Gift buying on a budget at Manchester Craft and Gift Market

What do you buy for the girl who has everything? That's a problem I'm faced with around this time every year, as it approaches a certain hard-to-buy-for-friend's birthday. She already owns most of the the contents of every high street shop at any given time. So, out of a desire to find something original and rare, I visited the craft and gift market in Manchester's Piccadilly Gardens.

First off, shopping at markets is more fun than trawling the high streets. It just is. Stall keepers are friendly sorts, and fellow shoppers aren't consumed by the competetive rage that characterises high street weekend shopping experiences. They're much more laid back, browsable environments - accompanied by the delicious smells of hot food stalls.

And the Craft and Gift Market, which took place in Piccadilly Gardens this month, is no exception. The 20 or so stalls offer a mixture of high quality jewellry, food, cosmetics, homeware and accessories sourced from round the world and sold by independent traders from around the region.

So, with £15 to spend on a gift, I began browsing.

Immediately drawn like a child to a sweetshop by its colours and delicious smells, I wandered over to Pure Indulgence, a stall selling home made soaps in a variety of shapes, sizes, and scents. Think 'Lush' - without the hefty price tag. The Rochdale based cosmetics company, created eight years ago by Sarah Brown, sells handmade soaps infused with aromatherapy scents for a varuety of purposes - as well as her best selling soap filled sponges. Which of course, I couldn't resist buying a couple of for myself. Of her big-name high street competitor, Sarah told me 'It actually does us a favour, because it means that customers are already familiar with the kinds of products we offer. Only ours are cheaper!".

Another stall to grab my attention - obviously - was the Cupcake Palace. Yes, anyone who's ever operated an oven seems to be baking cupcakes these days, but these are so much better than your norm. Queen of the cupcakes Melissa Seger has provided her spongey delights for the (butter)cream of the fashion and events industry - designing bespoke cupcakes for the likes of Gok Wan, Vogue magazine and Urban Splash.

Other interesting stalls include Dave Walters' Fair Trade store Priya - importers of Nepalese fair trade clothing, crafts and other products - and Aztec Arts, who travel all over Mesoamerica sourcing unusual homeware items and sell them in the UK from their base in Glossop.

But, after considering all the options, I found a beautiful antique style mock-jade pendant from Cottage Crafts - a Huddersfield based company designing and making bespoke jewellery. Operated by the charming Sheila Dyson and her husband, Cottage Crafts features a gorgeous range of antique style necklaces, brooches, bracelets and other hand made items. Success.

The pendant cost £15 - right on budget - and I'm sure my friend will love it. If, of course, I can bear to part with it myself.