Shop Independent - Small Business Christmas Gift guide

Shopping with independent businesses brings joy, creativity and uniqueness that you just don’t find with bigger brands.

We’ve put together a small gift guide, including this years most popular goods from Ruth Holly and some of our other favourite designer makers.

Hopefully you will find some inspiration and choose to champion small business again this year.

Thank you. x

Stylish Handmade Christmas Stocking £26.95

Starting us off with the super special completely unique Christmas stockings, that have been sustainably made using offcuts of our textile favourites. A pre-Christmas gift that keeps on giving every year!

2022 Abstract Art A3 Wall Calendar £16.95

A great gift to keep you organised the whole year through, you can even cut out and frame each print to keep!

Cedar | Yule - Large Essential Oil Candle, £30

We love Cedar candles, and this one is just so Christmassy! A cosy lush gift for special friends and family members.

Duo of Travel Bags, Golden Ochre with Charcoal Grey, £45.95

So bright and cheerful! Really bringing joy and creativity to everyday life. These zip bags are the perfect size to fit in your handbag, or to store your travel-sized essentials.

AMATI SMALL EARRINGS SILVER, £70

Made with such care and consideration, these earrings from ANUKA are ethical, sustainable and handmade in the UK.

Organic Textures Wall Art Print, £30

Add colour and texture to someones life by gifting them a piece of art! A beautiful harmony of subtle tones, bold pattern and striking texture, make this art print truly unique.

Set of Four Pink and Blue Rectangle Placemats, £44.95

A forever favourite, these pretty pastel placemats are timeless. Creating a beautiful dining experience for whoever shall receive them!

Decorative Home Accessories by Ruth Holly

A selection of decorative home and garden accessories, featuring abstract art patterns and textures, by Ruth Holly.

Introducing The Nomad Splash serving platter/ chopping board, £24.95

A visually striking sustainably sourced eucalyptus chopping board/serving platter, featuring our popular Nomad Splash print, in charcoal greys and baked yellow ochres tones. A great addition to any kitchen, the eye-catching, statement print makes it perfect to be on permanent display.

Use as a chopping board, a bread or cheese board, or perhaps a serving platter for all your favourite nibbles.

Style it with The Nomad Texture table runner, £54.95

Striking table decor with extra wow factor! Our 100% cotton table runner is digitally printed using reactive inks, ensuring rich & vibrant colours. It's wide hem detail is hand finished in the UK.

Set the table with these stunning black bowls from Nordic Nest from £9 and this sea grass bowl from Green Tulip £6.

Finally welcoming guests? Use Nomad Splash coasters £5

Scatter these around to protect your surfaces and add a pop of colour to your home.

Celebrating 6 years of Ruth Holly!

We are six!

This month we celebrated our 6th business Birthday! A huge THANKYOU to all who continue to support my small business, a particularly tough year, but also incredibly rewarding.

As stockists closed closed their doors, trade shows were cancelled (and not refunded!) and suppliers struggled to stay open, this last year was tricky to say the least. Not to mention overwhelming Covid anxiety, which then dominoed into general anxiety, and at times, it was a real push to keep going.

That said, in our 6th year Ruth Holly grew by 453%! Developing new stockist relationships despite no trade shows, and nurturing existing ones, sourcing new suppliers to facilitate your much appreciated lovely flow of orders, and seeing press coverage sky rocket as I launched the incredibly popular Nomad collection, we also saw a rush on Keeping-in-touch kits, as friends and family reached out to one another. All this alongside a thoroughly eventful personal development period too, how very blessed.

We celebrated…

in the garden with a big foil balloon, and a homemade plum cake, it was delish!

Plum Cake Recipe

Ingredients

Serves: 12

• 150g caster sugar

• 115g butter

• 140g plain flour

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 2 eggs

• 1 pinch salt

• 3 plums, pitted and sliced

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon/mixed spice, or to taste

• 1 tablespoon caster sugar, for sprinkling

Method

Prep:15min › Cook:45min › Ready in:1hr

Preheat oven to 180 C / Gas 4.

