Every year we do a rundown of how we have done our Christmas shopping. Choosing the right Christmas present is oh-so-hard but oh-so-worth-it and it is twice the gift when you support small/local. This isn't a traditional 'gift guide' as offered by many other stores at this time of year where they try to sell you stuff that they...already sell. This is just us documenting our favourite small Australian businesses to buy from (and who we have already bought from this Christmas) in the hopes you'll support them with your Christmas (or year-'round) shopping, too!

Gifts For Clairebear/For Her:

I actually don't want anything this year. Seamus usually buys me a piece of original art but we missed out on one I loved so never mind. I have chosen some lovely Christmas outfits from Moolk and Frank and Dolly's for the Christmas season, though! I also bought a few things from my beautiful friend Mari Bray. I love her. Oh - and I always tell Seamus i'd love jewellery from Meg Maskell Jewellery but since he's allergic to jewellery stores (so he tells me) I don't know how that will play out.

Gifts For Seamus/For Him:

Seamus wants a jet-ski. Spoiler: he isn't getting a jet-ski. He IS getting some bits and pieces from Kim Wallace Ceramics for the kitchen (and maybe some of her beautiful Christmas decorations - these could definitely suit anyone for Christmas or be added to gifts for a special decorative touch) and a box of cleaning products from Pleasant State as a joke. Sort of. He is also going on a jet-ski adventure up the coast and there'll be a bottle of champagne, for sure. (Billecart is our recommendation, if you were wondering!)

Gifts For Teachers:

My go-to is always Auburn Designs earrings but we are giving all the educators at kindy some notebooks from The New Devine this year. There are still a few packs left - you'll find them here. (Ok, one cheeky plug for us because the notebooks really are awesome.)

Christmas Photography:

The gorgeous Christmas shot is from the magic Megan Willis. She did our wedding and engagement photos, too. I also loved my (gifted) branding shoot with Iris Faith who does family shoots, too! 

Gifts for Grandparents:

They are getting Christmas photos of the children and my mum is getting a Jericho Road dress. I know she also loves Catchy Attitude's new range. Dad will get his customary lemon-meringue-pavlova hybrid made by Sacha and I. We will have to make a separate one if we want any to eat ourselves. Secret family recipe.

Gifts For Aunties:

ThreeSons Candles. The positivity one is my favourite. I'm not usually a candle lover but I've totally delighted in these.

Gifts for Children:

Advent Calendar - Glory Gifts and Designs.

We do want/need/wear/read.

Need:

We have Montii Co water bottles (and lunch box cooler bag thing for Sacha for big school) for all the boys. We have bought matching sets of Able clothing for the whole family - who doesn't love a bit of Christmas matchy-matchy that also donates to a wonderful cause? Softly Summer Play mats have already been acquired for our playroom - full transparency: we already owned some, we bought another one and they gifted us yet another. These mats mean when our boys fall over they don't get hurt and are the loveliest place to sit and play (even for me!) Finally, we've invested in another EcoKids Mattress for Shiloh. We already had one that I paid full price for and we loved it so much they gave us a discount on the second one and gave us a discount to share with you, too! For $90 off -  use code THENEWDEVINE90 Great for the kids or the guest room for Christmas, super comfortable, reasonably-priced  and best of all, made in Australia.

Want/Wear/Read:

We bought a number of things from Peppa Penny and Children of the Wild. Some Christmas outfits as pictured from Peppa Penny and some books (I can't even remember what they are now...but I definitely know which box they are still packed in from the move so that's all that matters!) We chose some extra Grapat pieces from Children of the Wild for our counting/sorting/crossing-the-midline/fine-motor skills practice with the children.

But Clairebear I did actually want an art recommendation?! Art - the forever gift for people who have everything:

If you have read this far and want my recommendations on art gifts from The New Devine for Christmas, here they are...

Art is one of the few gifts that lasts a lifetime. Our archival prints are designed to last 3 generations if cared for, so they really are heirloom pieces...not gifts that will end up in the bin in 3 months. When selecting Christmas gifts, I always like to think about the lifespan of the gift and it makes me very happy when I can find beautiful things that will remind the recipient of my love for many years to come. This year, I really love our Hazel prints (I have the original in my room) because they are festive-but-not-overtly-Christmassy and there is something about the movement in the piece that I find fascinating each time I look at it. Mary is our Christmas print so if you are the 'go-big-or-go-home' type I would certainly choose a stretched canvas Mary print. They are limited edition, survive bathrooms and kitchens confidently and need no framing. For those who like something a little more subtle and refined, choose Otis. Even the art critics think he's the most clever thing I've ever painted. For a budget option you can choose Abigail in 20cm. If you like your gifts to work hard, choose Erin - our Erin prints donate to Epilepsy Action Australia so they are stunning, support small business and support a worthwhile cause - a Christmas gift and your good deed for the day in one.