Quirky gifts fit for your King…

Out of every gift recipient in the World, I would say men are the hardest to buy for. They don’t want for much, what they do want, they buy themselves, so finding a gift that they don’t even know they want yet is the best way forward. With Father’s Day approaching here in the UK, I thought it was an apt topic of research for this next post. Rather than going for Dad this and Dad that, I have mostly opted for gifts that can be given to any man for any occasion, whether it be birthdays, Christmas, leaving gifts, these would be fabulously quirky gifts to give.

This has really inspired me to re-think my giftage for Father’s day. My poor Dad usually ends up with a packet of wagon wheels and some jammie dodgers so any of these gifts would be a massive step up!

This crab multi-tool is amazing, if there’s one thing I have learned from being married to Mr Quirky for so many years is that a multi-tool is always a welcome gift. It’s useful but this one is particularly fun with it’s crabby shape. We love it here at Quirky HQ! Doesn’t necessarily have to say Daddy, any name can be added to it. This is quirky at it’s best.

This next find is a bit random, but I had to add it in. I have never seen a shaped padlock before and this is why it would make a funky little gift. Unusual turns the non-gift into a great gift! Not only is the turtle super quirky, but the colouring and style is so classy, This would add a little va va voom to the garden shed or a ‘keep out’ box!

I would say alcohol is one of those safety gifts for men, especially for Father’s Day. But what if you could make that alcohol gift extra special and memorable at the same time. This gas / petrol pump drinks dispenser is so funky. It would be sure to put a big smile on ‘his’ face. It doesn’t necessarily have to be just for alcohol, there’s fun here for the whole family!

This next find is a funny one. Emulating a six-pack, this lunch bag is so cool. It would be fab if you did fill it with cans when giving it too. Jokey and practical has been a winning combination for men’s gifts for many years. This cooler lunch bag can be personalised with any name, and has a shoulder strap which is extremely handy.

Vinking tv shows such as Vikings and The Last Kingdom have created a surge in interest of novelty horn cups, and there is a huge amount of various materials horn cups out there that would make fabulous gifts, but this horn glass is very classy. I have seen many quirky-shaped beer glasses over the years, but this is the first time I’ve seen a horn. I love that it has it’s own stand too. This is very unique and I do think that any man would love to own one of these whether they’re into the tv shows or not.

I bought something similar to this for my husband a few Christmases ago and it is probably up there as one of the most successful gifts I’ve given him over the years. It is so useful, we both use it near enough on a daily basis. It has a keyring function too so easy to keep it close at hand. The tiny screwdrivers have been a God-send with the many children’s toys that need to be unscrewed from boxes or to insert batteries. A great practical quirky gift for a Dad for sure, but any person at any age would benefit from having one of these in their house. Great price too!

Ok, so I know socks is a pretty standard gift for men. I know that Mr Quirky relies on Christmas, birthday etc for socks, he hasn’t bought his own for so many years. But, I have never seen pizza socks before, and never displayed in a pizza box like this before. So funky, I think it’s fab, especially for a pizza-lover of a man. These are pretty quirky socks!

I know that men and women alike take their dogs for a walk, but something tells me that a light saber dog lead would be more of a man’s cup of tea…I even checked with Mr Quirky so I must be right! This would be an epic gift to give. If he’s a Star Wars fan (most men are or have been at some point) and he has a dog, this would be a fun, practical gift to give. Be prepared to see some lead envy from other dogs and dog walkers though!

Men do tend to get a lot of books as gifts too, so why not give them a gift that will help them out with this…the gift of light! This funky dog-shaped lamp would be extremely useful either in the study or as a bedside lamp. Stylishly designed, it certainly wouldn’t be an eye-sore, and although it is quirkilly-shaped, it is a sophisticated lamp, and would blend in well with any theme / colour.

Another favourite type of gift to give a man is anything gardening-related. I even have a couple of quirky gardening mugs on my website that would make fab gifts for men. I was very drawn to this tractor bird house. It’s quirky and has a purpose which makes it a top notch gift. It has a gorgeous vintage vibe. Children loves tractors too so it would be a fun bird house to have in any garden.

A little bit of fun with this quirky gardening gifts part of the post! I found many other animal watering cans, but this elephant is my favourite, and possibly the most unusual. A stylish gift to give, and has a use, and even when it isn’t in use, it would look great as a garden ornament. You could even use it as a quirky planter!

