The Handmade Christmas Gift Guide

Choosing a Christmas gift can be easy, but choosing a Christmas gift that is unique and loved is totally different. For the past two years it has been my aim to buy as many handmade gifts as possible. The reason being I want to give my family and friends a gift that won't be duplicated and is special and personal to their taste. I am of course a big supporter of arts and crafts and all small business.

I decided to compile a guide to handmade Christmas gifts, I have hand picked some of the very best designers and examples of their work which I think would make perfect gifts for your family and friends. My aim was to find something for everyone, you may think that the handmade market is saturated with gifts for woman only, but that is really not the case! This gift guide includes items for men and woman, young and old at affordable prices. You can find handmade gifts in a variety on online shops including: Folksy, Etsy, Not On The High Street, Wow Thank You and Truly Handcrafted....to mention just a few. Many designer makers sell direct from their own website or facebook. Buying direct from the seller often gives you opportunities to customize or personalize gifts as well as allowing you to communicate directly with the creator of your purchase. I have found that buying handmade usually comes with the very best customer service too. I hope you enjoy my choices for this handmade gift guide and that it encourages you to make your Christmas shopping a handmade experience! 

The Very Best Gifts For Less Than £30


1. Campervan Personalised Print By Textile Treasures
 £25 available from Folksy (click the links to go direct to the item or the artists shop.)

I am of course a big fan of textile art and Heidi Meier has to be one of my favourite artists. Her illustrative work is young and fresh with beautiful design and detail.  This is an affordable way of owning one of Heidi's designs and is even signed by the artist herself. I love the fact that this giclee print can be personalised with a name on the number plate!  I think this would have an appeal to male & female, young and old. The seaside and classic campervan image means it appeals to fans and collectors of both types of imagery. You can find out more about Heidi's Textile Treasures by following the links below:

http://www.textiletreasures.co.uk/
Textile Treasures - Embroidered Fabric Pictures on Facebook
Textile Treasures Folksy Shop


2. Denim and Lace Bunting Reversing to Shabby Chic by The Old Button£20 available from Etsy (click the links to go direct to the item or the artists shop.)

The Old Button is a collection of beautiful handmade gifts combining new and recycled fabrics. The items are all unique, no two items are the same. The reason I picked this item is it is so different from other bunting I have seen and combines two great elements: recycled materials and reversibility. Beautiful soft vintage denim and lace on one side and pretty floral prints on the reverse. I think this would be a great gift for a teenage girl and the fact that it combines two different looks means they can swap and change to suit the decoration of their bedroom. I also think it would look really cute in a country style kitchen. To find out more about The Old Button and browse more of their lovely items for sale follow the links below:

The Old Button - on Folksy
The Old Button - On Etsy
The Old Button - On Facebook


3. Book-Bands by Flights Of Fantasy
£8.50 from The Artist's Website or via Facebook (click the links to go direct to the item or the artists shop.)

Flights of Fancy designer Nancy is a fellow felter and she creates among many other things these very unique book-bands! A very clever idea for keeping the place in your book as well as keeping the page open and it will not fall out of your book like a conventional book mark! This could be a perfect stocking filler for the bookworm in your life and with lots of different designs you can find something suitable for male and female tastes! I am loving the uniqueness and price of this gift. To find out more about Flights Of Fantasy and browse the items they sell follow these links:

Flights of Fantasy - Facebook
http://www.flights-of-fantasy.com/




4. Green Man Print by Mark Beston of  T & M Arts & Crafts
£19.00 from Folksy (click the links to go direct to the item or the artists shop.)

5. Tree of Life Pendant with Carnelian  by Tammy Beston of  T & M Arts & Crafts
£28.00 from Folksy (click the links to go direct to the item or the artists shop.)

