We are so fortunate to live here on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. Our beautiful beaches and trails, our friendly and supportive communities and an abundance of talented artisans and committed entrepreneurs and business owners, are just a few of the reasons this area is so unique. During the upcoming Holiday season, we can do our part to support our local economy by spending our money right here in our communities. Here is our Local Holiday Gift Guide.
The goal of the Simple Local Life Holiday Gift Guide is to make it easy for you to locate unique, local, gift ideas for everyone on your shopping list. The Guide contains three sections. The first one Love Lunenburg came out last week. Cozy Coastal which is today’s feature and South Shore Spirit which will be out on December 1st. Each business or artisan featured has donated a fantastic item to be included in a giveaway for each section. So be sure to enter and share this post to get the word out. Let’s all show our love for local this holiday season!
Ocean View Woodworking
Looking for an heirloom quality gift from locally sourced, sustainably harvested and reclaimed wood? Look no further than Ocean View Woodworking. Allan Maxwell from Ocean View is an artisan who specializes in Indigenous Woods like Maple, Ash, Birch and Tamerack, harvested locally from sustainably managed woodlots.
Cutting boards, furniture and other home decor pieces are some of the products that come out of Allan’s workshop in Blue Rocks, Lunenburg County. Choose from the most popular “The Block” a round butcher block from Walnut, natural edge cutting boards, or a walnut charcuterie tray, to name a few. All of Ocean View Woodworking’s food products are finished with mineral oil and his own Board Butter, a blend of oil and beeswax infused with rosemary or lemon oils These products are beautiful functional art which are meant to be admired and inspire conversation.
Ocean View Woodworking is at the Lunenburg Farmers Market every other week, and at the occasional seasonal show. You can also view all his beautiful work on his website or Facebook page.
Ocean View Woodworking has generously donated a “Simple Local Life” Live Edge Maple Cutting Board and a container of Rosemary Board Butter valued at $65.00, to the Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway.
Delong Designs Metalworking
Delong Designs Metalworking came out this year with a line of beautiful pewter Christmas ornaments. The Whale Tail Christmas Tree, the DeLong Farms Merry Christmas Wreath, and the Holly Berry Snowflake, which sell for $20.00 each.
At Delong Designs they strive to live creatively and work responsibly. When you purchase from them you not only acquire a lovingly crafted piece, you also contribute to a social purpose initiative. They have recently partnered with the Kidney Foundation of Canada with ornament sales helping them in two ways. They are raising funds for the Foundation, and are also raising awareness regarding organ donation, a cause very near to their hearts.
You can find Delong Designs Metalworking at various seasonal markets, and you can connect with them on their Facebook page. Ornaments can be picked up, delivered or mailed.
Delong Designs Metalworking has generously donated a Whale Tail ornament to the Simple Local Life Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway.
Fabulous Attic
Fabulous Attic is run by Johanna Knopf …a multi talented artist who specializes in home decor, refurbished furniture, gift cards and more! Johanna re-purposes many treasures she finds into beautiful items, as well as working with natural items such as driftwood, beach glass and more. You really need to visit Johanna’s shop to truly understand the scope of her talents.
Fabulous Attic also features a JK Line which are items exclusively designed by Johanna herself. The line presently features her famous seaside houses, as well as fish, butterfly and owl driftwood/wood creations. All beautiful and unique!
Fabulous Attic participates in many different shows throughout the year as well her shop inside her home in Lahave is open on Tuesdays from 10:00am-4:00pm. As well some of Johanna’s creations are now at Comfort and Joy in Lunenburg. You can connect with Fabulous Attic through their Facebook page.
Fabulous Attic has generously donated a wooden “Sleigh Rides” sign to the Simple Local Life Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway, valued at $19.00
Fibre Arts
Fibre Arts Studio is located in West Lahave and run by Henriette Maier. A talented artist, Henriette loves to work with wool and yarn and enjoys the process of creating unique pieces. Hooked rugs, crochet sealife, fancy knitted tea cozies and at Christmas time hand crafted snowmen, Santa’s, and pine cone elves are just some of the delightful hand crafted items Fibre Arts Studio sells. If you are searching for a unique, individual gift for someone, you must check out Henriette’s work!