This is the first time I’ve seen anything like this so a lovely little addition to the post I think. These birds apparently act like watering devices. Great if you’re away for a few days and don’t have anyone to water your plants! This might be a good option for me because nothing survives in my garden / house, apart from weeds!

This is probably one of my favourite ‘for him’ finds. It is very attractive and dare I say, a little bit pretty! The colours are stunning, a beautiful work of art with the quirky colourful houses and the fishing boat. What I like most about it is that it is a memory box, a fabulous place for him to keep his keepsakes, memories and most treasured possessions. I adore this memory box, I love the artwork and I’m sure it would be very well received as a very special gift.

This hand ring would make a very special keepsake to put in that box. A great gift for a new Father maybe as a gift from his new baby. Extremely quirky, the design is exquisite. It has the potential to have a truly amazing sentiment. This is a stunning little gift to give the special man in your life.

This next find would make such a sweet gift. I found many quirky clocks like this one, works of art created out of what seems to be vinyl records, but this one stood out to me. This clock captures real magic between Father and Daughter. Any Father would be proud to hang this on the wall for all to see, it is stunning and I love it.

I have purely skimmed the top of special quirky gifts for men here, but I hope they have inspired some ideas for you. Don’t be predictable with your gift choices for the men in your life this year, give them a little bit of quirky and they will be so grateful, mix it up a bit! A little bit of the unexpected is good for everyone every now and again, even those men who ‘don’t want anything’! Men deserve to feel special too, they are our kings, our princes, our heroes, and we should celebrate them.

Music to my quirky ears just in time for Eurovision!

With the spectacular event of the Eurovision Song Contest happening this weekend, I thought that a music was an appropriate theme to explore. Music is one of my main passions in life. My childhood saw many instruments come and go. I was so taken by the harp in an Eisteddfod (Welsh Creative Arts Festival) that I begged my parents for one…I was given a recorder! I had violin lessons for years but I doubt I was any good. As an adult, I dabble in playing the keyboard but my voice is my instrument.

I love singing. I love song-writing. I once dreamt of being the voice of a Disney Princess one day, or to work in Disneyland as a singing Princess, but life happened. So now I am just a Disney Princess behind closed doors!! A passion for music never really leaves you so it is no wonder I was drawn to so many musical vibe quirky gifts as I researched various themes. Mr Quirky is also musical and plays the guitar hence why I have found so many guitar gifts I suppose. Hope you enjoy my finds, I think they are quite special.

My first stunningly quirky find is this amazing metal trumpet lamp. My sister used to play the trumpet, she had to go to the bottom of the garden to practice! You certainly wouldn’t want this trumpet anywhere other than centre stage, this not only serves as a fantastic statement piece, it is very practical too. Great for the music room, or if you want to add a bit of quirky to your living room or bedroom. Such a gorgeous gift to give. I’d be very happy to receive it. I definitely need to explore quirky lamps for another post, this is just fabulous.

This next find is so unbelievably cool. It deserves to be worn to a special occasion, it’s made out of wood, how quirky is that?! I can imagine a Wedding band wearing them, or a musical groom. Or how about those singing waiters?!

I added this next find into the mix because it is so unusual. Who’d have thought of making a plectrum out of a penny?! It probably creates a more unique sound to your average plectrum too, but undoubtedly a very special keepsake.

Now these guitar spoons here are in your face quirky, no doubt about it. The shape, the detailing, the colours, they are so fabulous. I would 100% buy these as a quirky stocking filler for Mr Quirky, he would love them. Imagine being sat there writing a song, you fancy a cup of tea, but you don’t want to lose your musical vibe, make your cuppa with one of these spoons and you will still be in that zone for sure!

I did have a little waaaa moment when I found this awesome guitar-shaped lunchbox. It is absolutely fab, I love it, great for older teens who are into their music. Amazing quirky gift for music students or for a music teacher even. In a band? need some snacks to take to your gig…ta daaaaa, this would just blend in with the rest of your kit!

Now this guitar-shaped chopping board would totally rock our kitchen. I would love to own this, it is so funky. Such a fun and practical gift to give…and can be personalised so everyone who visits you will know how cool you are. Amazing gift for a wannabe rockstar, or a hasbeen, I’m not here to judge!

