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11 Dec 18

Creative & crafty Christmas gifts

Interior designer Sophie Robinson picks her favourite gifts to give this CHristmas that are made by small creatives and designer makers

Christmas is a time of year I try and celebrate good gift buying. As if we needed the extra pressure! Last week I shared with you my Gift guide for Colour Lovers and this week I take the focus onto choosing gifts that are crafty or that little bit creative. Any of you who are avid readers of this blog know I am a major champion of our great British high street but I’m also a fan of throwing some of my spend towards smaller designer makers, artisans and entrepreneurs too. They often sell products that are that little bit more unique, can feel more heartfelt and I think it’s so important to support design and business at grass roots too.

So this little gift guide shines a torch on a few of my favourite brands and boutiques so please feel free to indulge yourself or the lucky person you are gifting this Christmas. And do read to the end of the post as I share some of my recommended courses and workshops too. For the person that has everything, I think it’s great to give a fellow design lover an opportunity to have an experience, rather than a tangible object. I’m leaving this list out where someone can see it!

Interior Designer Sophie Robinson chooses Christmas gifts for fellow colour lovers

1. Small batch distiller, organic grower of plants, flowers, aromatics, and maker and seller of perfumes and skincare, creams, balms, butters, lip balms, and soaps. Sussex rose aromatic water, £19.50, AS Apothecary | 2. Second generation traditional sign writer can make you a bespoke work of art using gold leaf guilding. How special is that! Bespoke reverse glass hand painted sign, from £100, Sign Hive | 3. Calligraphy is such a stylish way to express yourself- sign up to a course first or if you are a beginner, look no further than this beautifully packaged, easy to use set. Luxury Modern calligraphy starter kit, £29.99, Kirsten Burke. | 4. Huge continental cup in fabulous colours. Perfect for hot chocolate, soup, cereals and cafe au lait! Giant cups from £9, RE | 5. Artist Anna Proctor produces a diverse collection of printed home wares for pattern-lovers. Dragon floral mini pouch, £19, Jericho Design House. | 6. You’ve all seen my multi-coloured skirt, but now you can buy earrings to match! Chroma tassel earrings, £55, Kitty Joseph | 7. If you always wanted the look of a rock star neon sign without the bother of the electrics then choose a bespoke print from House of Neon. Batteries not required. Large All I Ever wanted print, inc. frame, £30, House of Neon | 8. Everyone needs some neon leopard print in their lives? Love everything this boutique seller has on offer so go shop! Neon pink leopard print leather zip purse, £19.99, Popsicle | 9. It’s not Christmas in my house without a bevvy of scented candles. My favourite pong is the Black pomegranate candle, £32, Willow & Honey |10.  New brand on the block Hunt & Hope make the most amazing edgy and cool needle point home wares, for the very very special person in your life! Alhambra pink needlepoint cushion, £250, Hunt & Hope

Shopping ideas from designer makers and small boutiques

Interior Designer Sophie Robinson chooses Christmas gifts for fellow colour lovers

11. Jewellery makes such a special gift and my friend Katie’s pieces are always unique and often made from re-purposed old jewellery pieces. Gold dipped feather ear threader earrings, £45, Katie Weiner | 12. I love this boutique chocolaterie’s packaging and the names they give their bars. Taste good too! Bright Eyed chocolate bar, £4, Creighton’s Chocolaterie | 13. I’m obsessed with hand made ceramics, I love the organic feel of them so never object to anyone adding to my collection. Terracotta large platter in teal, £150, Silvia K Ceramics at The New Craftsmen | 14. My love of vintage chintz knows no barriers so I’d fully embrace unwrapping this genuine vintage beauty and adding it to my collection. Cushion in vintage Sanderson blue and rust florals, £55,  Phillips & Cheers | 15. Check out the 100% recycled page on Baileys website for some clear conscience yet seriously stylish shopping. Not that buying someone a huge glass lamp for Christmas is a very bright idea! Indigo recycled glass lamp from £120, Bailey’s | 16. If Christmas is a time of year we give ourselves permission to indulge, then might as well do it in style! Pink martini glasses, £38.95, set of 4, Audenza | 17. I found Ali’s designs on instagram and just fell in love with the bonkers-ness of her up-cycled dinner plates into wall art. Pure genius. The Paint splat pair of plates, £65, Ali Joe Designs | 18.  Lover of graphic pattern and heart racing pattern look no further than textile designer Laura Spring. Pink arrow fabric storage pot, from £22, Laura Spring 

 

Ten brilliant courses or workshops for the crafty, the creative or the emerging entrepreneur in your life!

Made & Making – sewing and crafting workshops

Sarah Brangwyn shares her passion and experience in a variety of workshops from sewing and crochet, through to calligraphy, printing, felting, paper flower making, art and more.

