I Feel Smug not only has an excellent name, it wants to sell you excellent things. If you find yourself in north London you can drift around the shop, but otherwise have a trawl through all the loveliness online. It's full of handmade toys, gorgeous kitchenware, cute ceramics and stationery that you'll have to force yourself to use.
Let's start with some
knitted puppies.
You could legitimately feel a bit smug if you bought one of these, given that they're made by a women's collective in Kenya which aims to improve the quality of life of rural women. Plus, look at their FACES! And teeny paws! Just don't look at the
woolly owls unless you're prepared to risk dying of cute.
For the Sound of Music fan in your life - a
Far, A Long Long Way To Run pendant. They've also got
La A Note To Follow Sew,
Ray A Drop Of Golden Sun and
Sew A Needle Pulling Thread, but do any of those come with a functional miniature brass telescope? I think not. You can show your love for Julie Andrews AND spy on people.
These
wooden brooches made from children's book illustations will pep up any cardigan. I fancied the typewriter brooch, but then noticed the big fluffy dog on the television one. Is that Blue Peter? Is that you, Goldie? Excuse me, I'm now lost in a Wiki-loop researching
Blue Peter pets.
If this is all getting a bit whimsical for you, then (1) you are clearly no friend of mine, and (2) take a look at this
charcoal briefcase. It'll go nicely with your
winter floral dress. Flowers: not just for summer.
Smug does a
range of prints, but
this lipbalm one is my favourite - mainly because I never go out without at least two on me. (Lipbalms, not prints of lipbalms. That would be taking it a bit far.) I was about to slag off the Hershey's one for sounding disgusting before realising I've got a dark chocolate and peppermint lipbalm. Very nice, honestly.