Another set that would look amazing in our kitchen. I don’t actually own measuring spoons, I’m more of a chuck it in and hope for the best kind of cook, but these are so quirky, they would make me want to use them! If you know a musical chef, this is one quirky gift they would cherish for sure.

This next quirky find is something you don’t see every day! It’s advertised as a junior rolling pin but I, as an adult, would definitely use it. The price is reasonable and would add so much fun into baking. It would be great for baking cookies for the school fayre or something, it would turn something generic into something fancy, and people lap that up don’t they! They could help you make stunning Wedding favour biccies. I love it.

This treble clef clock is the bees knees. Extremely sophisticated, it would match any kind of decor and I would say any room too. Fab for a music classroom or a music shop too, not just for the home. It would make a stunning Wedding gift for a special couple, I would have been very happy to receive this as a gift, and I would be so proud to give it too.

Speaking of weddings, would you say I do with this ring?! I love, love, love it. This is absolutely up my street and takes me back to my karaoke days! Such an unusual piece of jewellery. I did find matching necklaces and earrings too, but the way the microphones are looped to create the ring here makes it stand out.

As I explore themes, I get inspired to create future posts too. This funky, retro, amazingly quirky wine rack has definitely given me a taste for quirky wine racks, so watch this space! A unique wine rack like this one can make a very special gift for any occasion, but I can definitely see this being given as a quirky Wedding gift to a quirky, musical bride and groom. This is quite a genius design, such an amazing idea to create bottle holders out of old vinyl records, yay for upcycling with stunning results!

This next find is totally different, but I would be seriously tempted to give this puzzle as a gift to Mr Quirky, well I would have years ago before we had a child who likes to get involved in everything! There is a big price tag on this for a puzzle, but you can see it’s pure quality, and after spending your time building it, you do end up with a stunning piece of art, a wooden sculpture forever to be cherished.

This upcycled ukelele is quirky in a completely different way. It’s beauty is striking, it stood out and screamed at me to include it in this musical post. It is so unique, and has been decorated so beautifully with so much care. A true work or art. If I did play an instrument these days, it would have to be pretty like this one!

My last find is something I have never seen before. It’s adorably quirky and looks very well-made too. A very special keepsake gift. Definitely up there as the type of gift I would like to give someone who was into music, especially the guitar.

And there ends my quirky musical post. Although, I’m sure it’s not the complete end of my quirky musical research. So much more to find, new quirky gifts being made and sold on a daily basis, I’d be silly to close the door on it for good. I’m sure quirky music will feature in the quirky blog again over the years, it is a theme that is just too close to my heart to ignore.

I’m not pulling your chain, these are genuine quirky bathroom products!

One room that gets very little attention in our house is the bathroom. Well, our bathroom is a bit odd anyway because the toilet is in one room and the bath and sink are in the room next door, it took some getting used to! Apart from a few lanterns though, it is quite a neglected area of our home. I definitely feel like I need to add colour, character and a whole lot of quirky so let’s go shopping!

My sister inspired this search, when she found out that I was setting up Quirky Shopper she sent me a picture of her new tap toilet roll holder straight away. It definitely made me think about my own bathroom and how it is an area of the quirky World I needed to explore. And boy oh boy am I glad that I have. I have found so many amazing products, where do I start?! I showed Mr Quirky all my quirky bathroom finds and he thought this toilet roll sheep shelf was the best, so let’s start with this one! The good thing about this particular shelf is that you will always make sure you have toilet roll in the house! This would lend itself well as a feature in a quirky hotel or in a house with a rather large bathroom. I think it is fab, and a worthy start to this blog.

If you love a nautical theme bathroom, there are so many quirky products available. This boathouse toilet roll holder is fabulous. It would make such an attractive addition to a bathroom, especially if you haven’t got a holder and you usually plonk the toilet roll on a shelf or storage unit next to the toilet! I do love a practical quirky item!

Or how about a Knight in Shining Armour sat there next to you just waiting to be the hero and hand you your precious toilet roll? This is a very classy, quirky piece indeed, and I think it would look amazing in an old castle / hotel en-suite!

