Unique Christmas gifts from Cornwall
With the festive season almost in full swing, it’s time to start thinking about how to find the perfect Christmas gift for your loved ones. Whether your friend or family member loves staying in one of the caravan holiday parks in Cornwall or they just appreciate coast-inspired gifts, Cornwall’s independent stores offer plenty of Christmas presents that’ll be sure to bring a smile to their face. In this guide, we reveal just some of the wonderful gifts you can find.
Stockwell Ceramics
From hand-painted buttons to one of a kind jewellery, Stockwell Ceramics has the perfect keepsakes for someone who loves arts and crafts. The company was set up by Mary in 1989 and has since been stocked in places across the world, including the V&A Museum and The Natural History Museum. If you’re looking for a super festive gift, they even have a range of charming Christmas decorations.
We spoke to Mary find out more about Stockwell Ceramics: “Our ceramics are entirely handmade in Cornwall. We use original designs and techniques developed over many years as well as creating large ranges of bespoke items using images from major museum collections from all parts of the UK as well as some international collections. Our ceramic buttons are particularly unique with a huge breadth of choice both as a gift item and for use on clothing and craft projects.”
The products are made in the heart of Cornwall, so we continued to ask Mary how the county influences her work: “The beautiful scenery and wildlife of the Tamar Valley and our local beaches provide a wealth of inspiration from which has grown our Pebble Range of buttons and jewellery influenced by the colours, shapes and forms of the pebbles, shells and driftwood which we find in our beachcombing activities. Our popular bird and animal ranges are directly influenced by the wildlife in our immediate environment!”
Green&Blue
If you have a loved one who seems to spend more time outdoors than in, then find them a nature gift from Green&Blue. This Cornish company was founded by Kate and Gavin Christman, who both worked at Dyson and designed in their spare time, before moving to the seaside town of Perranporth to launch their stylish and innovative houses for wildlife.
We spoke to the team at Green&Blue to learn more: “Our range is designed and made in Cornwall, creating innovative nesting, resting and feeding places for wildlife, and designed to make a beautiful feature within a garden or outside space.
“Being so surrounded by green space and nature within Cornwall, we are driven to do more to protect it, feeling a greater connection than we might if we were based in a more urban setting. The Green&Blue range is made using 75% waste aggregate from the Cornish china clay industry, repurposing the clay mountains that dominate the Cornish landscape to create habitat for wildlife.
“The Green&Blue range makes a great gift for lovers of nature who want to encourage more wildlife into their gardens, and the fact that the range is designed and made in Cornwall is the icing on the cake for lovers of the county.”
Cornish Magpie
For those who love the beach and sea-inspired decorations in their home, you’ll be able to find them the ideal gift from Cornish Magpie, who offer a wide range of handmade gifts including cards, posters, coasters, candles and magnets.
Shirley from Cornish Magpie told us more: “Customer satisfaction is my main goal, I want everyone who makes a purchase, whether online or at an event, to be happy. With that in mind, I aim for all my customers to have a good experience when buying – friendly customer service, great value, high-quality products and designs which people want to buy for their homes or for gifts. We design here in Cornwall and have our products made locally when possible, with nothing being produced outside of the UK. As a very small business, our customers are key, we want them to love what we produce.”
When looking at Cornish Magpie products, it’s clear they are heavily inspired by the beautiful county. Shirley comments: “It would be very hard not to be influenced by the amazing coastline and countryside here – it’s why we moved here years ago, having had numerous holidays and trips all over Cornwall. The sea is our focus, it’s our happy place. And it’s hard to come to Cornwall and not appreciate all the wonderful seafood you can buy at restaurants or local shops. We’re seafood lovers and quite an advocate of fresh, local produce – so designing seafood images was always going to happen.
“I like to think that if someone loves Cornwall, then we have something they may like. There are obviously all the fish images, but also others like engine houses, Cornish Choughs and more – and with products ranging from recycled glass protectors to placemats, and tea towels to keyrings, we hope there’s something which may appeal to them, coupled with very affordable prices!”
Living Sea Therapy
If you’re in search for a gift for someone who loves to pamper, then make sure to browse Living Sea Therapy’s luxurious bath and body products which are made with the help of sister companies Cornish Sea Salt Co and Cornish Seaweed Co.
The products, from the bath salts to body washes, are created with their unique formula the Living Sea Complex, made from sea salt minerals and wild seaweed extracts from the Cornish coast. The company works alongside marine biologists, environmentalists and skincare therapists to create the best products to revitalise your skin. With the ability to remove toxins, replenish the skin and naturally exfoliate, one of the Living Sea Therapy products would be an excellent stocking-filler for anyone to enjoy.
When it comes for unique Christmas gifts, you’ll be spoilt for choice from the independent shops in Cornwall. Better yet, if you really want to surprise your loved one, then you can book them a caravan holiday to Cornwall and make some wonderful memories together by the coast.