Mix sugar and butter with a fork/spoon until fluffy or with electric mixer. Mix in flour and baking powder and sift into creamed mixture. Beat in eggs and salt. Mix everything well until creamy.

Pour batter into a greased 26cm round tin. Decorate the top with the plums and sprinkle with 1-2 tablespoons sugar and cinnamon.

Bake in preheated oven for 40-50 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Cool to room temperature and then enjoy!

Add tones of Yellow to your interior decor, to create a happy home.

Looking forward to a brighter future… after Living Coral in 2019 and Classic Blue in 2020, PANTONE® introduces Ultimate Gray + Illuminating Yellow into the mix for 2021, perfect to create a happy home!

2021 PANTONE® Colour of the Year is described as ‘A marriage of colour conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting’.

Soft Grey and Yellow Ochre abstract wall art print - 'Nomad Splash Eclipse' - from £25

Practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, the union of PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating is one of strength and positivity. It is a story of colour that encapsulates deeper feelings of thoughtfulness with the promise of something sunny and friendly.

These tones can be found in our very own Nomad collection, active designs evoking travel nostalgia, holiday happiness and inspiring creativity.

SHOP NOMAD HERE

Gift Guide 2020: A selection of our favourite goods

And sigh….. This year has been like no other right!? - meaning we are all wanting, and needing, to squeeze all the joy we can out of Christmas this year.

Feeling those warm fuzzy vibes that are so important for well being, and mental health, the real message of Christmas, we know, is not about gifts, or material things but about those we love. This year lots of us will be unable to see and spend time with our tribe, so although not fundamental, sending cards and gifts this year will feel extra special.

With limited opportunity to visit the high street, we have all been able to relax in our own homes and search online for gifts and goodies. Finding the perfect present for your mum, partner or friend takes time and consideration, so I thought I’d help out and share a selection of our favourite goods, sure to put a smile on your loved one’s faces when they unwrap on Christmas day.

**Remember we can send parcels directly to your chosen ones, just add a gift message at the checkout and we will gift wrap and send a special card with it, cutting out the middle (post!) man.**

For the style conscious: Limited Edition Wool - Cashmere Scarf £63

These beauties have been incredibly popular this season. In a choice of 3 designs, featuring abstract prints from our classic Signature Collection, our limited edition scarves are made from a luxurious wool cashmere blend, a stylish statement piece delicate enough to be worn all year round, making a luxury gift.

Shop all Scarves HERE

For Mr or Mrs Organised: Wall Art Calendar £14.95

We all know that one friend who has it all figured out, their secret? A 2021 Wall Art Calendar by Ruth Holly, featuring beautiful abstract textures. Each month has a unique art print which you can cut out and frame after use. The abstract surface pattern prints have a luxury, fine art feel, and are inspired by ‘nature’s own art’.

Shop Wall Calendar HERE

For the Art Lover: Soft Grey and Yellow Ochre abstract wall art print from £25

Creative friends or interiors obsessed family. These wall art prints are from our current Nomad collection, active designs evoking travel nostalgia and inspiring creativity. Stunning art prints for your home, office or gallery wall. Available in 2 sizes and delivered to you safely flat packed.

Shop Wall Art Prints HERE

Lord or Lady of the Kitchen: Abstract Textured Cotton Tea Towel £12.95

Don’t touch that one, it’s just for show! Ahh those kitchens that are just pristine, one can never have too many tea towels darling! 100% cotton, digitally printed using reactive inks, ensuring rich & vibrant colours that last.

Shop Tea Towels HERE

Interiors obsessed: Baked Yellow Ochre with Charcoal Cushion - 'Nomad Texture' - from £48

Scatter cushions galore! Bring a little sunshine to someone’s day with our Nomad Texture design made from OEKO-TEX® cotton, inspired by the hidden beauty of natural textures, across Great Britain.