And how about something completely different? This toilet roll holder is so quirky, extremely retro and super nostalgic. This belongs in a cool bathroom, a geek chic kind of vibe maybe. This is exactly what I would expect to see in a quirky, funky little hotel, in the bathroom of a camera shop or in a photographer’s house!

Like I said, my sister has the tap toilet roll holder and it looks fab in her farmhouse bathroom. I do love the tap idea for a bathroom. I think this towel holder is gorgeous, taps and bathrooms go hand in hand so it really is a quirky partnership that works beautifully.

I love this fruity little piece of quirky, the vibrant colour, the funky cherry design, it is fabulous. The use of the stem as the brush handle is genius. Funnily enough, I actually don’t think it looks like it would be out of place. Can you imagine a bright white bathroom, this luscious red toilet brush would certainly make it pop!

A little plug for one of my own quirky gifts selection. This flamingo toilet brush here was a game changer for our little quirky shop. It used to be a baby and children gift shop, but when I saw these quirky toilet brushes, I branched out to grown-up gifts too. This flamingo has many fans, but it is fabulous.

This would be a funky gift for those who have toilet humour! I can’t decide if I like it or not, it could either look ridiculous or it could blend in perfectly with it being black or white. What do you think? Either way, it would make a very funny joke gift, is it too early to mention Secret Santa?!!

From something I’m not sure of to something I absolutely love! This swan tap is so quirky, so classy, a stunning work of art for a tap! If I ever get the chance to design my own bathroom, I wouldn’t hesitate to choose taps like this for my bathroom. It’s a swan, and swans ooze elegance. This gorgeous tap is definitely my kind of quirky.

Here’s another piece of art disguised as a door hook! The nautical / ocean theme once again making an appearance, a few more to come too, I can’t help it though, these products are just so quirky! This whale tail works so well for this purpose, I think it’s fab.

And how about this ship’s steering wheel for a mirror? Isn’t it gorgeous? Classy and fabulous, this would add so much character to a bathroom even if it wasn’t pursuing a nautical theme. A great find for a seaside b&b don’t you think?

It’s the colouring that mostly attracts me to this folding table. It’s fish shape is the main quirky quality of course, but it’s the colour that makes it stand out. It has seaside home / hotel written all over it. I don’t live by the sea (I’d like to!) but I wish I had a bathroom big enough to have this table, I love it.

If you’re really going for the nautical vibe in a big big way, this next set is for you! There is so much quirk going on here, I’m almost lost for words! So much imagination has gone into the designing of this amazing little set, I am in awe. The lighthouse as a soap dispenser is my favourite bit, it looks awesome!

The same company also sell this stunning shell bathroom set. This is truly up my street. I love the quirky shell shapes and the pearly colour. It is a very glamorous kind of quirky. I could definitely see them being used in high-end boutique type hotels near the sea.

On a completely different path (you couldn’t get more opposite!) these wellies toothbrush holders are also up my street. Vibrant, quirky and funky, they’d make a cool gift for a couple…not so good if there’s more than two people using the bathroom! Saying that, you could always buy a few in order to cater all the toothbrushes in the home, no rules against that! I love the bright yellow colour.

Staying with the outdoorsy vibe given by the wellies, this very pretty birds on a tree frosted glass film would be an unusual but beautiful way to ensure bathroom privacy, whether it be for the shower or window. It stood out to me, it might not be super quirky, but it is different, and not something you see in your average bathroom. If I had this kind of window screen on my shower, I would order this in a heartbeat.

This is definitely the type of window privacy screen I would class as quirky. The artwork is very much to my taste. This window film looks very impressive, and a relatively reasonably priced way to make a bathroom look more elegant and much more expensive. I highly recommend clicking through to this particular seller’s shop, it has over 300 different designs.

What I’m looking for though is a splash of colour, touches of vibrance that will transform our mundane, cold, bathroom into a warm, friendly and funky room that is pleasant to be in. This bath mat is exactly the type of thing I had in mind. I think it’s gorgeous, it matches my stripey blog cover photo too which is a bonus! I love that it has a coloured wood-effect. We have a very small bathroom so this would definitely work well. I’d be tempted to get one for the toilet room as well as the bath room, it would help blend them together.

