Ceramic Perfection

Check out this glorious handcrafted ceramics business on Etsy: CircaCeramics. I've book-marked it for my Birthday and Christmas shopping list this year. Lovely bold colours and line-drawn graphics. There is something for everyone here and my mug cupboard is looking a little shabby these days.

Christmas is coming...

Ooooh! I'm back. It's been (I'm scared to look) too long since I went virtual shopping. Where have I been? Well, for want of a better word, working. That and I've had a complete dearth of occasions to buy presents for but there's now only about 9 weeks until Christmas and I'm raring to go. Plus I've found some lovely places to go for a wander. The list starts here!

1. Personalised Branding Iron for Steak from Hunter Gatherer £24.95 

I would file this magnificent idea under a) what to get for a man, subsection i)...who has everything and ii)...who doesn't particularly like golf. I can see it hanging proudly in the shed with all our barbeque tools just waiting for the summer.

2. Bearded Man Tote Bag by Depeapa at &Vintage £14.00

This is wonderful and would make a great addition to anyone's kit from groceries to the beach particularly since we're all trying to avoid the dreaded carrier bag these days. I remember being deeply covetous of a friend's shopping tote that had an unusual line drawing printed on it and I've never found anything comparable... until now. 

3. Find a Penny - Glicee Print from Biro Robot (unframed) £35.00

The only dilemma with this stunning print is deciding what lucky room in the house is going to get it: A splash of colour in the kitchen, a thought for the day in the bathroom or maybe a cheerful addition to a nursery or child's bedroom. Beautiful.

4. Knitted Dotted Garland by Maileg from Sister's Guild £19.50

Got a little one in mind with a nursery to beautify? Try this beautiful jersey string with colourful dots from one of my favourite design houses at one of my favourite children's boutiques. Danish company Maileg are not that well known on these shores but Sister's Guild stock their classic and unique creations in abundance.

5. Leather Satchel from Lorton & Horn £62.00

A thing of beauty and suitable for just about anyone with taste. It will last for years and the more battered they get, the more charm they retain. I can remember when my school satchel finally fell apart after years of being dumped and stuffed and dragged about in corridors. It took some defeating. It wasn't as nice as this one though. 

Happy Christmas Shopping All!

Showcase: The Doorstop Company

Phew! I had to take a little break there.  A lot of stuff going on that temporarily took my eye off the high street. How are we? Well. Good! I've got a lovely showcase to get us back into the swing of things from a lovely little gift emporium called The Doorstop Company. Doorstops make great gifts. Everyone has doors and floor level decor can be tricky. Beautiful doorstops are the answer.  Here are my favourites (all currently on sale I might add). Get draft excluding people! :

On the 22nd Day of Christmas...

I bought this Gazillion Bubbles Machine £15.99 for my godson on his fourth birthday. He had all his mates in a village hall for a do and this made them go crazy. Honestly, I had no idea. The only downside was a very slippery floor but the nippers were all having too much fun to notice. I can't recommend this toy enough for hours of fun and it can be wheeled out time and time again. Available from Toy's R Us and other large toy stores. 

On the 21st Day of Christmas...

I'm trying to find things that you can also find on the high street now since most of the Christmas postage deadlines are now either upon us or past. How about this Set of 4 Mini Dishes £16.80 by Sophie Conran for Portmeirion. My love affair with this range of crockery and glassware began four years ago when I chose it as my wedding china and I use every piece of it. My mother gave me these bowls last year to further the collection. They are so diddy measuring 3.5cm x 9cm and yet so versatile. I use them when cooking to house prepared ingredients. I have one by the range with rock salt and pepper in it for seasoning cooking. They've been out a parties with snacks in and used at dinner parties for condiments. Made in a style that makes them appear hand thrown they come packaged in Christmas green paper and Sophie Conran's distinctive mint green, spotty boxes, they are a lovely present. In fact, unlike a lot of crockery ranges, most of the items in the range stand by themselves as things of beauty.  I found them on County China & Glass the but range is also available at John Lewis and stockists countrywide. 

