A selection of gift ideas for this Christmas.
I have worked with many brands over the year ranging from larger companies to individuals just starting out. One of the things I love about my job is diversity and the people I meet along the way. With interiors and lifestyle covering such a large range, it means I get to work with an vast array of products.
This Christmas gift guide brings together just some of the products I have used over the past year that I hope will help those in need of some gifting inspiration.
Collingwood Candles – The Art of English Elegance
Collingwood Candles is a joint venture between sisters Alex and Tora Young. Alex is a former Marketing Director and Tora is a former Film Producer. The idea for their range of candles actually came about because of Tora’s long career working in the film industry. The more time she spent in trailers, dressing rooms, hotel rooms and stars’ houses the more she realised that they had one thing in common – they all smelled amazing. She realised it was because they were filled with the luxury candles that are an A-list must-have! Making a trailer feel like a place that she wanted to be, in the middle of an industrial estate, or during a week of night shoots, was a big ask – but she realised that if a gorgeous smell transported her and offered an element of glamour, then she was halfway there. Following two years’ research and development, Collingwood developed a unique blend of coconut wax, which is more eco-friendly than soya, as no trees need to be cut down, and mineral wax, to give the best burn. The inspiration for the Collingwood fragrances comes from a desire to capture the essence of English elegance and style – with the garden, the countryside and the sea at its heart.
Website link
https://www.collingwoodofsomerset.co.uk
Smouk
A Family of Fibres – A Community of Rugs – Tribes of Designers – Welcome to the world of SMOUK INTERIORS!
Beautifully crafted rugs, textiles and furniture to style your interiors. Carefully sourced in collaboration with makers and experts in Morocco; some of our products are antique, some are contemporary- all are fabulously made.
For Christmas this year, we have put together a little collection of gifts that will support the wonderful independent artisans we work with in Morocco.
Website link
https://www.smoukinteriors.co.uk
The Smoke Folk
The Smoke Folk is an award-winning smoked food business and social enterprise based in Frome, Somerset. We employ traditional and contemporary cold-smoking techniques, and use responsibly sourced ingredients and smoke-woods, to make delicious and intriguing flavour combinations. We create an array of products including smoked nuts and seeds, cheese, salt, pepper, salmon and trout. We have recently been awarded another Great Taste Award for our ever popular Cherry and chestnut smoked cheddar.
Website link
Beer Hawk
The Beer Hawk Crafty Christmas Crate. Featuring a mix of 12 outstanding craft beers, including some absolute crackers from BrewDog and Tiny Rebel. This limited-edition beer selection box is only available during the 2020 Holiday season and was designed for craft beer fanatics. It’s securely shipped to your doorstep in “peek-proof” packaging, and the box contains 6 IPAs, 4 lagers, 1 pale ale, 1 bitter, and a free beer glass to boot!
Website link
Candy Mouth
These personalised sweet jars are filled with delicious pick and mix sweets. Their retro mix is the most popular with over 50 different varieties in one jar – think flying saucers, sherbet lemons, milk bottles, jelly snakes, chocolate jazzies, white mice and bonbons! The best part is that you can refill them with whatever you want afterwards, making it an eco friendly gift that lasts for years. Choose the style of font and the wording – and even the sweets!
Website link
The London Toy Company
Partnering with iconic brands creating cool soft toys. We are based in London, but we’re also in 1000’s of homes across the world from Japan to South Korea, USA to Germany, Australia to London and many more. We work with some of a most well-known brands such as Transport for London and Harry Potter, producing licensed toys that are great for all the family.If you. use code PANDORA15 you will get 15% off. £17.99 each, it’s free courier delivery if you buy two.
Website link
https://www.londontoycompany.co.uk
Kokopotmama pottery
Kokopotmama is my new venture born out of lockdown. With time on my hands and after a couple of excellent wheel courses at @bishbashpots I have become a creative potter. Embracing the Japanese ethos of Wabi sabi I have invested in an old treadle wheel and kiln and thrown and myself into this awesome creative medium. Along with my pots, my ceramic pumpkins were a huge success and my Christmas range includes nisses, bells tree decorations and Christmas trees. I will be adding planted poinsettia in festive bowls shortly. I have pledged a percentage of my profits to Oscars Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity. Production times are 2 to 3 weeks so now would be a great time to ensure delivery before Christmas. There’s so much to explore and learn.
Kirsty Kins hand-crafted quilts
With a passion for fabrics and creating unique and beautiful homewares, Kirstykins design and create luxury products that will become talking points and treasured family items. Handmade in Yorkshire using quality fabrics, Kirstykins create a unique range of handcrafted quilts and homewares, perfect for adults and children alike. There are limited edition ready made collections available. If we don’t have exactly what you want we do offer a Design and Create service. Working with us, you can make your own unique quilt. With our helpful and friendly guidance you will choose your own size, fabric and design from the options available. The magic thread fairies will then make your design and realise your quilty dreams for you. Make it even more personal and completely unique by adding a hand stitched secret message. It could be a name, date, saying or song lyric, whatever makes it meaningful and special for you.
Website link
The Particular People
A year ago Lynn decided to concentrate full time on my ‘passion project’ Particular People. I am constantly exploring the abstraction of natural forms and then distilling these ideas into minimal, pared back designs.
My latest designs have a gorgeous muted natural colour palette, inspired in part by the beautiful Jurassic Coast where I live. My favourite collection at the moment are my looser Plant Studies, created during the spring of the first ‘lockdown’. These designs now feature in my first range of notecards, which I am pleased to say are printed on paper created using recycled coffee cups. Sustainability and reducing waste is really important to me and my small business. I use recycled, compostable or biodegradable materials whenever I can.
Website link
https://www.particularpeople.co.uk
Gecko Home Decor
New in… we have now also added a selection of Nordic inspired Christmas decorations to brighten up your festive displays’
Website link
Stihl UK toys
Help children unleash the forester within them with STIHL’s fun chainsaw children’s toy. Suitable for children aged three and above, the toy features a life-like revolving rubber chain and makes a chainsaw noise with adjustable volume to make them feel like a true gardener. Recommended retail price for the Children’s toy chainsaw is £22.50 including VAT.
Website link
https://www.stihl.co.uk/Search.aspx?q=toys
I hope you have found this blog useful and that it has given you some ideas for some unique gifts this christmas. I only ever work with brands/products I really love. In return for appearing in the guide, everyone provided a description about their products and photos. Happy shopping.
Pandora xx
Pandora Maxton Lifestyling 