Online and in the shops: Irish-made Christmas gift ideas for kids

Your weekly guide to some new family friendly products online and in the shops.

Bandana bibs: Little Green Dot in Clonakilty has launched a limited edition of handcrafted bandana bibs, €8.95, in three Christmas fabrics.

For every bib sold, a €1 donation will be divided between Focus Ireland and the Irish Red Cross.

These festive designs are also available as personalised Christmas stockings — a first Christmas gift or special keepsake for someone older, €32.

Stockings can be ordered until December 18 from Designist in Dublin or online at www.littlegreendot.ie

Trad knits: The Aran jumper is making a comeback thanks to The Little Yarn Company in Co Kerry which is hand-stitching them for children this Christmas.

Designer Pierette O’Shea’s own little yarn began when her baby Sally received a gift of a handknit Aran hoodie.

Everywhere they went people stopped her to ask where she had got it and Pierette was inspired to reimagine the Aran to see if she could make it as fashionable as the classic French Breton top.

Made from soft 100% merino wool, Arans for babies and children come in a variety of styles, using stitches including the classic cable, blackberry, honeycomb, moss, and diamond, prices from €39.95.

Last orders for Christmas from thelittleyarncompany.com are December 18 (An Post) or December 22 (UPS).

Handmade crafts: For a selection of handmade Irish crafts from across Munster, pay a visit to the Design & Craft Studio, which was opened in Charleville’s Main Street by batik artist Judy Reardon earlier this year.

Artist Brigid Shelly ‘cowshions’ and children’s fleece clothing from Cork company Bagoose are popular gifts, while this rocking horse, €135, is a framed textile piece made by Audrey Fitzgerald from Limerick.

There’s also a selection of baby clothes and other handknits for children made locally.

www.facebook.com/thedesignandcraftstudio

Craft fair: The National Craft & Design Fair continues at the RDS until December 6; www.nationalcraftsfair.ie.

Among the exhibitors you will find Hamilton Bear, handmade in Dublin using tweed and wool from Donegal, prices from €125.

What makes these bears extra special is that designer Carrie Barron will create a bespoke memory bear using outgrown baby clothes or other textiles that hold sentimental value.

Gift vouchers for bears to be made in 2016, prices from €140, can be ordered for Christmas at www.hamiltonbear.ie