I would say the bath mat above is very colourful, but the bathroom set below takes it up another notch for sure! The colours are insane, I love this design, looks like colourful bricks, so funky, so unusual. It might be a step too far for what I’m looking for, but if you had a pure white bathroom, this would make a stunning statement piece of your toilet!

If you’re looking for something really flashy, this peacock bathroom set is pretty out there! The colours are gorgeous, and it would certainly make a talking point of your bathroom. One of my sisters loves peacock designs so I’m always drawn to them simply because of her liking for them! My thing is butterflies, but I haven’t found any with a butterfly on…a more extensive research adventure for a quirky butterfly post for another day perhaps!

This shower curtain below, yes, you did read correctly, this is a shower curtain, and this is the kind of art I like to have on canvases. I love this type of romantic art, but to find it on a shower curtain stopped me in my tracks. Why am I buying plain white shower curtains when I could be buying art??! I must have been living under a rock, I never knew you could get shower curtains as stunning as this.

And this one looks like a very hard, very sturdy door…but it’s not, it’s a shower curtain. Isn’t it amazing? I wonder if they used these on the sets of Game of Thrones!! It does have a classy and somewhat medieval vibe about it. There was a lighter-coloured farmhouse type of door too, but this one attracted me more.

But this next shower curtain is my favourite. Mystical, fantasy, colourful and it looks like a book shelf. If you have read my previous posts, you will know that I have a very special and quirky handbag with a Book Shop on it. I love books. I would be Belle from Beauty and the Beast, give me the library and I will love you Beast! This is the most beautiful shower curtain I have ever seen in my entire life…I’ve never seen pretty shower curtains before researching this post so that figures!

This stunning shower curtain is 100% on my wishlist for when we eventually become millionaires and live in our forever home with, and I quote my 4-year old son, ‘lots of toilets, stairs that go around and around and a tree-house’… an achievable dream I reckon! I have only just scratched the surface of quirky bathrooms in all honesty, there is a magical world out there worth exploring. I would definitely like to re-visit shower curtains in particular for another post just about quirky shower curtains, there were too many to add here, so another post is in the pipe-line in the near future. I have learnt a lot from researching quirky bathrooms. I never knew half of these things existed so I hope it is useful to you too, but I’d like to know, what is the most quirky thing in your bathroom?

National Unicorn Day?… Let’s go quirky on these mystical creatures!

Unicorns are quirky, they are basically horses with a pretty horn on their head, weird but beautiful. They have become amazingly popular over the last year or two, and I can totally see why, they are fabulous. They are mostly seen wandering around rainbows and sparkly things, so magical, so beautiful, extremely majestic.

With the intention of embracing this oh so random national day, I thought I’d have a little looksy for some unicorns. The gift industry is saturated with unicorns, so it is a crazy but stunning world to explore, and most items are truly gorgeous, but I want to find more than gorgeous, I want to find the quirky and the unusual unicorns. Here goes, wish me luck, I may not come back!!

Shall we start with jewellery? (always a good place to start!) This ring is stunning, so unbelievably quirky in it’s design. I love that it’s a unicorn horn to begin with, but the way it is twisted just adds to the quirkiness. It is so delicate and elegant. I would have seriously considered this as a Wedding ring if it had been available when we were getting married. So special, I love it. I want it!

Speaking of Weddings, these unicorn place card magnetic holders are so unusual. If you’re looking at organizing a quirky Wedding full of magic and wonder, these would be perfect. They would double up as a cute little favour too! Very classy-looking, I definitely would have considered choosing these for our Wedding.

And adding a bit of class to an otherwise yucky product, this unicorn toilet brush holder is amazing. It’s just fab, not over the top flashy, it is quite a subtle piece so would blend in quite well with any bathroom. But it is an adorable unicorn, and that makes it quirky!

I do love a bit of novelty quirky too, with plastic straws hard to come by these days, it makes sense to invest in reusable straws for your children (or for yourself!) These are shaped like unicorns, and they’re pink!!! I think they’re so funky and fun, kids would love them. I have seen them as dinosaurs too which are cool.

Sticking with the novelty, you can’t get more kooky than these unicorn hats for cats! I would have absolutely 100% bought these for my cats when I had them! Probably best-placed on a placid pet that is used to being dressed up though! Would your pet let you turn them into a unicorn? This is probably my favourite unicorn find. I expect to see many of your pets prancing around in these soon!

