Christmas Local Lust List Part 1: 18 amazing gifts from Canberra businesses
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Tis the season to go shopping, and there’s a whole lot of Christmas gifts to be found in our own backyard.
Spoil your loved ones with a beautiful, locally-shopped gift that supports our community. As per our own HerCanberra tradition, we’ve brought back our annual Christmas Local Lust List to make it easy for you. This year we have so much local goodness that we’re bringing FOUR gift guides your way—one each week in the lead-up to Christmas!
Add a little local to your outfit.
The Gelato Shell linen shoulder bag by Hue Lane
The Gelato Shell linen shoulder bag (RRP $190) by Hue Lane features a beautiful, painterly design by local designer, Clare Mazitelli. Perfect for shopping, markets and beach trips and for adding a joyful, colourful element to your outfit.
Hue Lane’s accessories and homewares are crafted in Australia from the highest quality materials.
Buy from huelane.com.au—or catch Clare at Undercurrent Design Market this weekend!
The Christmas Gift That Gives Back
Made From Good Deeds’ 2023 Good Deeds Calendar
Plan your year and spread good vibes along the way with the limited edition 2023 Good Deeds Calendar. Back by popular demand, each set features monthly cards with three good deeds you can check off as a simple way to make a positive difference in your world.
Paired with a pencil and handmade timber stand, these desk calendars make the perfect Christmas gift for colleagues, friends and loved ones.
Get yours today! An exclusive bundle deal is available now from madefromgooddeeds.com
Beautiful Baubles
Canberra Glassworks Signature baubles: 2022 edition
A must-have Christmas classic, Canberra Glassworks‘ signature baubles (RRP from $55) are an annual delight. This International Year of Glass, adorn your tree in these limited edition colours: apricot, teal, aubergine, gold and clear.
And there’s so much more where these beautiful baubles came from—dazzle with a gift from a treasure trove of beautiful glass. Whether it is a gift under the tree, an eye-catching feature to your Christmas spread or a special treat just for you, you’ll find it amongst the eclectic range of handcrafted Australian glass at Canberra Glassworks.
Shop instore Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm. Extended trading between Wednesday 21 to Friday 23 December, 9 am to 5pm.
11 Wentworth Avenue Kingston Canberra | 6260 7005 | canberraglassworks.com
A jolly green drink
Poncho Fox Absinthe from POP Canberra
Poncho Fox Absinthe ($78) is the real deal. Made with locally foraged herbs and distilled with care and attention, this is a drink for the true spirit lover. Perfectly colour-matched for the big day, this is a wow gift that is slightly unusual, a little unknown, and completely delicious.
A scrub that smells good enough to eat
Thirsty So Fresh Body Scrub from POP Canberra
So fresh. Decadent, rich chocolate colliding with fresh, zesty mint makes the perfect shower time treat ($14). Exfoliate and luxuriate in this sumptuous combination of roasted cacao husks and natural peppermint oil. You’ll be giving the gift of feeling sparkling clean with a delicious glow.
That just-baked smell without cooking
Gingerbread Candle from POP Canberra
This will transport you. Christmas eve, sleigh bells jingling off in the distance, everyone tucked up in bed… while you smash the kids’ gingerbread in secret. These Gingerbread Candles ($24.90) smell like a freshly baked pile of gingerbread people, for the festive lover or grinch who loves a good bickie.
POP Canberra is the only one-stop local shop with over 250 makers under one roof—there is literally something for everyone!
Pop into POP at 27 Lonsdale St in Braddon—they’re open every single night until at least 9 pm from now until Christmas, so dive in and discover this all-local wonderland! Like to stalk before you buy? Check out their Instagram!
Say cheese!
Hand-Forged Cheese Knife by Daniel Venables from Gingerfinch
Shop local, shop Gingerfinch this Christmas. With stunning gifts for all, you will surely tick off those Christmas list items.
One of our favourite pieces is the Hand-Forged Cheese Knife ($120) made by local knife-maker Daniel Venables. Each cheese knife is one-of-a-kind and is exclusive to Gingerfinch!
Shop online at gingerfinch.com.au
Uncover 24 days of Canberra!
Canberra Region Advent Calendars from Sharwood Hampers
Everyone loves an advent calendar, and it’s even better when the reveal is something Canberra-made!
This year, Sharwood Hampers has not one, but two, Canberra Region Advent Calendars to choose from—one with alcohol and one without! Both boast 24 fun and fabulous products all made in the Canberra region.
But that’s not the only way to support local this Christmas—buy a Sharwood Hamper and you’ll support over 60 local businesses from around the region!
View their Christmas range at sharwoodhampers.com.au
Quintessential Canberra Scenes
Limited edition photography prints from Just Ruby and Me
Blushing pink and orange sunset settles behind Canberra’s iconic silhouette of Black Mountain and Telstra Tower on a warm summer’s night captured by Just Ruby and Me. Each limited edition photography print is professionally printed to order on archival paper, ready to frame for your home, office or a thoughtful gift for someone special near or far.
One native tree is planted in bushfire-affected areas by One Tree Planted with each print! Always eco-friendly using recyclable, sustainably sourced 100% plastic-free Australian packaging, wrapped with love in complimentary hand-stamped Aussie-made gift wrapping making it a perfect present.
Buy online from justrubyandme.com
Locally made products from over 25 artists, designers and makers
Trove Canberra
Trove Canberra is the Capital’s only maker-run cooperative featuring a carefully curated selection of locally made products from over 25 artists, designers and makers. Each time you visit their Dickson shop you’ll meet one of their members!
Trove Canberra are passionate about supporting local creative businesses and stock a range of products including fresh flowers, original art, jewellery, ceramics, adult and children’s fashion, gifts, gourmet food and homewares.
