Our top Hand made gifts for Christmas...well you can actually call it our "Gift guide"!!!

Hand made is not just for Christmas but we'd love it if more people did buy into the idea that X-mas gift giving is something that should be done off the peg, with thought, love, attention and care so Christmas can be the ideal time for showing just that!
So many people spend a fortune buying a shed load of gifts for their family and loved ones when in fact purchasing just one or two great, high quality, original hand crafted items will not just last a lifetime but will bring a wide smile to the receiver!

Here's out top 10 gifts we'd like to share with you...

Number One:

Fun and naughty incense holders by Liv & Dom -though there is so much more to these two! From textiles to other adorable clay sculptures!

photo ©: Liv&Dom

Number Two:

Woodland beauty made in the UK by a very talented designer. The Aviary is a long time favourite and I just love this acorn necklace... mighty oaks from little acorns grow!

Pan Pendant ©photo by The Aviary

Number Three:

For the cat lady who's got it all, iron patch from Bel's Art World! Seriously, there's nothing wrong with being a cat lady and don't worry if you're not, Bel has lots of gorgeous patches to make anyone smile! I personally love the box of kittens...

©BelsArtWorld

Number four:

And another claytastic offering... well we do love ceramics so why not treat your loved one (or yourself) to a class? They say that working with your hands is the best de-stresser and The Clay Collective at Hackney Downs Studios offer gift vouchers so that's sorted!

©Clay Collective

Number five:

And speaking of stress, we'd love a head massage to end what's been a trying year! I'm sure you all know someone who could use a little TLC and Head & Hands is not only a place where you can get healing hands wrapped around your noggin but there's also a web shop which sells the most stunning array of healing, well being focused and hand made products!

©HeadandHands

Number Six:

For your master-chef come humanitarian, here's a perfect gift... "cook for Syria" Is not just a recipe book but it'll be helping thousands of people through Unicef and through this amazing project! Go on, Kiss the cook!
 

©cookforsyria

Number Seven:

This is not just for kids but for all sorts of Happy little folks!
From wooden toys, building blocks to home decor this perfectly formed skandi inspired hand made East London based indie-company is one we know you'll love!

©HappyLittleFolks

Number Eight:

And for the crafting scribe... The Joy of Lettering, by Gabri Joy Kirkendall and Jaclyn Escalera, published by Quatro Books. 
A handy how-to-guide for any one wishing to learn the art of sign writing, calligraphy and modern typography! With over 50 tips, techniques and lessons for creating your very own beautiful fonts to amazing greeting cards and other fab projects! Perfect for boys and girls!!!

©QuatroBooksPublishing

Number Nine:

For any budding D.I.Y. paper artists these craft kits from Paper & Wood are just amazing and no need to be a night owl as you can make these in a day...or twooooo! Well... maybe a bit more but this is what Boxing day was made for, sitting in front of the telly, eating left overs and keeping busy making up your Christmas presents!

Number Ten:

And finally...
because we think that pets are part of the family too here's a couple of dog and cat friendly gifts... though we know that not everyone sticks to the traditional so for any snake charmers and hamster wranglers have a quick look on Etsy as I'm sure you'll find something for your little sweetheart!
First up is this cute floral collar. Not only will your pooch look dapper but also pretty smart on his/her lead! There's a great selection of collars on the Home & Hound shop on Etsy!

Dog collar by ©HomeandHoundUK

The Ludipuss interactive Cat Tank, Scratching post, Cat bed with moving laser, Ping pong balls and mice! What more could your cat want? Check out the Ludipuss shop on Etsy... I wonder if you can get some army cat helmets too for General Mittens and First Lieutenant Hissy Mc Claws?

©LudiPuss

So there you go... I hope we've helped somehow but ultimately it doesn't matter what you buy -personally I find it all too commercial- so if you don't want to spend any money then maybe bake some cake, do something nice for someone or just be there! Supporting friends and loved ones through these modern times is a gift too!
We wish you a very happy and peaceful Christmas whatever you do and who ever you spend it with! This year we're staying put at home with the cat and having a get together with our nearest and dearest friends because that's what it's all about...though I am seriously tempted by the Cat Tank!!!!

X

and the Craft Guerrilla Army!

Make your mark with "Sharpie Art Workshop"!

If you're anything like me you'll probably find yourself doodling at any given moment.
Usually it happens when I'm on the phone, in meetings, on the tube and shamefully even when talking to friends face to face... but... it's something I really can't stop doing!

So when the opportunity arrived for me to review Sharpie Art Workshop I immediately dropped my pen and got very excited!
This book by artist, art director, designer and all round creative Timothy Goodman is a great way to get everyone making something!
You see Sharpies can be used on pretty much  most surfaces, from paper, canvas, fabric to even metal plus they come in a variety of colours! They are truly a very versatile and flexible tool for any budding artist.

Sharpie pens are also inexpensive which means you can be playful and flexible in your design ideas.  Because you haven't spent a fortune on materials and tools you can allow yourself to experiment, and personally I love that, but what it means is that you can allow yourself the freedom to not have to commit to a particular design because you've spent your future inheritance on paints!
Sharpie pens have long been favoured by designers from all fields for their clean, bold, dense lines which help create an instant and immediate graphic impact.

Funnily enough I've just started an artist's residency in a primary school where the theme is Pattern and this book has tons of it! I just wish I had seen this amazing book before I got the job as there are so many great projects my school kids would have loved exploring... Though I'm sure I can creep a few projects in, there's still time!

Sharpie Art Workshop by Quatro Publishing Group offers a fantastic variety of ideas and projects by leading world renown artists and graphic designers as well as a good number of exercises like mark making, pattern creation and tips on using sharpies on a variety of surfaces.
I really like the up to date bold graphic look of the book too (hum, I guess you could say that's pretty Sharpie-esque!)... so it's not just a great coffee table book it's also a book I'll be using again and again.
And as far as the coffee table reference goes I have to say that it's meant in a totally different sense then usual. Ha, you see my copy will be a coffee table book due to the fact it'll be living on the coffee table to be within easy reach of my busy hands!


To celebrate the launch of this great little book we're giving away one copy and a set of sharpies to one lucky reader, courtesy of Quatrobooks (UK only, sorry!).
Enter your details in the comment box below this post for your chance to win! Good Luck!
*A winner will be chosen at random on the 10th of October and will be contacted on the date or shortly thereafter. Unfortunately we will not be able to contact all entrants directly.

But if you're not feeling lucky this amazing book is available at a special discount just for you if you order with our blog reader code:

To order a copy of Sharpie Art Workshop for the special offer price of £12, including free p&p in the UK, telephone 01903 828503 or email mailorders@lbsltd.co.uk and quote the offer code APG369 with your name and address.