A small selection of quirky unicorn bits and bobs to mark the occasion of National Unicorn Day. Hope it serves you well. It probably won’t be the last you see of unicorns on this blog don’t worry. With so many unicorn products available, they will be sure to come out to play here again soon. And if this has wet your appetite for quirky unicorns, you will find lots more quirky unicorns on my facebook page today too.

My dream house would probably look like a Fairy House!

If you are indeed a quirky shopper like me, you will most definitely have at least considered buying a fairy house either for yourself or for someone else at some point in your life! I prefer the solar ones, they have a little bit more magic to them. I love how quirky they look, they come in so many different shapes and sizes and they are so beautiful, it’s hard not to imagine yourself living in a proper normal-sized house that resembles one of them. Wouldn’t the World be a more interesting and colourful place? I am envious of the fairies who get to live in them!

A few years ago, Mr Quirky gave me a Solar Fairy House for Christmas and it has lived on our windowsill in the kitchen sunbathing for quite a while, it was a nice thing to look at whilst washing up! But I have found that they have a bigger purpose, a power, that I didn’t realise they had until a month or so ago, the power to quieten a toddler meltdown! When my two-year old niece came over one day, I found that she quietened down as soon as I asked her if she wanted to see the fairies. I have since moved my fairy house to the living room windowsill so that she can see it easier, and she’s so cute ‘sssh’ she says ‘the fairies are sleeping’ Works like a charm!

This is the one I’ve got, it looks quite impressive and would be up there as one of the grandest fairy houses.

I was so impressed with this idea as a gift that the next Christmas I wanted to get my Mother one. I thought it was something a little bit different that she would like to look at. Her favourite colour is purple so I was trying to find one that had purple colouring, and I was trying to find something that was completely different to the one I was given. And then I found this teapot, this was spot on. My Dad loved it more than my Mother and they have it on the windowsill in their kitchen diner so I know they like it. It is so pretty and quirky, I love it. There are many many more teapots available that are just as quirky, and just as fun as this one, but I think I made the right choice for my Mother with it’s purple flowers on top.

I am so impressed with how the designs have moved on in the short time since I was looking for this teapot! They have them in so many different shapes and themes now. These fruit and veg themed fairy houses are amazing, and they really do spark the imagination. It makes sense that fairies would build houses out of what is available to them…we’ll forget that they would probably rot though shall we?! This pineapple themed fairy house is fantastic, looks so funky, it would look so good in a kitchen or in the garden. You can also get a pumpkin, a broccoli,a bunch of carrots and a bunch of asparagus!

There are quite a few floral fairy houses too as you can imagine. These are beautiful ones, but what I like about this one is that it looks like a bouquet of lillies. No need for a vase, no need for you to arrange, and the flowers won’t die. This seems like a fabulous alternative to a bunch of flowers if you ask me!

I also adore the really quirky shaped fairy houses you can get like caravans! Caravans always look quirky, they have funny shapes, they have retro and vintage vibes and they just lend themselves so well to this type of product. I have a soft spot for this gypsy caravan, and it might need to be added to my fairy house wishlist. It would look amazing in the garden.

I do love the gypsy caravan, but this retro tin can of a caravan is so quirky, I had to include it! They would both look so fab in the garden, I can visualise it, at this rate I’ll be setting up a fairy caravan park out the back!

Another gorgeous fairy house that would look absolutely perfect in the garden is this watering can. There’s a choice of purple or silver, but I love the purple, really stands out, and that’s what we want from our quirky purchases surely?! I love that it hasa ladybird on it, adding character and even more colour. Thumbs up from me!

I do have a deep appreciation for the boot-shaped fairy houses too. The detailing is exquisite. It’s an extremely elegant kind of quirky, and automatically makes you think of childhood stories about the little old lady who lived in shoe, I think that’s the story I’m thinking about anyway! Either way, it has a nostalgic vibe, takes you back to the imagination of youth, and that’s what fairy houses are there for, to create magical moments and memories.

I just love all of these fairy houses, and it would be amazing to be small enough to live in one, even just for a day. Maybe one day I will be able to build my very own fairy house, I’m only 5ft nothing so it shouldn’t take long! I think mine would have to be a palace fairy house like this one…after all, I am a bit of a Princess!

