For joyful proceedings this Christmas, we’ve taken the leg work out of finding loving gifts and sidestepped the predictable in favour of the exquisitely made. We’ve sought out beautiful and useful items with a sense of timelessness owed to the craftmanship of makers with a passion for what they do – these are gifts to keep and memories to cherish long after this season ends. Whether you’re looking for the perfect present for a partner, sibling, child or friend, this list has a little something for everyone.
WOMEN
Offering Incense Holder, £40 – The Future Kept
For those who love the lingering and sensuous scent of burning incense, a handcrafted holder by Studio Brae makes this a ritual as stylish as it smells. Hand thrown on a potter’s wheel in Edinburgh, this stony ceramic is functional yet beautiful.
Fine Little Day Bored Print from £44 – Alice in Scandiland
Boredom doesn’t mean uninspired, especially when it’s a mood captured by Swedish designer, Sophia Lind. ‘Bored’ is a statement wall print which can be hung landscape or portrait. Choose from two sizes: 50cm x 70cm or 70cm x 100cm.
Drawing with Stitch Online Community Course, £60 – Camban Studio
This online embroidery stitching class is a superb antidote for the January blues. Starting 20th January 2022 for six weeks, each interactive workshop demonstrates simple techniques for ‘drawing’ on cloth using collected fabric scraps and readily available materials. Suitable for beginners.
Garden Bath Soak, £22 – Homework
When it comes to bath time in winter, there’s no such thing as too luxurious. This Garden Bath Soak is the ideal accompaniment for a luscious soak, bringing together rose petal, geranium, cardamon and a hint of lavender with Himalayan and Epsom salts for a truly relaxing soak that will melt away the chill.
Moonlight Candle, £30 – Moa
Winter cosiness is founded on the flickering dim of a hand poured candle. This Moonlight Candle by Moa adds a gentle twinkle to the longer, darker days with the glorious scent of white sage, jasmine, camphor and myrrh made with plant-based natural wax and pure essential oils.
Piccolo Seeds Pollinators Collection, £10.50 – Winter’s Moon
For the green-fingered, enrich any balcony or garden space by drawing in buzzing pollinators. These beautiful packets contain bee-friendly seed mixes containing Brighton Rock Snapdragon, Starfire Mix Marigold and Munstead Blue Lavender.
Ceramic Jar in Mustard, £58 – Spoiled Life
Opulent festive table settings warrant lavish objects and this ceramic jar makes for an appealing addition with its old-world aesthetic modernised in a mustard tone. Ideal for displaying eucalyptus or bunches of dried flowers.
Raffia Bowl, from £15 – Our Lovely Goods
This gorgeous raffia bowl from Our Lovely Goods is woven by local artisans in Abuja, Nigeria and comes in two sizes – medium or large. Whether it’s for fruit bowl storage or gathering foraged finds in the summer time, raffia gives that extra special nod to tradition craftmanship.
Moments gift boxes, from £42 – 91 Magazine
Give the gift of a perfectly curated moment with our very own gift boxes. We’ve teamed up with four independent brands to bring together the essential ingredients for an inspiring afternoon: an issue of 91, the scent of Forest Mystic incense, loose leaf tea by Tea in the Moment, bean-to-bar chocolate by Bare Bones and the crisp blank pages of a Katie Leamon notebook.
Hanging Plant Pot, £15 – Hare & Wilde
For the plant lover in your life, a simple hand-woven basket makes a rustic statement for potting plants, herbs or flowers. Available in three shapes with jute strings to hang from a desired spot. Ideally paired with a fern or a pothos.
KIDS
Wooden 3D Plywood House Kit, £13.50 – Alice in Scandiland
Playing house gets a whole new meaning with this 3D wooden house kit. Stylishly minimal once created, it can double up as décor. A fun challenge with picture instructions included. Not suitable for under 3s.
Lion by Olesen Design, £35 – Hoos Glasgow
Teddies come in all shapes and sizes, but none as cute and one-of-a-kind as this hand-crocheted lion made in Edinburgh by Danish maker, Grete Olesen. A cuddly companion that’s pleasing on the eyes of both kids and adults alike.
100 Piece Decoder Puzzle, £16.50 – Berylune
This 100-piece puzzle is prime entertainment so you can steal an extra hour or two sipping mulled wine in peace. But this is no ordinary jigsaw – this puzzle has a modern aesthetic thoughtfully combined with bold colours and a festival theme for added cheer. Suitable for 4+ years.