Fibre Arts sells her art pieces at the Craft Coop in the Lahave Bakery, the NSDCC Gallery in Halifax, at Spruce Top Rug Hooking Studio in Mahone Bay and Riverhouse Rug Hooking Studio in Petite Riviere, and also at her home studio. You can connect with Fibre Arts through their website or by email.
Fibre Arts Studio has generously donated a Christmas Mouse value at $25.00 and a $25.00 Gift Certificate to the studio.
Sherri’s Silhouette’s
Sherri from Sherri’s Silhouette’s was looking to try something new to de-stress and fell in love with painting silhouettes on 1/8 inch canvas board. She meticulously hand paints each one, with each being original and unique. Animals, quotes, maps and characters are just some of the many things that Sherri hand paints in a silhouette. What a creative way to personalize a room or office!
Some of Sherri’s Silhouette’s are available at Maritime Made in Hebbville, or you can connect with Sherri on her Facebook page. Sherri’s Silhouette’s has generously donated a Nova Scotia “Home is Where the Heart Is” print to the Simple Local Life Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway valued at $20.00.
Medway Candles
Inspired by a growing understanding and a respectful awe of the honeybee, Mike Bienstock started Medway Candle from a desire to create a simple and beautiful product that supports the environment and embraces green living. Medway Candle uses only 100% natural and eco-friendly materials in its candles. The circle of sustainability is completed by supporting local Nova Scotia beekeepers who in turn are nurturing and sustaining the honey bee. Their tapers are all painstakingly hand-dipped, votives and tea-lights hand poured and finished. The result is elegant candles with the luxurious sheen, sweet scent, and golden colour of pure beeswax. Medway Candles are made from 100% Nova Scotia beeswax sourced from beekeepers as close to home as possible.
Medway Candles makes beautiful tapers, various size pillars, tealights and votives, as well as birthday and holiday candles. You can find Medway Candles at the Lunenburg and Hubbards Farmers Market, as well as at various retailers throughout the province such as Pete’s in Halifax, Down Home Living in Lunenburg, and South Shore Natural Foods in Bridgewater. You can connect with Medway Candles through their website.
Medway Candles has generously donated two sets of Beeswax Tapers valued at $16.00 to the Simple Local Life Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway.
Second Chances Used Furniture and Gifts
Second Chances Used Furniture and Gifts is located in beautiful Petite Riviere, right next to the Petite General Store. They just opened in May and it’s worth the trip to see this beautiful building and the unique items that Dana has curated for the space. Quality second-hand furniture, dishes, artwork and more are waiting to find new homes. If you enjoy the thrill of the hunt, then Second Chances Used Furniture and Gifts is a must see!
You can connect with Second Chances through their Facebook page. Second Chances Furniture and Gifts has generously donated a large refurbished wooden chair valued at $125.00 to the Simple Local Life Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway.
Everyone mentioned in the “Cozy Coastal” section of the guide has generously donated items to be included in a Simple Local Life Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway. The value of this package is $315.00! Wow! Be sure to enter below…and share this post to make it easier for everyone to shop and support local this Holiday season. 🙂
Must be over 18 and a resident of Canada. Delivery will be provided within a reasonable distance of the South Shore.
Some awesome ideas here. Other local artists that I love include Marla Benton for pottery, Kat Frick Miller for illustrated cards, prints and tea towels, and Rita Van Tassel for earrings and necklaces.
A Kat Frick Miller tea towel is on my Christmas Wish List…:)
What a great gift guide! I love being able to give local this year. My favourite items to give are those beautiful candles. Perfect for the holidays!
Those are some of my favorites too. 🙂
This has been so helpful especially for gifts for my parents and grandparents.
That’s so great to hear…Happy Shopping Chelsea! 🙂
What a lovely assortment in this prize pack! I am having trouble commenting via the button above. Hope this will suffice.