They’ll be open extended hours during December to make it easier for you to shop local this Christmas. Join them on Friday 2 December for late-night shopping and enjoy discounts and festive nibbles until 8 pm.
Like a chance to win a $20 voucher ? Sign up for monthly news on all things Trove—one lucky subscriber wins a $20 voucher each month!
Find out more at trovecanberra.com.au
Give the gift of health
STMNA Bioactives’ Healthspan
STMNA Bioactives have created their first product called ‘Healthspan’.
Canberra born and raised founder and lead biochemist, Holly Williamson, has scientifically formulated bioactive compounds, extracted from plants into single daily dose capsules. The formulation is scientifically proven to support daily health and prolong your ‘healthspan’.
Some of the benefits include but are not limited to improving energy, concentration, gut health, metabolism, sleep and reduction of pain, inflammation, stress and anxiety. It is full of natural anti-inflammatories, antioxidants and adaptogens.
Holly recommends trialing Healthspan for three months to feel optimal benefits and is offering a special Christmas deal for HerCanberra readers—20% off a 3-month package usually valued at $63 a month. The Christmas box includes: 1 x glass jar (30 daily doses), 2 x refill pouches, paid monthly for three months.
Simply use the code HERCBR at stmna.com.au
Wear a little Canberra pride
Bus Stop Pendants from KIN Gallery
Bus Stop Pendants by Cass Partington. Available in Silver, yellow or rose gold ($150- $315_. Cass Partington grew up in Belconnen, the bus stop pendants are an homage to many a cold morning in the iconic bus shelters.
Jewellery is at the heart of everything KIN does, but they’re more than a conventional jewellery shop! In addition to browsing ever-changing shelves, visitors may find themselves meeting artists in residence, watching or participating in a jewellery-making workshop or talking to their specialist staff (every member of the KIN team is a practicing jeweller) about commissioning a custom-made piece.
Pop in store to G06/27 Lonsdale Street in Braddon or shop online at kin.gallery
Sustainable serving
Thor’s Hammer Breadboards and Cheeseboards
Give these stunning and sustainable Recycled Timber Breadboards and Cheeseboards pride of place in your kitchen. Made from high-quality recycled hardwood timber offcuts, Thor’s Hammer has a selection to choose from and each one is a unique size, shape and timber species.
Visit the showroom, workshop and gallery at 10 Mildura St, Griffith or shop online at thors.com.au.
Quirky Kids’ Gifts
Museum Shop at the National Museum of Australia
The Museum Shop stocks beautiful homewares, glassware, jewellery, First Nations products, an extensive selection of toys, books, bath and body products, candles, giftware and more.
For kids that love dinos or puzzles (or poo?), check out this super-cute Who Did This Poo? jigsaw puzzle ($33), Dinosaurs Memory Match ($29) and Pink Felted Dinosaur Ornament ($24.95)!
Visit the Museum Shop at the National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula or shop online at shop.nma.gov.au.
Potted pleasure
Dolly Pot range from Bliss Garden & Giftware
As you’d expect from a garden and giftware boutique, Bliss is big on decorative indoor plants—so pots from Jones & Co make perfect sense! One of their more recent designs is the Dolly Pot Range—this sweet planter took lots of iterations over several years for J&C to reach the perfect shape, size and ruffled trim. Sometimes good design takes a little extra time!
The Dolly Pot is worth every minute, available in two sizes and eight different shades you can create your own bespoke palette with up-to-the-minute colours ready to play with at home!
Located in Canberra’s nursery district Pialligo, Bliss Garden & Giftware specialises in unique pots, plants and décor for your home. Pop into Bliss at 8 Beltana Road, Pialligo or visit them online at blissgardengiftware.com.au.
The gift of glowing skin
iS Clinical’s Fire & Ice Facial at Renew Skin
The legendary Fire & Ice Facial ($250) is designed to rapidly & safely resurface and rejuvenate the skin with little to no downtime. The professional pharmaceutical-grade treatment helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improves the look of uneven skin tone and blemish-prone skin, resulting in a more youthful complexion.
Loved by celebrities worldwide for event-ready glowing skin, this phenomenal 30-minute treatment refines, rejuvenates and resurfaces. Featuring two professional masques and a unique combination of other innovative iS Clinical products, it’s suitable for all skin styles.
Renew Skin is at Level 1, 83 Gozzard Street, Gungahlin. Get in touch by calling 6183 0625, emailing info@renewskinaustralia.com.au or visiting renewskinaustralia.com.au.
Local colour for you and your home
Polka Luka
Bring some delicious colour to your dressing and your home. Designed in Canberra and made in limited numbers, Polka Luka resin jewellery and homewares make the perfect Christmas present.
Available online at polkaluka.com.au or catch them at Undercurrent Design Market at the National Portrait Gallery from Friday 25–Sunday 27 November.
The beauty of our country on your coffee table
‘AUSTRALIA’ coffee table book from Scott Leggo Gallery
Scott Leggo is one of Australia’s leading landscape photographers and a multi-award-winning artist. For over 15 years, Scott has been travelling Australia, and sharing his beautiful photos as premium quality, Australian-made artworks to homes and workplaces across Australia and overseas.
Scott’s hard coffee table book (RRP $75) is a must-have and is absolutely stunning. It’s the perfect gift for everyone with broad appeal. You’ll be immersed in the beauty of Australia as you view this collection from across the Great Southern Land. Every state and territory is covered, from snow-covered Mt Kosciuszko to Port Douglas beaches, the Red Centre, South-West Western Australia, and more.
It’s available now through the Scott Leggo Gallery at 45 Jardine Street in Kingston, online at scottleggo.com and select bookshops.