Stocking Fillers 20

Amazing and original and packaged in a lovely tin with a hand-drawn design printed on it. This witty range of Clothes Plasters (from £2.99) are embroidered patches designed by artist Jennie Maizels and require only a hot iron to affix individuality and flare to your children's clothes. They come in packs of one, two, five or ten (£9.99 the ones in the tin above) and there is a style to suit all. My favourite is the "Love" range mainly because I have a favourite jumper with a moth hole at the chest and I think one of these would prolong its life considerably. Gorgeous!  

On the 20th Day of Christmas...

Here's a nice surprise! I found this Mrs. Beeton Jelly Mould £15.00 in Tesco this afternoon. It's a very decent reproduction of the ceramic traditional Victorian types and comes really nicely packaged. Normally I get a bit fed up with all the big stores doing mass produced wash bags, manicure kits and novelty mug sets for the present desperate at Christmas-time so this was a really refreshing find. I never make jelly but I would love to put this on a shelf in my kitchen along with my collection of traditional stoneware kitchen crocks. I think it would look right at home. Perhaps you know someone similar.

On the 19th Day of Christmas...

It is astounding how quickly children grow up and once they are standing, it's fun to keep track of their progress. My dad used to mark the height of my brother and I on the doorway to the kitchen with a biro. They've just had a refit but those little scratchy marks and dates are still there - a little piece of family history. This Davy Dragon Height Chart £31.00 from Kid's Rooms is a beautifully conceived decoration for the nursery or playroom to help chart their progress. It is made from fabric, attaches like a hanging to the wall and has little fabric picture frames that mark the latest height of each child that you can put a photograph in. Perfect as a christmas, birthday or new baby gift that will last for years. 

On the 18th Day of Christmas...

Only seven more sleeps until the big day now. How exciting! Here is another great man-gift solution though that is not to say that this wouldn't make a fantastic Christmas present for culinary enthusiasts of either gender. This Set of 5 Kitchen Knives & Block £49.00 from Oliver Bonas is a refreshing departure from the traditional wooden job lurking at the back of the counter top bringing 'cutting' edge, almost sculptural design to the fore. Or, alternatively, it just looks damn smart and the perspex block puts pay to that irritating game of hunt the right knife. Particularly when you've got a massive Christmas dinner to prepare. 

On the 17th Day of Christmas...

I'm not normally a fan of giving jewellry. It's so personal and there is so much dross about that it's rare that you find something that your know will genuinely touch the recipient. This is why I was so excited when I found the jewellery range at Highland Angel; an amazing array of simple designs matching multi-coloured pearls with smooth, clean silver charms. There is something in this shop for every woman in your life and for every occasion. I particularly like the idea of the Little Angel Collection as truly meaningful flower girl gifts. The Silver-Grey Pearl Bracelet with Initial & Star Charm £34.00 (above) is going on my wishlist but, I'll admit, it was a very tough choice between this and some of their fabulous drop earrings. I may have to have both. Simply exquisite.

On the 16th Day of Christmas...

Yesterday, I took my mum Christmas shopping at one of my favourite places: the craft centre at Heskin Hall near Chorley. We always go visit when she comes to stay with us because it is a treasure trove of gorgeous shops selling gifts, local produce, antiques and gardening stuff and has a fabulous tea room selling very naughty homemade cakes. It is also the home of The Gift Barn and Mulberry Moon where I can always find something perfect if I'm stuck for a gift. I love this Birdcage Wall Hook £10.99 from Mulberry Moon. A lovely Christmas or housewarming gift, it could make itself useful almost anywhere inside or outside the home. It struck me that it would also make a perfect key piece for my latest Personal Project that I posted a few weeks ago because it really makes a statement measuring almost a foot in length and the caged bird feature is so pretty and unusual. Well worth tweeting about. 