Shop all Cushions HERE

For the ‘Selfie’ Queen: Red abstract pattern Pocket Mirror - 'Earth' £7.95

The perfect postable gift. Small and compact, yet with a striking pattern sure to make an impact!

Shop all pocket mirrors HERE

For the Foodie: Set of Four, Charcoal Grey and Yellow, Round Placemats - 'Nomad Splash' £44.95

Found in the kitchen or at the dining table, for the person who knows the way to your heart is healthy, wholesome food with wonderful company. Striking, original designs to give your table the extra wow factor! Wipeable matt laminate face, with a cork reverse.

Shop all placemats HERE

* Don't forget, to make sure your Christmas post arrives on time, the last day to order this year is December 17th*

Why shop small, and how to support independent businesses during lockdown.

Wow! - the last few weeks and months have been incredible. The power of the people is starting to really shift, and the support for small independent businesses is becoming stronger every year. It’s no secret, this year has been one of the toughest yet for small business, including at Ruth Holly, but with the support of lovely loyal customers and the flurry of likeminded conscious consumers, we’re thriving!

Shopping small and choosing independents means you are choosing to think outside the box, you are thoughtfully curating your life, consciously picking goods that will mean something to you and to your loved ones. It’s true, it takes a little more time, but with anything that takes time, the results are a whole lot sweeter.

But how do I shop small and support independent if I can’t go outside? Our all important high street is of course, one of the first places to visit when wanting to support independents. Our local greengrocer, butcher, gift shop, all rely on us to bring them custom. Walking to purchase locally with a stretch of the legs and some fresh air, not only does you good, but helps our communities thrive. However, during lockdown, we really have been limited about where we can physically visit, making it all too easy to jump onto Amazon and other large retailers.

There are loads of online platforms now who support small independents; makers markets and small business finders, all it takes is a little time and goodwill to search the web, and you’ll be sure to find a hidden gem! There are a few links in my blog from last year.

We do also understand as independents, that sometimes our goods are possibly not in your budget, and thats fine! You can still support by not spending a penny, simply by engaging with us on social media, good old fashioned word of mouth, and leaving reviews.

You can follow Ruth Holly on Instagram and Facebook, or please review on Google here.

Small Business, Big Difference. #SmallBizSatUK

Top 3 Sustainable Small Businesses

An ever more pressing concern, how long will our planet continue to withstand the detrimental effects humans are having on the natural world?

As a creative wholly inspired by our natural world, it is imperative my values are mirrored in my goods and services. Known for making decisions using my heart, I continue to practice responsible sourcing, sustainability and eco-awareness where possible. Sourcing and selling with integrity.

I learn from other businesses larger than mine, and practise what i preach by making the majority of my purchases from thoughtful, sustainable businesses.

Alongside Ruth Holly of course, here’s a brief run down of some of my favourites, happy browsing!

Zero Waste Club

The Future Kept

The Kind Store

Autumn Home Decor - Hygge & 'The Nature Table'

I asked my Mum, a creative writer like myself, to write a guest blog post about Autumn. Hopefully it will inspire you as it has me, and will allow us all the draw on the positives of an often tough season for many, especially at this time of year. Thanks Mummy!

———————-

Autumn is my favourite season. by Sue Fletcher

"There is something incredibly nostalgic and significant about the annual cascade of autumn leaves." Joe L Wheeler

For me, Autumn, the transition of Summer into Winter, is when the blankets of green are replaced by reds; yellows; burnt orange; copper and gold. It's when the silhouette of a fallen leaf shows more starkly and thus more beautiful, upon the earth.

As a child I was encouraged to forage and collect. Walking home from Primary school every day I  would bring my Mum a wayside flower; sometimes just its head, plucked with plump little fingers from some crevice. One day I took her a stone because, " today there were no flowers"...