Cate, now that you have commented, you should be able to just go back to the entry and check that off to get an entry…and options for other additional entries as well. 🙂
Beautiful!! You gave me a couple fresh ideas! 🙂
Happy to help! 🙂
I always try to pick up some locally made ornaments for family from away. Gorgeous gift guide!!
Trying to buy at least 50% of all gifts locally this year. Given all the talent, it’s not hard!
Wow! Thank you for highlighting the talent (and holiday shopping options) that are all around us!
I like the local jewellery and hand crafts like the signs and pillows.
I love seeing new artisans and so excited by the talent in the Nova Scotia – so many additional ideas for shopping this Christmas and beyond 🙂
Love this idea!
Everything is so very well made and would love to have one or more of the items on display. Know of a few on my list that would enjoy them very much. I , myself, would love to see that white chair in my living room. lol
Awesome. Love all of it.
I love your blog. This Local Holiday Gift Guide is fantastic! I adore everything listed. 🙂
This past weekend I picked up a few wonderful tree ornaments from Mel’s Belles Creations. She does lovely hand painted work. Other local items I’ve been eyeing are items from Water Dragon Pottery. Love their work… but have yet to add any pieces to my collection. *Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge. Santa* lol 😉
Another great collection. So many lovely things made locally.
Local talent is alive and well!!
My goal is to shop more local this year for the holidays! So much talent all around us
The pewter tree ornaments are awesome!
Love to buy as many local gifts as I can 🙂 Beautiful prize 🙂
A lovely selection
A wonderful way to showcase local artists. I’m getting the whale tail tree ornament from my daughter….I begged for it..haha!
We have such an amazing amount of artistic talent here on the south shore of Nova Scotia.
This gathering of local artists is not only helpful, but so very needed. I’m a merchant (took over Comfort & Joy, Lunenburg July 1st) and this is not competitive with stores, but a way for all of us to support each other shopping and offering local. We are twinning the name C & J with “ARTISAN NOVA SCOTIA” to offer mostly local and provincially-made products and are always sourcing locally. We are moving in the direction to have 75% of our 5,000 square feet featuring the BEST of what Nova Scotia artisans create… even more so from the South Shore!
I love this Paul. Johanna was telling me about your shop and plans. I’ll be sure to stop in!
Jennifer this post is amazing and showcases the most beautiful gifts..what a wonderful Idea..I was having a problem entering on the post above…but I just wanted you to know…Im loving this idea. Perfect.
Once you post this comment, you are entered…and you should have other entry options available. Glad you liked it!
Great Post! I continue to be blown away by the talent and creativity of people here on the South Shore!
Wow! What beautiful unique ideas. I’ll definitely take a closer look at these. 🙂
I’m so happy to find all the details here I need to reach out and shop! I’m proud to support local artists and entrepreneurs! Thanks for this amazing resource Jennifer! !!
What a great collection of gifts and that chair – LOVE it. Going to need to include a trip to the South Shore to complete my shopping!
So much hard work and time put into these lovely creations ! Love them all 🙂
Getting excited.
So many great gift ideas! Well done, Jennifer!!
Fabulous ideas!!! Showcasing the shops around is a great idea!
So many gift ideas! This was actually a big help.
Love this idea, shopping locally in such a big commercialized world is my favourite thing to do ❤️
The whale tail ornament. Love it.
Beautiful gift guide! Love the cutting board.
Aren’t they beautiful!
I’m another fan of the whale tail ornament – just lovely!
I love them all! 🙂
Love the pewter ornaments. Lovely
Wonderful guide! Just started following and it’s so exciting to see the talent from my hometown and community 🙂
Great peak at some of the local artists. Such a great idea to post on this great blog of yours. 🙂
I’m going to take a closer look on the websites provided and I really look forward to visiting in person!
Glad you are enjoying it Kristi. 🙂
What a wonderful thing to do. Merry Christmas to each and every one of you.
awesome gift ideas.
I love the ornament from Delong’s!