With the holidays just around the corner, it’s time to get gift shopping, friends! If you’re looking to support small businesses and Canadian artisans this year, consider buying unique gifts from our local retailers that focus on mental health and wellness to help your loved ones end the year feeling and looking good.
Fortunately, there are plenty of Canadian-made products that celebrate self-care AND provide both relaxation and comfort! To find the perfect gift for each of your loved ones this year, explore our guide to amazing artisan products made right here in Ontario, Canada and have fun shopping!!!
WHEN THEY LOVE YUMMY SCENTS:
SHOP THE TINY ART SHACK IN ELMVALE
Coffee in the morning, your mother's perfume, homemade cookies baking, hot apple cider... Have you ever noticed how the smell of something can immediately trigger a vivid memory or stir up emotions? This is because scents bypass the thalamus and go straight to the olfactory bulb -- aka the brain's smell centre -- and encourage immediate emotional response.
Bring joy to someone's space this season with a yummy-smelling candle like this one from our friends at The Tiny Art Shack in Elmvale!
These adorable 9oz soy candles come in super cozy and happy scents like Doughnut Shop - Vanilla, Pie Stand, Winter Cabin, and Nana's Kitchen! Each candle comes beautifully packaged in a darling box, ready for gifting, and is sure to boost everyone's spirits this Christmas. >> Shop Now
The Tiny Art Shack is a local retailer for MARNIE & MICHAEL goods and a haven for handmade, one-of-a-kind items created by talented artisans across Canada. From handmade soaps to rustic signs to wooden boards, pottery, clothing and more, you're sure to find sweet and eclectic giftables there any day of the week!
>> SHOP THE TINY ART SHACK ONLINE
Visit them at 3-34 Queen Street West, Elmvale, ON L0L 1P0.
WHEN FOOD IS THEIR LOVE LANGUAGE:
VISIT THE 100 MILE STORE IN CREEMORE
You know the saying, "the fastest way to someone's heart is through their stomach?" I have certainly found this to be true! The kitchen is truly the heart of the home, a place where family and friends connect and are nourished -- heart, soul and belly!
For a personalized touch on your gift-giving this season, consider making or picking up some delicious artisan goodies for your friends and family to enjoy. Whether you choose mouth-watering shortbread cookies, easy-to-make mason jar soup kits, small batch maple syrup or honey, jellies and crackers for charcuterie-board entertaining, or other tasty treats from a local vendor like the 100 Mile Store, food is always a love language worth fulfilling.
A "culinary paradise", The 100 Mile Store supports small to midsize organic farms, as well as artisanal and fair trade producers sourced from within a 100-mile radius of the store. Visit them downtown Creemore to explore their full selection of small-batch goods, fair trade coffees, handmade art pieces, treats, and more!
>> SHOP THE 100 MILE STORE ONLINE
Visit them at 176 Mill Street, Creemore, ON L0M 1G0.
WHEN THEY LOVE GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK:
SHOP MARNIE & MICHAEL + THE SOGGY PUFFIN
This winter we collaborated with the owner of The 100 Mile Store, Linda, on her second business, The Soggy Puffin, to create two sustainable SOULBOTTLE + MARNIE & MICHAEL BAG bundles, with up to 15% of profits going towards our mental health initiative. With two brand-new, all-gender, leather bags to choose from, you can learn more about our collaboration here and then shop your preferred bundle below!!!
>> SHOP THE ADVENTURE BAG + SOULBOTTLE BUNDLE
>> SHOP THE FLIGHT BAG + SOULBOTTLE BUNDLE
WHEN THEY LOVE CRAFTY GIFTS:
EXPLORE BRADFORD'S LITTLE MARKET
If you're on the search for a unique gift for that hard-to-shop-for someone on your shopping list, look no further than Bradford's Little Market! Featuring Canadian-made reusable, recycled and handmade beauty and wellness products, home decor, trinkets, baby items, fashion, and much more, this is your one-stop gift shop!
>> SHOP BRADFORD'S LITTLE MARKET ONLINE
Visit them at 4-140 Holland Street West, Bradford, ON, L3Z 2A9.
