Grab a cuppa and let me tell you about UncommonGoods. I’ve been a fan of the brand for quite some time now, so when they asked if I’d like to test out their site and pick a couple of items from their makers I was beyond excited. The independently-owned business was founded in 1999 by Dave Bolotsky and is based in Brooklyn. They have a fantastic family of artists on their site and if you want to pick a gift or simply treat yourself to something unique then UncommonGoods is certainly the place to go. I love that they share the stories behind the products they sell. You can get to know the maker on the site and when you make your purchase a little note all about the person behind your product arrives alongside your item. Knowing who made the things you buy and use really is special. It’s something which I think is very important today, especially for those of us who like to support independent businesses and of course, it makes for a rather fantastic gift.
To me, I see this place as being able to shop ‘glocal‘ – here in the UK I can pull up the site and support indie makers in America through UncommonGoods. It takes shopping local to a whole new level. I’m not sure if it’s a term I’ve created or one which has been used before but I’m going with it. I also recently learnt that with every purchase made at Uncommon goods they donate $1 to a Better to Give partner – I love that they aim to help others, care for their makers and customers and the environment.
I had a lot of fun browsing the UncommonGoods website with Phil. He has his eye on a few things and it was nice to find a good selection of gift ideas for men. There were some lovely whiskey glasses and lots of interesting food creations. If you’re intrigued you can see more ideas for men here. After a lot of consideration I picked out a mug and a glass for our home and I’ve been so excited to share a few snaps of them ever since they arrived. I decided to incorporate my love of llamas into my choices and Phil’s love of rainbows. I really enjoy investing in good quality homeware and having the chance to own these 2 special pieces has been a real treat. Make sure you pop over to the site and check out more unique home decor gift ideas. Today I’ll be talking you through my choices within this post and of course, telling you a little about the makers behind each product.
This is Llana the Llama Mug, isn’t she beautiful? This fabulous mug has been created by JoAnn Stratakos who lives in Pennsylvania in the Pocono Mountains (I’ve just added this place to my bucket list, it’s stunning). JoAnn makes this mug by hand out of stoneware. It’s safe to use in the microwave and dishwasher which is a nice little bonus.
JoAnn makes things that she would like to have around her and given that her collection includes llamas, unicorns and mugs with teabag pockets I think we’d get along fantastically.
I’ve been waking up very early recently and filling my beautiful llama mug with coffee before heading out to my co-working space. I then like to end my day with a huge cup of tea and relax with a magazine and my current favourite chocolate. This mug puts a big smile on my face and always makes me feel a little brighter on a rainy day. It also fits so much tea into it which is a very good thing.
My second choice was this stunning Pot of Gold glass which has been hand blown by creative folk at Frost Glass Ltd. It was founded by Carrie and Patrick Frost in 2012 and they have grown quickly over the years and now have their own studio in Mantua, OH.
This glass is truly a magical addition to my home and I hope to treat myself to a second one soon. The glass is heavy and and thick because it is double walled. At the bottom there’s a pure copper pot of gold hiding away which is suspended in the base. I’ve been enjoying freshly squeezed orange juice in the glass but equally I’ve also enjoyed using it for a strong whiskey at the weekend.
If you’re on the hunt for a special gift then do check out UncommonGoods, I promise you won’t be disappointed. I’m currently searching for something for a friend who is finishing uni in the next few months and I was delighted to find a really good selection of graduation gift ideas which you can find here. The only problem is that it’s going to take me a while to narrow down my choices.
Leave a comment below and tell me about the last indie made product you treated yourself to.
Thanks to UncommonGood for collaborating with me on this post.