Sydney-made Rowan Sivyer of Little Rowan Redhead is a compulsive maker. From original lino prints to intricate hand-carved botanical stamps or her range of stationery, there’s plenty of solutions to your gift giving problems to be found.
Delivery Deadline:
Based in Sydney (Dharug Nation), My Favourite Apron Co hand crafts a huge range of high quality adjustable aprons, oven mitts and pot holders in an amazing variety of fabrics, patterns, sizes and colours to suit every home cook.
Delivery Deadline:
Australia wide — Friday December 17th
A business borne out of lockdowns, Messy Jess creates colour in a range of glittery and fun jewellery.
Bring a smile to the sparkly members of your clan from the many possibilities in the Messy Jess handmade earring ranges.
Delivery Deadline:
Australia wide — 16th December 2021
Elizabeth Tuck a.k.a She’s that Wallflower is a surface and print designer from Sydney, whose work is inspired by her love of nature and colour. Elizabeth thrives on creating designs that are unique and express a sense of fun and playfulness. She hopes that you enjoy her work as much as she enjoys creating it!
Delivery Deadline:
Australia wide — 3rd December
Michelle Lewarton Smith creates Handmade Mixed Media Illustrations. Her playful Acrylic paintings and Lino Prints are inspired by food, Melbourne architecture, vintage cars and motorbikes.
Delivery Deadline:
Prints are made to order, therefore the turnaround time is 3 weeks for Australia. For the UK and overseas you will receive your print within 4 – 5 weeks.
Thank you for choosing to shop directly from the Australian creative community. All those featured are members of Make Good Things Happen, an online community supporting makers in business.
Would you like to join our flock? Click here to get started.
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