4 Sustainable Holiday Gift Ideas

With the holiday season in full swing, it's time to highlight some of my favourite local businesses here in Ottawa. These small businesses all value sustainability, are run by women and are relatively new to the business world - so let's send some support their way! Purchasing a gift from small, local businesses is a great way to spread holiday spirit, while simultaneously giving back to people in your community.

1) Art by Angela Jay

Instagram account: @artbyangelaa

Angela Jay is a born and raised Ottawa artist, who kick-started her business this March in quarantine. Angela does both original and custom paintings for people on canvases or on denim pieces. She currently accepts orders through her Instagram account @artbyangelaa and is hoping to launch a website sometime in the new year. Angela tries her best to price her art on a sliding scale basis to make it more accessible for everyone. She does highlight that an average piece usually sells for around $50.00 and increases in price the more intricate the painting.

Over the past 10 months I personally have purchased numerous paintings from Angela and have been repeatedly impressed by the quality. Try ordering a painting for a loved one this holiday season as it is a creative, thoughtful and sustainable gift they can cherish forever.

2) My Moody Candle

Instagram account: @mymoodycandle

My Moody Candle is an amazing women run business here in Ottawa that sells hand-poured candles. These soy wax candles are made from all natural ingredients and are sold in reusable jars. This holiday season My Moody Candle is selling a cute set of 3 candles (4oz) for $40.00. The candles offered in this holiday bundle include: “Blame it on the Elf” which is a mixture of tobacco and vanilla, “Dear Santa, Just Bring Wine” which is a lovely blend of pine & orange and “Naughty Is The New Nice” scented with spruce and cypress. My Moody Candle also sells large candles for $22.00 dollars with a variety of creative scents for every mood.

For every purchase made $1.00 is donated to One Tree Planted, an environmental non-profit that plants trees in countries around the globe. You can place an order through My Moody Candle's Instagram page where they do local delivery or pick in the Ottawa and Gatineau area. I highly recommend gifting a moody candle this holiday season to put you in the holiday mood!

3) Angelica Floral

Website: https://angelicafloral.com/

Instagram account: angelicafloral

Angelica Floral is a brand new local business owned and operated by local florist Angelica Pagani. Angelica floral offers a variety of holiday products ranging in prices from $10 to $100. These products include fresh bouquets, dried bouquets, holiday wreaths, vase arrangements, ornaments with dried floral, etc. Angelica Floral has a permanent window display at Little Victories Coffee in the glebe and also hosts regularly scheduled weekend-pop up events at this location. These beautiful floral products can also be purchased on her website or through Instagram direct message.

Each design is made to order and will be wonderfully unique. I personally ordered a beautiful dried bouquet for my mother’s birthday and she absolutely loved it. So what are you waiting for, contact Angelica Floral today to have some beautiful flowers sent a loved one's way!

4) Craftily Made

Instagram account: @craftily_made

Lily started Craftily Made in January 2020 as a way of sharing her handmade creations with the world. Craftily made offers a variety of products that can be purchased through the Instagram account @craftily_made, or on Etsy. One of the most popular items commonly ordered are reusable cotton 3-layer masks for $8.00. The fabric used to make these masks are sourced from various local stores across Canada and are constantly changing, making each mask unique.

Craftily made is also selling velvet scrunchies and headbands for $4.00 and $6.00 this holiday season. You can also look into purchasing cute handmade felt trees, donuts and other quirky decorations this holiday day season. Be sure to go check them out for fun, unique gifts for your friends and family.

If you're looking to give an experience or a recipe book, check out the new PlantEd Project Virtual Cooking Workshops for January and February or purchase the Everyday Vegan recipe book!

With the holiday season in full swing, it's time to highlight some of my favourite local businesses here in Ottawa. These small businesses all value sustainability, are run by women and are relatively new to the business world - so let's send some support their way! Purchasing a gift from small, local businesses is a great way to spread the holiday spirit, while simultaneously giving back to people in your community.