On my Christmas Shopping List from Spirit of Christmas Fair

Yesterday I made a visit to Spirit of Christmas Fair, Olympia, London to kick start my Christmas shopping.  

For those who have never been, Spirit of Christmas is an annual Christmas shopping extravaganza and a must-visit for many a busy mum. There are hundreds of stands selling everything you could possibly need for Christmas from speciality food to room fragrances, from pet accessories to fashion accessories.

Swarms of yummy mummies and glam ladies head to Olympia armed with credit cards and wheelie suitcases for carrying home their loot. For the expert shopper, it is a serious business.

I arrived armed and focused with a list the size of an A4 piece of paper of friends, family and godchildren to buy for. As always, I was on the look out for beautiful handcrafted pieces that are made in the UK. Pieces that I could give and that would be treasured.  The range on offer in this respect was limited but amongst the stands were some gems. Here are a few of my favourites:

For teenage god daughters, and beautiful nieces:

Jewellery by Cabbage White. Affordable and elegant, all the pieces are hand finished by the Cabbage White team from their studios in a converted barn outside Guildford.

www.cabbagewhiteengland.com

For lovely sisters, and glamorous sister-in-laws:

Jewellery by Catherine Zoraida. Catherine honed her skills during apprenticeships with Theo Fennell and Graham Stewart. High profile clients include the Duchess of Cambridge and Emma Watson.

www.catherinezoraida.com

For hard-to-buy-for mother's and mother-in-laws:

Photo frames by Patch & Co. Fabric photo frames are handmade in an East Sussex workshop. Choose one or several to match their interiors.

 www.patchandcoframes.com

For traditional aunts, and country bumpkin friends:

Pottery by Hogben Pottery.  Made in England, handthrown and relief decorated. Inspiration for the designs come from countryside walks in the heart of Buckinghamshire.

 www.hogbenpottery.co.uk

For raucous boys and girls:

Monkey swings by Marnie Moyle. Handmade from locally sourced, hand scrubbed oak. Swings can be personalised with names or words.

 www.greenoakfurniture.co.uk

And last but not least, for me (always important to add yourself to the list):

A handbag by Anya Sushko. Reversible in brown and orange soft leather. Handmade in Brethersden, Kent.

 www.anyasushko.com

Spirit of Christmas closes on Sunday 7th November. Tickets can be pre-booked by visiting www.spiritofchristmasfair.co.uk or can be purchased on the door.