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

SUPPLIER VISIT

Hello and Happy New Year! Hope you all had a peaceful Christmas and rested well.

It’s January and with that come all the pressures of a new year - new you! I have started the year writing a ‘done’ list rather than a ‘to do’, this allows me to feel satisfied with what I’ve achieved and accomplished throughout 2018 rather than filling me with dread about what needs to be done in 2019. That said, there is always the promise of new adventures, new treasures to be found and more wonderful connections to be made.

Speaking of connections, last week I visited my fabric supplier, a company in Cheshire where I get all my designs printed. I email these guys regularly and rarely get to see them so it was great to put faces to names and re-connect.

The afternoon started with a catch up and discussion about new developments, costings and problem solving. Mum came along too to meet everyone, we enjoyed a cup of tea and a brainstorm.

We then had a tour around the factory, I got to see the machines where my designs are printed, the cutting room, the sewing department (where each item is machine sewn by hand!) It was a really inspiring afternoon and was great to get involved and really see how and where my products are made.

I had a chat with the daughter of the business about environmental issues and how the company are doing all they can at the time to reduce impact. There was water recycling from the dying process, cardboard and fabric core recycling, along with the fact that everything is done under one roof, reducing the need for transporting the goods by van, ship, plane. They even carry heavy rolls of fabric across the car park by hand each day!

Below you can view some photos of the day, if you have any questions about the process or anything else to do with how your wonderful goods are designed and produced then please do get in touch. hello@ruthholly.co.uk

FEATURED IN

Delighted to be featured once again in the latest issue of Warehouse Home. Ruth Holly's large birchwood textures tray was used as part of their 'PEELING GOOD' trend feature.

Warehouse home is a bi-annual design magazine, providing essential interior design inspiration for loft apartments and warehouse conversions as well as decorating ideas for incorporating vintage, industrial and reclaimed furniture in a modern home.

Can you spot it here on Page 14? 

PULSE London

Can't believe it's a whole 4 weeks nearly since we exhibited at PULSE London. It was our 2nd year on the bounce and was once again a great show. 

We hired a van to get all the products and stand props down from Yorkshire to the big smoke, set off early Saturday morning and arrived in time for a quick lunch and a speedy set up. Now when I say speedy, it was our quickest time of 5 hours! it usually takes a little longer, but the more times you exhibit at a show, the quicker it gets, especially if you plan and prep before hand. 

I opted for a similar set up to last year as the designs are quite similar, it's the product that has developed. So I had a feature shelf for the NEW greetings cards with captions, and we featured the kitchen ware in it's own area, making a stand out show of the tea towels in particular!

https://www.ruthholly.co.uk/shop-now/

Overall the footfall seemed down from 2017, but the number of visitors to our stand was great, and the orders we received were healthy. Many buyers tend to go away and come back, sometimes even a year later! Product wise, our kitchenware was very well received, along with art prints and cushions.

https://www.ruthholly.co.uk/shop-now/

Olympia was filled with enormous talent, every year the designer makers get better and I'm so inspired by this wonderful community and so happy to be part of it :) My favourites included the following;

• SEVIN
• Plewsy
• Lara Gorlach

These guys had their brands on point! The completeness of the stand, their strong visual identity, and a classic, timeless product :)

http://www.sevinlondon.co.uk

http://www.plewsy.com

http://www.laragorlachstudio.com