For the Guys

The holiday season is rapidly approaching, and it's time to start making lists for the perfect gifts for our friends and family. Over the next few weeks, we will get bombarded with advertisements on the best things to purchase for those on our list, but sometimes those gifts feel a bit disingenuous.

Military spouses are creative and resilient, and despite the constant moving, changing of duty stations, and deployments we still find the space in our lives to do something special. For many spouses that means owning a small business.

And what better way to search for the perfect holiday gift than to do it while supporting the small businesses of your fellow milspouses?

Here are a few military spouse-owned Etsy shops where you can find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. For more, see our Giant List of Milspouse-owned Businesses !

For the Ladies

The following shops are great for the ladies in your life- moms, wives, sisters, BFFs, wives, and grandmothers. Whether you're looking for clothing, jewelry, accessories, or life accessories these shops have it.

1. CoverLove

Custom, rustic pillows! Proud to provide great gifts for Christmas, Wedding, New Naby, Housewarming, Military retirement, and more!

2. Daisy Faye Designs

Daisy Faye Designs is owned by Kim Chapman, a USMC spouse. Her shop has gorgeous scarves and one-of-a-kind clutches and totes. She also makes some kids items like appliqué t-shirts. Plus, these stylish masks!

3. 73 Designs

If you're looking for jewelry for that special someone, look no further than 73 Designs . Owned by Sahara LeVine, this shop has delicate necklaces, bracelets, rings, and lockets that are sure to make any lady in your life smile.

4. Salt, Sand, and Sea

Does your loved one love the beach? Are you missing the warm salty air and sand? Salt, Sand, and Sea is a beach-inspired jewelry shop run by Amanda, a fellow military spouse. She has necklaces, earrings, and bracelets that all have the ocean in mind.

5. Jennspieces

"The Original Boot Band Bracelet. Military support jewelry for the everyday woman who supports her loved one. Wear your heart on your wrist and represent the Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airman or Coastie you love. Or wear a necklace that you have helped design or a keychain that says a little something about you."

6. SmallprintTexas

"Handmade silver jewelry with your loved ones fingerprints, handprints, footprints, names, drawings, handwriting and paw prints! Please order early for the holidays since every piece is handmade by me. All engraving included."

For the Guys

Even though they might not admit it, guys love gifts that come from the heart too. Shopping small this holiday season gives you an opportunity to do just that- look for something meaningful rather than pull something off a shelf. The shops below have some great gifts for the guys in your life- husbands, fathers, brothers, uncles, and grandpas.

7. OakandOliverCandleCo

Soy candles, handcrafted candles in North Carolina!

8. BulletsIIBandages

Although not military spouses, BulletsIIBandages is an Etsy shop run by former Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal officers, Erik Spalding and Cole Evans. Their shop specializes in .50 caliber accessories including bottle openers and key chains, and they can be personalized. A bottle opener from BulletsIIBandages are the perfect gift for the hardcore guys in your life.

9. Wright Away Designs

Wright Away Design s is a custom wood sign company. Their most popular military inspired work are their Armed Forces flags and American flags, but they also make other signs for the home. Check them out to order a customized design for your husband's man cave or for a gorgeous addition to your home.

For the Kids

Between making lists for Santa and trying to scour the stores for the hottest new toys, shopping for kids during the holiday season can be utterly exhausting. Why not get them something that no one else will have all while supporting a small business? Most of the shops below are clothing, hair accessories, and bowties, but there are some toys that are perfect for your holiday list. Check them out below, and shop small!

10. Stuffed Squadrons

Do you have a budding pilot in your life? Stuffed Squadrons makes adorable knitted aircraft perfect for cuddling and playing. Aircraft are made to look like the real deal, including planes from the Marine Corps, Navy, and the Army. Contact shop owner Christina Torres to place your order in time for the holidays!

11. Skidz Wife Creations

Skidz Wife Creations , owned by military spouse Jamie Beach, specializes in embroidery items. She makes everything from t-shirts, burp cloths, onesies, and personalized towels. But for the holiday season, Skidz Wife Creations has Santa sacks, perfect for wrapping large gifts on Christmas morning. Pre-order them today to help make your holidays complete!

12. Stitches Fiberworks

Stitches Fiberwork s, owned by USMC spouse Elizabeth Tompkins, is a fabulous shop for the kiddos this holiday season. Elizabeth makes hand knitted lovies, toys, and mermaid tail blankets- all of which are perfect gifts for this holiday season. Her high quality yarn and craftsman ship withstands the test of time (and busy hands), and kids love them!

13. Polka Dot Prints

Do you have a Thanksgiving or Christmas baby coming this year? Polka Dot Prints is a an embroidery shop that makes adorable baby keepsake stuff animals with all your little one's important information from the day of their birth. They make a great "Baby's First Christmas" gift or baby shower gift!

For the Home

Home is where the heart is, and those of us in the military lifestyle know that to be true. Despite our many moves we still like to make our house feel like a home, and many of us like to document where the military has sent us over the years. There are several military spouse run Etsy shops that make products to help liven up your house to make it feel like a home. These products make great gifts for friends and family in the nomadic lifestyle, for newlyweds, or for first time home-owners.

14. Beautiful Mesh

If you're looking to have a little door decor for your front door, Beautiful Mesh is your place. Their handcrafted wreaths are sure to be the envy of your neighborhood. Lauren Simmons, the military spouse turned Etsy shop owner, makes everything from holiday-inspired and seasonal wreaths to every day and military inspired wreaths. They are a great gift for those moving to a new home or for a holiday party.

15. Art by Joelle Cathleen

If you're looking for the perfect piece to help bring your home together, Art by Joelle Cathleen has you covered. Joelle's paintings are reproduced on high quality paper to help bring her art to life and bring it into more homes. Her artwork is a great gift for grandparents, extended family members, or those who appreciate fine art.

There are so many ways you can do your holiday shopping this season. Gifts from the heart mean so much more than gifts off a shelf, and purchasing handcrafted products like those found in Etsy are a great way to show someone how much you care about them this holiday season.

So why not support fellow military spouses in shopping from their small businesses? When you do, you are supporting real families who are trying to make their dreams come true and perhaps trying to show their children the value of dedication to their work.