Stocking fillers 13

More sweet treats for your little ones (and big ones as well) this time from master confectioners Hope & Greenwood. A great way to reward all that good behaviour, For A Good Boy/Girl £3.50 are perfect for stockings of for trimming the tree. Each small decorative box contains milk chocolate balls wrapped in silver foil and topped off with a ribbon. I also think they would make rather original favours for a festive wedding or formal dinner. Vintage sweetie heaven. 

Stocking Fillers 12

This probably won't come as much of a surprise but, I actually like making and writing thank you letters and cards. If there is only one thing I manage to teach my kids over and above life's little social essentials, it will be to recognise the imperative of knowing when to say 'Thank You' and then really meaning it. It IS the thought that counts. Likely, there will be a few thank you letters to write when Christmas is over so how about these simple and delicate Thank You Tags £4.50 with bird motif from vintage stationers Edge Inspired. Measuring approximated 7cm x 4 cm (business card size) and sold in packs of ten, they would make a lovely embellishment for a thank you gift and are pretty enough even to be sent on their own with a little ribbon in a tiny handmade envelope and a short hand-written sentiment on the reverse. Pure class!

Stocking Fillers 9

Isn't this lovely? Noel Silver Letters £6.50 from Just Trio - a gift shop based in Bideford in my home county of Devon. They have a large selection of both contemporary and vintage style gifts and homewares. So pretty and a lovely stocking filler for one of those older 'children' who pay the bills and go to work but still gets dizzy at the thought of a sock full of excitement at the end of the bed on December 24th. The elaborate snowflake is a particularly nice touch. I can see it hanging from a door knob or silhouetted in a window on Christmas Eve. Only 2 weeks to go....

On the 9th Day of Christmas...

I die! Seriously! What a gorgeous gift! Both a candlestick AND a vase and there are FOUR of them. This is what present-giving is all about. Set of 4 Numbered Bottles £59.00 from gorgeous online boutique Pale & Interesting. You could dot them about your window sills or line them up on the mantlepiece or fill them full of ketchup and they would still look completely amazing in any home. The philosophy of the site owners, Atlanta Bartlett and Dave Coote are that their products be "functional, beautiful and out-of-the-ordinary" and it doesn't disappoint. These will be hard to wrap effectively, so I suggest packing them with some shredded brown paper in a small basket or wooden crate and including some pretty red candles, a couple of Christmas keepsakes and...oh go on then...some cream satin ribbon. De-vine! 

Stocking Fillers 8

Three lovely things today because frankly I couldn't choose between them. Trinket Box Felt Craft Kit £2.95, Spaceboy Set of of Colouring Pencils £1.50 & Three Stripey Mouse Craft Set £4.95 all from the DotComGiftShop.com where you will find many, many more lovely things for under a fiver to stuff your stockings. I chose these three from the creative kids section because that's my bag. I love the little felt and ticking mice in particular. They are simply the essence of innocent childhood magic.  

On the 8th Day of Christmas...

Hampers. Generally, they are a nice idea but unless you go super luxe they can work out very expensive for what you get. There's often a couple of bum gifts and the whole thing is padded out with pretty packaging that's good for nothing but the recycling bin. It also lacks the personal touch. But, if you're stuck for a gift idea for someone truly tricky then they do make a nice gesture particularly if the contents are carefully selected. So I would suggest making your own. Your starting point should be the hamper itself. I doesn't need to be a wicker basket, although there are some lovely ones around at the moment. I love this Wooden Divided Trug £18.99 from Wood & Willow because it has a lovely classic shape and is a gift in itself. After use, it can be used to store anything from condiments to cutlery on a work surface. Line it with some pretty fabric or shredded brown paper and then let your imagination run wild. Cheese, spreads, chocolates, booze and little treats. A great present for a family or your host at Christmas.

On the 7th Day of Christmas...