Funny Feelings Art Box, £27 – Lots of Lovely Art
An excellent introduction to the world of grown-up art for kids. This box delves in the colourful world of Henri Matisse, Edvard Munch and Vincent van Gogh, with prompt cards for exploring styles and techniques with plenty of quality art materials. Suitable for ages 6 and over.
Sand Writing Tray, £29.50 – Little Coach House
This tactile and sensory gift combines learning with playtime. Using fingers or a writing stick, flashcards prompt drawing in the sand where mistakes are easily buried. Perfect for young ones learning to form letters and numbers.
Big Brother Hiker Mouse, £31 – Berylune
This adventurous playmate is charmingly kitted out for the whims of imagination. Geared with a sleeping bag and ready for the road, this Danish-design is timeless and playful.
Rattan Wonder Wagon, £135 – Olli Ella
This four-wheeled wagon adds another dimension to the fictional explorations of the little one in your life. Transport toys, dolls and teddies in a natural rattan basket that makes for a practical and stylish storage addition to any bedroom space.
Cabana Kids Charlie Teepee, £139.95 – Soren’s House
For indoor or outdoor play, this 100% cotton canvas teepee offers exciting refugee for kids to play in. The material is ultra-anti-UV providing UPF 50+ protection, making it well suited for hot days spent outdoors.
Baby Daisy Dog by OYOY, £41 – Folk Interiors
Who doesn’t want a sausage dog as a friend? This 100% cotton knit cushion offers soft cuddles with a side of style in muted tones of grey and rose.
Adventurers Craft Kit Activity Box, £13.95 – Cotton Twist
This craft box includes all the accoutrements for the world of make believe to come to life, including a blank superhero mask to decorate with glue dots and eco glitter, pirate catapult, headdress and model aeroplane.
MEN
50 Things to Do in the Wild book, £9.99 – Quarters Home
Stoke the (camp-side) fires with this essential guide to outdoor living. Beautifully illustrated with tips from forest school practitioner, Richard Skrein, offering instructions on everything from building a shelter to making a fire.
Chocolate Library, £40 – Ocelot
This indulgent collection of eight organic Ocelot chocolate bars is presented in a slick navy case. Select your own bars at check out, choosing from Black Cherry, Femme Dark Milk, Buckwheat, Violet Milk, White Almond, Sea Salt, Eggnog and Blood Orange.
Beeble Honey Whisky, £31 – Beeble
Rich in flavour, this smooth honey-infused liqueur has been expertly blended with natural Wiltshire honey and is the Winner of a Great Taste Award 2020. Made in the Wiltshire countryside with whiskey from Strathearn Distillery, the honey lends a natural sweetness to this barrel-aged scotch.
Merino Wool Beanie, £30 – Triangle Store
Made from 100% extra fine merino wool, this beanie comes in navy, deep black, scarlet red, French ivory and faded pink. Easy to throw on, cosy and effortless, a stylish accessory when the temperature plummets.
The Cheese Canteen, £32 – Provisions London
Cheese is a no-brainer at Christmas time, especially when it’s seasonally themed and boxed to deliver. But for the real aficionado, the team at Provisions have rounded together a stand-out selection of farmhouse cheeses, replete with a descriptive leaflet full of the technical know-how.
Manana Shave Oil – Old Faithful
Shaving how shaving should be – fresh and free from chemicals. This organic shaving oil is made of avocado and argan, with high-quality all-natural essential oils offering the soothing scent of chamomile and cedarwood.
Wool Socks, £30 – Rose Brown Knitwear
Wool socks will up the cosiness factor of any cold winter days, but these colour block socks with a chunky rib are particularly charming. Made in Britain with flecked yarn for extra comfort.
Log cabin incense burner, £12 – Reste
This novelty incense burner makes pining for the fjords a whole lot sweeter. This little wooden cabin comes with Balsam Fir incense, which is ground and dried Balsam branches pressed into moulds, giving a 100% natural and earthy scent to fill your home.
Moroccan Berber Babouche Slippers, £34 – Bohemia Design
These Berber slippers are a traditional Moroccan design handcrafted in the medina of Marrakech using age-old techniques with earthy brown leather and hardwearing soles. The perfect house shoe for the well-travelled to wear at home.
Small Pouch, £40 – Rural Kind
A small pouch for just about anything – cards, cash, cables, cords. A fantastic gift for those prone to jingling pockets. Made of bridle leather tanned with oak bark at an ancient tannery in Devon, this hand-stitched pouch comes in tan or dark brown.