WHEN YOU NEED SOMETHING ONE-OF-A-KIND:
SHOP GARAGE 13 IN EUGENIA
If you're in the Beaver Valley area and want to experience quality items that are a little bit different, check out Garage 13! With a range of locally-made products including hand-painted wooden paddles, one-of-a-kind pottery, handwoven tapestries, custom jewellery, farm-inspired art and seed cards, handcrafted leather bags and more, their focus remains on the passion and growth of local makers right here in Ontario.
For local foodies, Garage 13 is also the first of its kind in the area with a large-scale commercial kitchen space available for rent by chefs, caterers, farmers and local food processors! Very cool. Check them out to learn more!
>> SHOP GARAGE 13 ONLINE
Visit them at 194355 Grey Road 13, Eugenia, ON N0C 1E0.
WHEN YOU NEED GIFTS FOR EVERYDAY LIFE:
SHOP SHEPS GENERAL STORE IN MIDLAND
Featuring a lifestyle collection of fashion, home, bath and body for the entire family, SHEPS GENERAL STORE in downtown Midland, Ontario offers beautifully curated gifts for everyday life. We love their cozy Georgian Bay sweaters, eco shop items, themed children's books with matching pyjamas, and leather bags -- just to name a few!
SHEPS General Store brings the utmost quality and style to their cozy shop in Midland, offering local goods as well as trending top brands in clothes, shoes, home decor, toys, lifestyle items, baby goods and accessories. Shop online or in-store for all your holiday gift-giving needs!
>> SHOP SHEPS ONLINE
Visit them at 309 King St, Midland, ON L4R 3M5.
WHEN YOU WANT BEAUTIFUL & FUNCTIONAL:
SHOP INHABIT DESIGN & INTERIORS
INHABIT is an interior design company that carries functional, beautifully unique products with an urban design aesthetic at its storefront in downtown Barrie. Swing by for an in-person shopping experience to remember, or shop their curated collection of goods from the comfort of home via their e-store here.
Need a hostess gift, Secret Santa or a little something for the home? We especially love their bath soaks for a night of TLC, wooden serving boards for all the holiday entertaining to come, and their super cute tree ornaments!
Looking for yourself or your partner? Be sure to check out their incredible wall art collection and selection of leather bags, too.
>> SHOP INHABIT DESIGN & INTERIORS
Visit them at 120 Dunlop St. East, Downtown Barrie, ON L4M 1A4.
WHEN YOU NEED A CREATIVE OUTLET:
SHOP JOURNALS & BOOKS
Journals make wonderful gifts for all ages because they are beautiful tools for healing, allowing us to openly express our thoughts without fear of judgment or criticism. Handmade with soft leather covers that are luxurious to touch and lined pages inside for total flexibility, our journals can be used for creative writing, poetry, drawing, to-do lists, course notes -- anything the heart desires!
Whether for your teen, husband, best friend, teacher, neighbour or fellow mompreneur, our journals are easy to carry around for writing on-the-go. Choose from various leather colours and MINI, SMALL or LARGE sizes for everyone on your gift-giving list!
Or, if you prefer guided journaling, check out our MINI MEMOIR MEETS GUIDED JOURNAL that features excerpts from my own experience of loving someone through mental illness and my lifelong journey through coping-surviving-healing.
>> SHOP MINI MEMOIR MEETS GUIDED JOURNAL
For more MARNIE & MICHAEL gifts, you can SHOP ALL COLLECTIONS on our site until Dec. 21 and get online delivery, or shop in person at any of these local retailers to bring home before Christmas!
Well, friends, that wraps up our 2022 list of gift ideas for those who love shopping local! All of these curated products make thoughtful holiday gifts that focus on mental health, self-care and wellness while also supporting small businesses within Canada! What unique products or retailers would you add?
Whether it's a bar of soap, a cozy sweater or a handmade journal, these gifts are sure to fill your loved ones with joy this holiday season while helping them take time out for themselves. Please remember to take care of yourself this season, too.
Happy shopping and thank you for supporting our local retailers!
Jennifer XO