Perhaps not for vegetarians this one. I was really sorry not to get to the V&A Museum on a recent visit to London. It is one of my favourite places in the Capital and I had arranged to have tea there with my godmother before London Transport intervened and I got stuck in a tunnel. Grumble. Grumble. So, instead, I've done the next best thing and had a little wander around their online shop over a nice cup of Earl Grey. Mounted game heads seem to be all over the place at the moment but I think this Floral Stag Head £45.00 is the prettiest one I've seen. It is the perfect gift for someone who (like me) likes to cover the walls of their home with interesting stuff as well as paintings and photographs. It would look great in a recess, above a door or over a mantle mirror or guest bed.  It would also look fabulous mounted above an ornate hook in a hallway or cloakroom. Made of lightweight wooden board, the surface design is derived from 18th and 19th century Italian textiles and it comes in a self assembly pack so there's fun to be had putting it together too. All proceeds from the shop go back into helping keep this great British institution accessible to all as a free resource which is  more than enough reason to go for a littlegift shopping there. 

On the 6th Day of Christmas...

Stunning and the perfect gift for a serious traveller and lover of art. This is a detail of a Typographic Map of Rome £125.00 (unframed) by Swiss artist Ursula Hitz. There are many stupefyingly intricate citiscapes represented on her website but I chose this one because Rome is the most amazing city in the world to me and I think that every element of the print, which includes the seven hills, parks, noted places and The Vatican is simply exquisite. Each print is a limited edition signed and numbered by the artist. Framed or unframed, rest assured that you will be very, very popular.

Showcase: Manchester Christmas Market

For my daughter's first birthday, we took her into Manchester for some Christmas shopping, pretty lights and gluwein (for mummy of course) at The Christmas Market. This is our second year visiting and it really really is a lovely way to spend a couple of hours in town. Here's some of our finds. 

We found some lovely gift shopping at Quite Contrary Designs just outside the Town Hall. I bought these two fabric covered mirrors £6.00 each as small gifts for friends. I love the contrasting fabric and the soft punched leather pouches they come in. Artist Mary Shears hand makes all her products working with vintage inspired fabrics, buttons, leather, tweeds and wool fabrics to make seriously gorgeous bags, scarves, keyrings, brooches and cushions. Her business is resident at the Manchester Craft & Design Centre in the Northern Quarter if you don't make it down to the market this Christmas.                                                                     

It has become a custom to find a new Christmas decoration for my daughter every year. It's a really nice thing to do for a baby (her godmother does it as well) and it means that eventually, our tree will be covered in unique and unusual baubles that will hold a lot of meanings and memories (for us more than for her I imagine but nobody says gifting has to be selfless!) Yesterday, I added this small nativity £3.50 to our current collection from one of the traditional German stalls. It is made from wood with tiny figures exquisitely painted. It was the little sheep on the right that sold it to me though. So cute!  

Speaking of sheep, we found this lovely Sheepey Scarf £10.00 as an additional birthday present for Her Majesty. I particularly liked it because, at the moment, she refuses to wear hats and it comes right up around her ears thereby giving her head at least some coverage. It's by a company called Jomanda and they make a whole range of soft toys and children's accessories that are suitable from birth. They are definitely a business to add to my Fantasy High Street. I don't know any parent who wouldn't be thrilled to receive something like this for their baby. 

Another lovely find was the ceramic stall by Interlude Ceramics. Based in the heart of the lake district, they product a simply stunning range of wheel-thrown stoneware crockery, mugs, jugs, bowls and one-off pieces. They also receive commissions. A few days ago, I posted an Engagement Album featuring gift inspiration for couples and this (above) makes a lovely addition. Last night, I bought this delightful little stoneware Christmas Pudding £1.00 to put on the mantlepiece in our sitting room for the festive season. Yummy.

Finally, no journey home from a Christmas market would be complete without having to share the passenger seat with the top half of a seven foot fir tree £15.00. We picked up ours in the main square outside the town hall for an unbelieveably reasonable price. The vendors there said that they have plenty in stock but they're going fast and the prices will most probably go up as demand intensifies and supply begins to dwindle so get down there fast. Completely in the mood for Christmas now. Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly...Fa-la-la-la-lah.............

I Heart MCR!