JOSI Gift Guide | Part 1
Gifts that bring joy home: curated finds under £100 and the story behind Christmas gift-giving.
Before diving into the very serious business of Christmas shopping, putting together this gift guide got me thinking: when did this tradition of gift-giving actually begin? Why do we do it?
For birthdays, the answer feels obvious—it’s about celebrating someone’s personal milestone. But Christmas?
It all started with the biblical story of the Three Kings or the Wise Men, who traveled to honor the newborn Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh—offerings of reverence and celebration. Their gesture became a cornerstone of early Christian traditions, embodying the spirit of generosity. Fast forward a few centuries, and we meet Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop famous for his secret acts of kindness. further cemented the idea of gift-giving during the holiday season. And the rest is history!
But back to the topic of the day: the first ever JOSI Christmas gift guide, Part 1!
This edition features a curated selection of gifts for the home, the table, the host, and the hostess—all under £100. Enjoy!
It’s always hard to buy a gift for someone’s house as there is a chance you’ll get it completely wrong… However some things are solid. You cannot go wrong with espresso maker that looks good or a cute little mushroom candle. If you feel a bit more daring, go for a bauhaus inspired fruit bowl or glass flowers. Last, the eye plate is for the ones who, like me, are very superstitious.
Gifting tableware is very personal, everyone has their own style but we all need some inspiration. Linen napkins are always a special treat especially when they are hand-embroidered. I love these bread baskets, you can line them up with a nice lace fabric or something printed and colourful to change the vibe of your table. As an apprentice baker, anything cake related is something I love and this bamboo cake server is super chic.
A gift guide for a host cannot be complete without a cocktail shaker or a wine decanter. I love the metal coasters and the Andy Warhol book is definitely a go-to for any art lover as it looks into a lesser-know (and sexy) period of Warhol.
I love this notebook and I love even more the French title: “Success Through The Thoughts Of A Distinguished Young Lady”. Take it with a lot of irony obviously! Pyjamas set are always a great gift, I never have enough and to complete the gift I would add these happy and sad face mugs: just pick one in the morning and you can set the tone without saying a word! Anything rose scented by Santa Maria Novella is a hit!
More festive finds coming your way in part 2.
Stay cosy until next time!
I occasionally include affiliate links - at no cost to you but as always, I will only include links for pieces I already own and love, or would buy for myself. Thank you for supporting JOSI!
This post came at the perfect time!
My mum is going to love the bauhaus bowl!