In Autumn however the pickings improved, there were acorns, with or without cups; conkers; empty hazelnut pods; spinning jennys and a plethora of fallen leaves. All lovingly curated on the Hall table that became simply ' The Nature Table', where I would deposit the day's offerings. It was a passage of childhood that I tried to encourage in my own daughter.

Image from Pinterest.

There are many unique joys of Autumn. It's a time of preparation where a jar of jam made, and then opened in Winter, bursts with the mellow smells and tastes of the previous season.

I don't mind the shortening of the days too much. It gives me permission to hunker down with a hot cup of something; light the candles; a good book or a notepad, the Ruth Holly notepads and beautiful linen journals prompt that fresh clean start to capturing the new season and if a log fire is thrown in - heaven! It can be a time of reflection and an opportunity to take forward positive lessons learned and the hope of new beginnings.

I like to 're-fresh my home in Autumn - make it more 'hygge-like' and there's an easy way to do this - I introduce throws and I replace Spring/Summer cushions with the more warm and earthy tones of the Ruth Holly Signature range and the Earth and Wholesome designs. When complimented by the warm light of a matching lampshade, the feeling is complete!

"Fall has always been my favourite season, The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if Nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale"

Laren DeStefano

Living Off The Land

THE SIMPLER THE LIFE, THE GREATER THE BLESSINGS.

In these challenging times, I have turned to the simple things in life. Finding joy from small pleasures and priceless pursuits, spending more time in nature, and looking at ways to protect our environment, doing my very small bit to contribute where I can.

Not entirely selfless though! - these changes are benefitting me, and will hopefully continue to in the coming years. I have stopped eating meat, travel far less (including car travel), tend to my garden more, protect insects and wildlife where I can, and am generally more conscious, and live life a little slower.

Taking a step further than I am able to right now, are my lovely friends Rachel and Nick. Once Halifax dwellers like myself (in fact I met them as they bought my old house!), they uprooted from Yorkshire back in 2019 and are now the proud owners of a beautiful property, with outbuildings and farm land, in Dunbar, Scotland.

Rachel and Nick always aspired to live off the land, and live a sustainable life away from the rat race. In June 2019 they made decision to set up small-holding and Nick swiftly started looking for properties. By August they had made offer on Beltonford Villa, and got keys end of September!

I was lucky enough to join them for a day and had a full tour of the property, including polytunnel and 40 tree orchard! We had a beach walk, I picked veg for our dinner and I left feeling happy and content, and100% more wholesome than when I arrived.

I asked Rachel for a little break down of events as she really has made it look super easy - especially with 2 little ones under 5!

Here’s her timeline…

• we moved in September 2019

• we spent the Winter sorting out the house, and repairing, securing fencing & borders etc.

• in February 2020 we put up poly tunnel and the first animals arrived… six hens and two piglets!

• March saw us planting the 40 tree orchard – apples, plums, pears! We planted fruit bushes gooseberry, redcurrant, blackcurrant, loganberry, blackberry, raspberry and 300 hedging plants for wildlife corridor along property boundary.

• Late March we sowed seeds in the poly tunnel and dug the field in preparation for the veggie patch.

• In April the lambs arrived! (Pet lambs from a friend’s sheep farm) – Timmy, Jimmy and Hope.

• This Summer was sowing more seeds! maintenance weeding, harvesting, digging and potting up in the polytunnel.

• More recently we have been picking apples, freezing blackberries and other fruits & making jams and chutneys etc!

I can honestly say, this is the way forward.

If we can somehow embrace digital world, but loosen the grip it seems to have on all our lives, and move towards whats real and raw and good, them I’m pretty sure civilisation would be happier and healthier.

I asked Rachel to share her pro’s and con’s - and it’s clear she agrees.

PROS

• watching the kids pick and eat veg straight from the plant (peas/ strawberries/ berries are their favourites!)

• giving the kids the opportunity to help feed and clean out the animals

• 100% home-grown meals – no nasties!

• Spending more time outside and noticing the seasons

CONS

• we haven’t found any yet!!