I love the fact that the two above gift ideas are by a husband and wife team T & M Arts & Crafts! The Green Man is a 10 x 8 mounted print taken from one of Marks original paintings. You can find Marks original paintings in their Folksy shop but a print also makes a great affordable gift. A great gift for a man I think but think this has wide appeal....I would love it! Tammy creates beautiful jewellery using wire work and semi precious stones. I love the fine detail in her jewellery, the tree of life pendants in particular demonstrate great skill. I think this would make a beautiful gift for a female friend of relative.  You can find out more about T&M Arts & Crafts and browse their gorgeous art and jewellery by following the links:


T & M Arts & Crafts - on Facebook
T & M Arts & Crafts - on Folksy




6. Rabbit Pinafore by Violette Amelia
£18.48 From Etsy (click the links to go direct to the item or the artists shop.)

Violette Amelia create beautiful children's clothes, cushions and pictures. The items are beautifully made and this ladie's choice of fabrics are superb.  This gorgeous bunny rabbit pinafore is just one example of her beautiful work and would make a perfect gift for a little lady in your life. It is suitable for age 24 months, but I do know that the designer makes custom items and you can choose the fabric you desire. What I love about her work is the thought and skill put into the making of the garment, the pinafore is made using french seams which are perfect against delicate skin. £18.48 is a bargain too, you would never get this quality at that price on the high street. Find out more about Violette Amelia by following the links below:

Violette Amelia - On Facebook
Violettes Attic - Violette Amelia On Etsy
Violette Amelia's Website



7. Embroidered Bumble Bee Badge By Beadie Eyed Edie
£6.00 from Folksy (click the links to go direct to the item or the artists shop.)

Badges make great little stocking fillers and look wonderful attached to coats, bags, hats, scarves, jumpers and so much more. An ideal size to post too! This badge is hand embroidered and is therefor a unique item, no machine made mass production. Find out more about Beadie Eyed Edie and browse more items by following these links:

www.beadieeyededie.com
Beadie Eyed Edie - On Facebook
Beadie Eyed Edie - on Folksy


8. Blue Cuff Links - Dichroic Glass by Poppyfields Design
£12.12 from Etsy

I am a big fan of fused glass and Poppyfields Design have the most beautiful  selection of jewellery and home ware. The Blue Cuff Links are a perfect example of the beautiful handmade gifts for men that are available. I love the colour of the cuff links, they remind me of cracked ice. £12.12 is an amazing price for a pair of unique cuff links which have took both time and skill to create. Cuff links are certainly seeing a revival and make a great keepsake gift for the special man in your life. To find out more about Poppyfield Designs and browse all of their gorgeous goodies follow the links below:

Poppyfields Design - On Facebook
Poppyfields Design - On Etsy
www.poppyfieldsdesign.co.uk



9. Gold Cascade Suncatcher by Ravens Stained Glass
£16 From Etsy

More beautiful glass but this time stained glass. This is a gorgeous suncatcher by Ravens Stained Glass and while browsing the Etsy shop I wanted to recommend them all to you! This would look beautiful in any home, it is both classical and contemporary. It is like all the other recommendations, an amazing price when you consider the time and skill that has gone in to this handmade item. Ravens Stained Glass also have a selection of beautiful Christmas decorations from only £5.50! 

White Star Christmas Tree Decoration
 £5.50 From Etsy

To find out more about Ravens Stained Glass & browse their beautiful designs follow the links below:
www.ravensstainedglass.com
Ravens Glass - On Facebook
Ravens Glass - Etsy Shop
Ravens Glass - Folksy Shop

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10. Sock Cat - Pink & White With Pastel Spots by OddSox
£9.00 from Folksy

We have all seen sock monkeys but what about a sock cat? I love this sock cat by OddSox! A bit of a bargain at £9.00 and think it would appeal to children and some adults (me!). If you are not a cat fan you can find monkeys, aliens, owls, dogs and more in the Folksy shop! All beautifully made, fun and with heaps of character. To find out more about OddSox and browse the shop follow the links below:

OddSox - Folksy Shop
OddSox - On Facebook


I hope this little guide has provided inspiration and opened your eyes to the beauty of shopping handmade!