Which one would you live in?

Sausage dogs are taking the quirky world by storm!

Most people have a preference, they are either a cat person or a dog person. I am scared of dogs so I am a cat person by default, but, there is something about a funny-looking sausage dog that I just can’t resist, and whenever I see one, whether it be real or as a product, I can’t help myself from smiling.

This is a fun ‘theme’ to research and no doubt I’ll be adding to this post as I explore more funky websites. However, on Amazon alone, I have found masses of these adorable little pooches in an array of forms, from classy to crazy, they are there in abundance, and they look amazing.

I think a little bit of colour is needed on this post now don’t you? If you’re looking for a special gift for a special lady, this is stunning. Quirky and fun, the colours are out of this world, such a beautiful design. Very unusual and totally kooky with the top hat. A statement piece to be adored for years to come. This would make the plainest of outfits pop, a definite must-have for any sausage dog super fan.

This cast iron sausage dog toilet / kitchen roll holder is the bees knees. I would personally use it as a kitchen roll holder because it is so handy to have one and I don’t have one yet…on the wish list now for definite! It would stop the bottom of the roll getting soggy too I’d imagine and it just looks cool without being over the top.

And how about these funky sausage dogs nail files?! This particular listing is for one nail file, but I adore them, so colourful and pretty, I love the purple / blue one. Is anyone having a sausage dog themed wedding? These would make quirky little favours, it’s an unusual idea that’s for sure!

Speaking of weddings, the happy couple will of course need somewhere to keep their precious rings safe when they’re not wearing them. I love my stag ring holder, but how gorgeous is this sausage dog one?! It lends itself so well to this type of product. It’s stylish and is very elegant, it can sit quite comfortably in any environment as there’s no flamboyance here, it is subtle in it’s quirkiness.

I have noticed that sausage dogs are gaining momentum in the gift world at the moment, and they are starting to show up on everything! I have seen them on mugs, on jewellery, you name it they are there right in the thick of it, giving unicorns, llamas and flamingos a good run for their money! But can you get any more quirky than this…sausage dogs in your cocktails? yes please! I mean, who wants boring old cubes when you can have sausage-shaped dogs?! These would be fab for a fun sausage dog themed birthday party, young or old! I’m sure children would love using them as moulds for clay too.

Sticking with the party boys and girls theme, this is the type of gift I like to give. Practical and quirky! It is probably up there in the top 10 gifts you can give to men over and over again without it being weird. I have found some funky bottle openers in my day and Mr Quirky has been given quite a few as stocking fillers over the years, but I have never seen one shaped in this way before. The only thing that would make this sausage dog bottle opener more quirky would be if it was rainbow-coloured! This is one of my favourite things I’ve found so far.

This is a little bit of a cheeky addition to this post, but as you may know I do have my own online quirky gift shop too, and sausage dogs have started to find their way on to our little shop. I won’t be adding loads of links to my shop in this blog don’t worry, but there are some themes I just can’t go by without showing you what I have too. Sausage dogs is one of those themes and these salt and pepper sets are just awesome.

If I was to invest in a salt and pepper set, this sausage hot dog and mustard set would be my number one choice. It’s so funky and cute, and such a cool talking piece on the dinner table if you had guests! They would make fab new home or engagement gifts. Something fun but practical.

As sausage dogs, or dachshunds as they are sometimes called, gain popularity in the gift industry, I am bound to find more funky bits and bobs to add here so stay tuned!

Only quirky plants make it in this house!

I have a serious problem with keeping plants alive, they just don’t survive a year in this house. But recently, we have adopted a rather fascinating cactus and I am trying to best to keep this one alive!! Our son has called it ‘Spikey’ which I think is an awesome name for a cactus! Spikey is going to have a better chance at life than any of the other cacti that have been and died before it because, I hate to say it, please don’t judge me for my shallowness in regards to cacti, but it has pretty flowers! This shade of pink is one of my favourite colours.

Spikey is a rhipsalidopsis cactus and was purchased at Wilkos for a reasonable price of £2.50, this was the only one with this particular colour blooms at the time. There was another one with red flowers which would have gone better with the pot it’s sitting in but who cares, it’s not here to win any prizes!

