THE latest ranges of quirky gifts and vintage-inspired homewares at Maia are a lesson in natural selection.

From owls peeking out on cushions and china ornaments, to curled up foxes on everything from scarves to bags, there is a real back to nature feel about the selection in the basement store in Bath Street, Glasgow.

"Everything we stock is special," enthuses manager Kristen Bruce. "We really try to go for things that are quite unique. We feature a lot of smaller designers and try to have a big selection of items you won't find on the high street."

The shop was set up in Buchanan Street in 2009, then moved around the corner to make way for the expansion of the Buchanan Galleries. By word of mouth the number of customers has expanded along with the wide range of gift ideas on offer.

"We like to sell stuff that stands out," explains Kristen. "When you walk into the shop there's so much to choose from. So if you don't know what to buy someone, there are so many options. We take the stress out of that for you."

Wooden watches by WeWood have been a big seller since Christmas. Made in Indonesia from recycled or reclaimed durable hardwoods, no two timepieces are the same as they have been crafted from natural materials. Eco-friendly, the company plants a tree for each watch purchased.

The on-trend clutch bags and wallets from Disaster Designs feature foxes, deer and rabbits. So sought after is the range that customers come in frequently to check when new stock is in, says Kristin.

The nature theme continues in the jewellery cabinets with real flowers in pieces made by Shrieking Violet in Wales.

"It's a really popular range," says Kristin. "When people come in who don't know what to buy their mum or gran, we point them in the direction of this range.

"They are all sterling silver and contain real flowers."

CUTE hand-painted hedgehog brooches sit nearby from the woodland-inspired range by Zixiao.

And there are delicately carved necklaces in the shape of owls, penguins and polar bears, made in Ecuador and India from nuts by fair trade company Just Trade.

Cuddly toys and games are the highlight of the children's corner with stand-out pieces from French company Moulin Roty.

Tiny baby slippers crafted into elephant heads and lion heads sit side by side with boxes overflowing with soft toys, all beautifully gift boxed.

One of the biggest sellers in the shop is the Gorjuss range by Scottish artist Suzanne Woolcott. Her fairy tale-like designs adorn everything from bags, badges and phone cases to iPad covers and photo albums.

"We were the first shop to stock Suzanne's work and have a large range," says Kristin.

"People like to collect them and the designs are popular with a wide age range of people.

"My little sister is 10 and she and her friends love it but we also get women in their 70s coming in and get the same reaction - they find the artwork really striking."

SHE adds: "We started off selling cards and it grew from there.

"Tourists love the range because they want to take something home that was made in Scotland."

Moomin designs on bags and wallets have been among the surprise best- sellers, proving there is a child in all of us, while the vintage-inspired ranges never go out of fashion.

From distressed picture frames to floral paper-covered suitcases, twee pocket watches and lockets, retro payphones and delicate necklaces and rings crafted from doll's house tea sets all catch the attention of anyone with a magpie eye.

It's hard not to fall in love with the tiny china dogs hanging on necklaces - nature and vintage styles all wrapped up in one lovely package.

l Maia Gifts, 21 Bath Street, Glasgow.

angela.mcmanus@ eveningtimes.co.uk