From £17.50. Based in Sussex

Ban the Beige Workshop Interior design colour scheming with me, Sophie Robinson

If you really really loved someone you would send them on this course! Ideal for any aspiring creative who has big ideas on their home, this is the course to get colour confident and find your own true colour palette and sense of style. An inspirational day in a stunning venue, great people, great food and knock out content.

£495. Based in Brighton and London

Elizabeth Cairns – Entrepreneur workshops and retreats

I first met Elizabeth on a retreat she hosted with The Brand Stylist last November. It was game changing and I’ve been using Elizabeth as my coach ever since as I love her unique and holistic approach to planning your business with your life so it works for you. I’ve not signed up to one of her retreats yet but if you run your own business, I’ll see you there!

From £865. Somerset and Cotswolds

Annie Sloan – Painted furniture workshops

Put your own stamp on furniture that needs a bit of a re-vamp with Annie Sloan’s infamous Chalk paint.  As well as learning how to use different techniques and how to achieve a professional finish, Annie is a great advocate for colour in interior design. These courses are run by Annie Sloan stockists who are qualified to teach Annie’s easy and inspiring techniques.

Locations held throughout the UK.

Molly Mahon – Learn the art of block printing

Textile designer Molly Mahon is a fellow colour and pattern lover and I adore her creative combinations of both. Learn the creative technique of block printing on paper and fabric and make something to take home.

From £140. Sussex, Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire

Abigail Ahern – Design School

Known for her eclectic style and love of the dark side of decorating, Abigail Ahern shares her insider knowledge, unique decorating secrets and styling ideas to help you create your dream home with lashes of sass. Worth a ticket just to snoop around her instagrammable home!

From £125. London

Muck n Brass – Up-cycling workshops

Designer Zoe Pocock has taken upcycling (or Luxecycling) to a whole new level, with her reinvented funky pieces of furniture. Zoe shares her technical skills and creativity with footstool upholstery, painting using Fusion Mineral Paints and Decoupage and an advanced Skill builder workshop.

From £150. London

Sarah Raven – Gardening, cookery, floristry and more…

From her East Sussex farm and around the country, Sarah Raven runs cookery, flower arranging, growing and gardening courses which have such a great reputation they have been on my bucket list for years. I want to take my Mum! 

From £50. From the South East all the way to Yorkshire!

Rachel Henderson Studio – School of Craft

Another one of my instagram crushes; fellow colour lover Rachel runs textile and design based workshops, sharing techniques including felting, knitting, crochet, macrame, free motion embroidery and printed textiles. All in her favourite rainbow shades.

From £32. Fife, Scotland.

 

Special thank you to Luisa Ferdenzi for helping me compile this epic feature. Merry Christmas!

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The Great Indoors Podcast S1 Episode 6 show notes Christmas gift guide for colour lovers

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Catch Sophie In All Her Colourful Glory On Instagram

We are back, it’s PODCAST DAY! After a little l We are back, it’s PODCAST DAY! After a little  lie down over Christmas Kate and I are rebooted and cuddled up inside our ‘duvet dens’ for remote recording Lockdown 3.0. . We have so much to catch up on including more ‘home office’ makeovers. Stop the press, Tom has finally been installed in his new green office that was previewed last series , pictured, and @mad_about_the_house is also having a complete reshuffle now that she has two large teenage sons living at home full time taking up all the space , and fridge contents by the sounds of it. 🍔. We discuss our exciting plans for the year ahead and share our thoughts on the trends for 2021. So for all this and more head on over to the podcast app and find us in The Great Indoors! 
CREDITS walls painted Sage and onion and windows in Lamp black @littlegreenepaintcompany . Blind made by @willowbertinteriors in Textile under Ekvatorn by Joseph Frank’s @svenskttenn . Table is old IKEA. Vintage Eames chair @vinestreetvintage Cushion @fannyshorter Seagrass flooring @alternativeflooring 
#thegreatindoors #podcast #interiorspodcast #wfh #homeoffice #greenroom #threemugs #desksetup #homestudio
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Thanks to @franklybold for this insanely fabulous pair . When times gets tough, the earrings just get bigger! #gift 

