Every lioness needs a little love in their lives, and also to share a little love, so this Valentine's Day weekend, we are celebrating the power of romance and suggesting a few fabulous gift ideas, created by the talented women entrepreneurs and artisans in the Lionesses of Africa community. From the smallest of gifts in the form of handmade confectionery, to the extravagant gestures of love expressed in jewellery, our fabulous women entrepreneurs have something for everyone.
Romance is definitely in the air, and our Lionesses of Africa have definitely come to the party with some great gifting ideas to make your loved one feel special. Here are some of our personal favourites, created by some of the most talented women entrepreneurs across the continent, that made us smile going into the Valentine's Day weekend.
Carrol Boyes
Love Bites
If your loved one has an eye for something beautifully crafted but with a unique quirkiness all of its own, then a decorative homeware piece by the supremely talented Carrol Boyes and her team could be just the ticket. These pieces are big on personality and have huge heart - what more could you want on Valentine's Day? www.carrolboyes.com
Wonderbag
Share the Love
If you want to express your love this year by showing how much you care for others and the environment, then the perfect gift for you could be the Wonderbag slow-cooker, the brainchild of the game-changing Sarah Collins. This amazing eco-friendly and life-changing cooking solution is being offered this weekend with a "Share the Love" discount incentive. What's not to love about that? wonderbagworld.com
Simple Intrigue
Book Love
If you are fan of literature and the tradition of giving books for Valentine's Day, but want to show your book love in a different way, then why not consider the astonishingly beautiful and lovingly hand-crafted 'I love books' sculpture from Keri Muller at Simple Intrigue. It's made from recycled paperback books destined for pulping, and gives them a second chance to make someone happy! simpleintrigue.com
DEFINITION Africa
African Heartbeat
The talented creative team at DEFINITION Africa, Nahida and Nadia Bhegani & Olga Mugyenyi, know how to grab people's attention with their wonderful T-Shirt designs, and for Valentine's Day this year, they want everyone to show their love for Africa with their great African Heartbeat T-Shirt. We love it! www.instagram.com/definitionafrica
Handmade By Me
Sweet Hearts Wallpaper
If you want to express your love in a big way that lasts long after Valentine's Day weekend comes to an end, then what better way than to cover the walls of your home with Sweet Hearts wallpaper, created by the talented Sera Holland, founder of Handmade by Me. Show your love each day in print. www.handmadebyme.co.za
Jenna Clifford
Dazzling Diamonds & Shimmering Sapphires
For all those lovebirds that believe in the old adage that diamonds are forever, then the perfect Valentine's Day gift could come in the form of these breathtaking diamond and sapphire heart shaped rings from celebrity jeweller, Jenna Clifford. www.jennaclifford.com
LithaFlora
Honey Bee
We loved this heart shaped, sweet honey inspiration from the wonderful LithaFlora African Botanicals company, founded by Yolanda Methvin, which has created a fabulous range of gift items that celebrate indigenous African biodiversity and botanical health and wellbeing. Get a little Zen this Valentine's Day and pamper yourself whilst treading lightly on the environment. lithaflora.com
MitiMeth
A Community Affair
Show your love for the environment this Valentine's Day and make a difference by buying these wonderful heart shaped key rings, created by social entrepreneur Achenyo Idachaba and her inspirational enterprise Mitimeth. They are woven from the highly destructive water hyacinths that are clogging up Nigeria's urban waterways. You can own something beautifully handcrafted, whilst at the same time, doing your bit for the environment. So, go 'green' instead of red this year! www.mitimeth.com
Ooh la la Artisan Confectionery
Sweet Sweet Love
Who doesn't love a little sweetness in their lives on Valentine's Day, and what better way to say "I Love You" than with a bag of naughty but nice, lovingly handmade and packaged sweets and confections from the hugely talented team led by Karen Schneid-Lieberman, founder at Ooh la la Artisan Confectionery. Yum! www.oohlalaconfectionery.co.za
RAIN Africa
Handmade with Love
This next gift idea from the wonderful craftspeople from RAIN Africa, inspired by the visionary global brand builder, Bev Missing, stole our heart away. These aesthetically beautiful, handmade heart-shaped soaps put the love into bath-time and make anyone receiving them feel loved and pampered. rainafrica.com