The pot deserves it’s own post, it is so cool. It has three legs which makes it unusual anyway, but the cute kitty cat face and colouring sets it apart from other pots I’ve had in the past. This was bought in TK Maxx which is one of my favourite high street shops to rummage through for quirky treasures. You can always find some unusual pieces in there which makes it a good place to go hunting for quirky bits and bobs. My Mother in particular is obsessed with this shop, she buys so many things from there throughout the year, she doesn’t even know who she’s going to give things to when she buys them, she just likes them and buys them just incase. I guess quirky shopping is in the genes!

Why quirky gifts are so much better to give…

As you get older, the number of gifts you get decreases, massively! Which is why it is so important to make the gift you give stand out from the crowd. As a gift recipient, I much prefer (obviously!) for them to be different to the norm. Most people buy what they want when they want them these days, so buying normal-looking things will more often than not make them forgettable.

Take this candle holder as an example. My sister gave me this a few years ago for Christmas and I adore it. It is so kooky, explodes with character, and best of all, it is so me! Now I have had many candle holders as gifts in the past and although I keep most of them hidden away in the candle cupboard for emergencies (yes, I am a bit of a hoarder!), I can’t remember who gave them to me or for what occasion. But this quirky and cute little witchy-looking cottage has pride of place in our living room. It will never be hidden away, and I will always remember who gave it to me.

I know that it was purchased at the Bath Christmas Market, but that’s as much intel as I can give you regarding where to get this exact one. It seems hand-crafted to me too so may well be a one-off, which again makes it more special to me.

There are two things to bear in mind when choosing a gift for someone. Make sure it’s something they will actually like and that it suits their personality, and secondly, make sure it’s something you like too. Fruit baskets wouldn’t be something you’d necessarily think of to give as a gift, but when it’s quirkilly shaped as an Owl, it can be a much appreciated fun and practical gift! This was one of my Christmas gifts from Mr Quirky and I think it is so cool, in all honesty though it has probably held more chocolates and biscuits than fruit! We both love forest friends’ themed items so it fits well in our kitchen. He bought it off Amazon and the cheapest I can find is £9.99.

This fruit basket shows that quirky doesn’t have to be crazy, over-the-top flamboyant, quirky can be classy, quirky can be in-keeping with a more subtle environment too. I just think that if you’re going to give a gift, make it count, make it a gift to remember, you might as well make it a little bit quirky!

My kind of Quirky…

So, as this is a brand spanking new blog, I think it’s important that you get to know what kind of quirky makes me tick!

I am not a materialistic person as such, but if I must have something, it needs to be special and worthy of being owned by me! Christmas 2017 I was given one of my most prized possession by Mr Quirky, a Vendula London handbag.

The one I’ve got isn’t even listed anymore, but I have this stunning purple book store bag. They still have a coffee version. It is gorgeous, so unique and I love it. I’m almost too afraid to use it because I don’t want to ruin it or hurt it in any way! I have always loved the Book Store one, I love books, my second choice would have been the Toy Shop, so cool.

There are so many new styles on the website now, I can’t believe how they come up with such funky designs, they’ve even got a red Post Box bag and a Tiki Bar! The Chocolatier and The Sewing Shop are amazing too.

They do purses, wallets and make-up bags as well as bags in different shapes and sizes. This website makes me smile every time I have a look. It is quite possibly one of my favourite websites to visit, and I am so incredibly happy that I have my very own bag to adore at home too.

Hello world!

Welcome to the Quirky Shopper, let’s get this show on the road! I’m on a mission to find the quirkiest of the quirky gifts out there. I’m not just talking about quirky socks and bubble bath, I’m taking super funky, extremely unique gifts! Whether it be umbrellas, toasters, experience days, if it’s unusual, I want to find it and write about it so that I can share them with you.

I have always loved writing, and I like to think that I come across quite personable in my writing too. I was once told by one of my teachers that my writing was too flowery, but I have poetry and creativity in my soul, I can’t just turn that off!

I do have a Facebook page set up already called Quirky Shopper and I will update you when I have the other social media platforms set up too! Please do like my page for even more quirky finds.

I hope you enjoy here at my quirky palace, bring on the bright and the bold, the funky and the fruity, the weird and wonderful…I’m coming to get you!

Thank you to Mr Quirky for lovingly hand-drawing my logo and making me look a stone or so lighter… good man!