#colourlover #banthebeige #earrings #bigjwellery #bigearrings #lockdown #lockdownlife #lockdown2021
Friday! 🤩 It’s all about the small wins and Friday! 🤩 
It’s all about the small wins and I made it to the end of the week. But already 2021 has me feeling weary. I had such a lovely relaxing  Christmas break and this week has been full steam ahead with all kinds of 💩 thrown at me and I haven’t even started home schooling yet! 😫 But one thing that gave me a mood boost was dressing up in this magnificent gown from @las_ninas_textiles . I met fellow colour lover Nina on these squares and just adore her brand, her ethos and her fringe. Thank you Nina for your beautiful gift of colour joy! It really has shone a Latin rainbow on a dismal grey British week. This stunning indigo and huipil dress even has little threads of glitter running through it. 🌈 I’m pairing it with cosy leggings and my trusty @grensonshoes boots so I might never take it off! 
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#gift #colourlover #banthebeige #lasninastextiles #haulternativefashion #sustainablefashion #colourlover #lasninastextiles #whomadeyourclothes #dresslikeyoudecorate #dresslikeyourhome #ihavethisthingwithcolour
Who’s back at their desk this week with big plan Who’s back at their desk this week with big plans for their home in 2021! I’m thrilled and excited that my online course Colour Psychology for interiors is open for enrolment TODAY! 🛎🛎🛎 By far the most popular course to date this is a deep dive into how colour works on a deeper more emotional level. Discover how to blend colour harmoniously in your schemes and understand which palettes are perfect for you. Because we all have very different connections to colour and design and finding out what your authentic palette and style is is fundamental to creating a home you love. I’ve spent years honing my own style but with this course you can nail it in a matter of weeks! And it’s a beautiful deep dive into self discovery and creativity while  helping you gain clarity, confidence and cut through the overwhelm. Because there is enough of that going around already! 🤪 I’ll be back here at 6pm tonight on an Instagram live to tell you more about the transformational power of Colour Psychology for interiors so please join me and ask any questions! Bring on the colour joy! 🌈🌈🌈

📷 @aluncallenderphoto #colourpsychology #colourpsychologyforinteriors #colourlover #banthebeige #backtowork #interiordesign #interiordesigner #interiorsesignschool #interiorsesignonline #houseofhackney #newyearnewhome #homegoals #colourmyhome #mycolourfulinterior #colourfulhomevibe #mycreativeinterior #nesttoimpress #stylishhomevibes #atmine
The year we stayed at home. 2020 has taught me to The year we stayed at home. 2020 has taught me to care and love the simple things. And in many ways I’m blessed that being at home is often just where I want to be. The year ahead still holds so many unknowns and managing fears, expectations and anxieties will continue to be part of the battle.  But making a house a home can really help us feel safe and grounded. So here are some beautiful flowers, and rainbow baubles that go towards making my home feel the best it can. How do you make your home feel extra special and bring a smile to your face 😊? 

📷 @aluncallenderphoto flowers @sageandco.floraldesign baubles @rockettstgeorge.co.uk lamp @pookylights walls in lazuli @zoffanyfw artwork @alexmayhughes 

#houseahome #colourlover #banthebeige #marchtothebeatofyourowndrum #homesweethome
This is becoming a habit! All dressed up and no wh This is becoming a habit! All dressed up and no where to go, AGAIN! Ha! Fairwell 2020! It’s been....an experience! Big love to all of you! I’ve LOVED hanging out with you all on these squares!🥰 

📷 @aluncallenderphoto  #colourlover #banthebeige #newyearseve #bye2020 #greatindoors #bbbinteriors 
Dress is @stinegoyastudio at @sirene.boutique ( bought last year)
Hello!!! How ARE you?! I’m loving this twixmas t Hello!!! How ARE you?! I’m loving this twixmas time, having long lie ins, reading loads, and on that subject currently ‘Think like a monk’ by @jayshetty is PERFECT right now for a mental reset. I’m resisting thoughts of 2021, of work or ‘real life’, for just a couple more days. I see lots of people clearing down the decorations and getting the house feeling fresh, but I’m keeping the twinkle a little longer. But I can feel the batteries are recharging and boy they needed too! I meant to do my yearly vision board today but couldn’t get motivated to do that either! . How are you all doing. Anyone feeling ready to take on the new year yet?  #tapfordetails 
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#twixmas #newyear2021 #colourfulhomevibe #colourlover #banthebeige #bbbinteriors #gidc #sodomino #credenza
All dressed up and no where to go! Ha ha! In reali All dressed up and no where to go! Ha ha! In reality I’m in my joggers peeling a mountain of root vegetables but living the dream on the grid just for you! Thanks so much for all of you who have spread the joy and magic of Christmas on these squares. I’ve loved the colour, the creativity and the joy it’s bought. Wishing you all a special Christmas however you are making it work for you, which probably wasn’t  what you’d ever have expected. A special heartfelt virtual hug going out to all of you struggling at this time. See you on the other side! 

📷 @aluncallenderphoto . Garland by @sageandco.floraldesign . Dress @roksandailincic ( not an ad obvs but I know your gonna ask!) 

#christmasdecor #colourfulhomevibe #colourfulchristmas #banthebeige #colourlover #fireside #christmasgarland #christmasgarlanddecor #woodburner #countryliving #countrylife #countryinteriors
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