Cool Things Made by Lovely People Who Live Near Me

A Christmas Gift Guide

Round up, round up! ‘Tis the season for hyper-consumerism, and we all know how easy it is to get swept up in the hubbub of Christmas, buying a load of tat we don’t need from people we’ll never meet, working in places we’ll never see. But fear not - I have curated a cool little gift guide made up entirely of items local to me in the south of England, all designed and crafted by people I know in real life. If you’re looking for a last minute treat for friends and family, take a look below and support a small business while you’re there.

Bow Sash Housewife Pillow Case Pair | £55 | The Favourite

My new favourite shop - The Stores in Hambledon - is also home to The Favourite, a clothing and homeware brand designed by Annabel Jones, with a focus on beautiful, lasting pieces made from fabrics that are recycled, end of line and deadstock. Everything Annabel makes is so unique and thoughtfully designed, including these wonderful seersucker gingham pillowcases, tied together with big, lovely bows.

Skyline Mug | £32 | Justine Jenner Pottery

I love the rhubarb and lime colour combination of these minimalist mugs, made by a local potter who works a stone’s throw from my house. We own a slightly different version - the ideal size for a flat white - and it’s one of our favourite mugs. Each one is wheel thrown by hand in white, earthenware clay with a tactile, satin-matt glaze.

Handwriting Christmas Decoration | £8 | Cherished Carvings

Immortalise your child’s beautiful/hilarious drawings with these cool, personalised decorations from Cherished Carvings, run by my lovely friend Katie and her woodworker husband. You can add little drawings or snippets of handwriting, and the final bauble will be sent 5-7 working days after your order - so there’s still time to get one for Christmas!

Musician’s Dice | £20 | Ad*Hoc Originals

As the spouse of a musician, I know how difficult it can be to buy presents for musically-minded people. My uncle (also musical and very creative) has designed this brilliant set of Musician’s Dice, which can be used in lots of different ways to study and practice music theory. They come with a leaflet and a cute little storage bag, and they are also heavyweight and tactile to clickety clack in your hands. If you’d like to buy a pair, you can use the code TIFFMAS25 at checkout to get 25% off - and the postage is free too!

Mosaic Coaster Kit | £20 | Happy Folk by Julia de Klerk

My lovely friend Julia is best known for her colourful acrylic jewellery (as seen in the Tate!) but she has also just launched this fun little mosaic kit using acrylic offcuts that would otherwise have been wasted. If you know someone who loves a cosy night in with a craft project, this is the one for you.

Winter Spruce Luxury Candle | £19.50 | Hampshire Wick

I first met Becky, founder of Hampshire Wick, at a local baby sensory class, and it wasn’t until later that I discovered she had set up her own candle company. The scents of these candles are absolutely unreal, particularly this Winter Spruce which smells like a real Christmas tree. Even better, the candles are made of natural soy wax and come in completely recyclable packaging.

Recycled 9ct Gold Disc Pendants | From £295 | Kind Collection

All the jewellery for our wedding was from Kind, including my earrings and both wedding rings. The founder and designer, Tansy, puts a lot of love into every piece and sources all her materials from ethical sources. These celestial pendants are my current favourites, perfect for the long winter nights.