Muddy adores a pun so how could we resist online gift store, Ginger Zebra? It’s a pun-lover’s lexicon, with a scented candle range offering compelling fragrances, like ‘Wet Dog’ and ‘Betty Swollocks’. Or how about a Sarah Edmonds Cocks tea-towel illustrated with (don’t be naughty) beautifully detailed birds? One for the MIL, maybe? So wrong they’re right.

A silly pun is always welcome here at Muddy but it’s even better when it’s supporting local and ooh, look it is! Ginger Zebra is stuffed with affordable local goodies, including jewellery, cards, planet-friendly homeware and fun-but-thoughtful gifts and kids’ books. All of it is quality, tasteful and inspired by GZ owner, Zoe Buttling’s, own sense of humour and local connections.

Based near Exeter, Zoe is one of those engaged people that makes friends wherever she goes. I’m sure she won’t mind me telling you, prior to launching Ginger Zebra, Zoe was on the road for 10 years in the music industry working as a production co-ordinator with big names like Muse, Take That and Jeff Lynne. Deciding a change to a less hectic career was overdue, she decided she could think of nothing more fab than a lifestyle buying and selling lovely things.

So, everything on her website is personal to her, selected either because it’s made by an artistic friend, it’s something that makes her laugh or because it will – as she says on the website – ‘create kindness because life’s hard enough’. Heart-warming, yes? And while Zoe is genuinely passionate about supporting local makers, she’s not forgotten her Covid-hit ex-colleagues in the live music biz, so every time you buy a music icon tea towel, Zoe donates 10% to Music Support, a charity which supports roadies, and crew on and off the road.

Clearly a woman to get behind! Zoe’s dream is to open a bricks and mortar store where you can pop in for a cup of tea and a chat. BTW Zoe is a total hoot and, though she’s very modest about it, I bet she’s full of fascinating stories about her life on the road with Matt Bellamy, Gary Barlow and co. So, go fill your boots at her fab online store. Everything is ethically packaged and with you in 3-5 days.

And if the all the sweary Humpty Dumpty cards are sold out, sorry. I bought them all.