Each mug, bowl and soap dish from Mae Ceramics is hand thrown/built by Lilly Maetzig in her Deptford studio. Her grounded, practical pottery tutorials on YouTube have built her a loyal following, and she’s also written two very giftable books – Thrown and Handbuilt – filled with inspiration and step-by-step projects for anyone keen to get into pottery.

Sign up to her newsletter to get notified for shop updates (her next is in December), or meet her in person at the Independent Ceramics Market in Peckham on 14 December.

Made with recycled cotton rag paper and individually hand-marbled by artisans in India, these pocket notebooks from TOAST turn even the quickest scribble into a small act of care. They’re perfect for journallers, sketchers or anyone who still prefers pen to pixels.

The factory behind them was founded in 1993 and supports many deaf and blind artisans, with every last scrap of paper recycled.

There’s something satisfying about using, and gifting, tools that are made to last. Katto’s knives are hand-forged in Sheffield, using sustainable hardwood handles and Japanese steel. They’re super sharp, and frankly too good to hide in a drawer.

Woven in a family-run mill in Pembrokeshire since the 1910s, Melin Tregwynt’s blankets blend traditional Welsh patterns with contemporary colours. Ideal for gifting warmth that lasts much longer than a manufactured candle.

If they take pride in their jewellery collection, SKEN’s silver pieces would make a lovely addition to their trinket dish. Everything’s made by hand in Manchester using recycled metals, with fun shapes that are easy to wear every day.

A quietly beautiful gift for someone who appreciates craft and sustainability.

For the anti-flat-packer – Studio Critical make beautiful, thoughtfully designed wooden pieces, from stools and trays to plates and more, all shaped and finished in Manchester.

The rustic charm of these pieces will always stand out among IKEA classics – ideal for someone who takes their time selecting homeware.

For the friend who’s happiest with a tool in hand, a woodworking class could be the ideal gift for Christmas. Walthamstow’s Blackhorse Workshop is a great choice – they offer woodworking and metalworking classes for beginners and improvers alike.

From furniture-building to sculpture, this is the type of gift that builds confidence – and possibly a new coffee table.

Gift something you can experience together with a pottery class for two. You could make a day of it in London and head to Cone8’s class in Hackney Wick – a great couples or best-friend gift.

From wheel-throwing to hand-building, the instructors tailor each session depending on your level – so no stress if it’s your first time.

A candle-making workshop is a unique and meditative way to create something personal. Dai-Kor in Shoreditch is our choice – they’ll be guided through the art of blending essential oils to make a scent they really love.

A nice gift for the creative one in your life.

No kiln, no problem. Get Pottd’s at-home clay kits come with everything you need to hand-make mugs, plant pots or even biscuit-themed coasters. And it’s something you can enjoy together – creative, mindful and a perfect rainy-Sunday activity.

For someone who loves jewellery, help them make their own at a jewellery workshop (or why not make something for them?) If they’re near to Walthamstow, they can create everything from chains to signet rings, silver rings to silver hoops, at Made by Ore.

Perfect for a gift that’s truly unique to them.

A cookery or baking course is always a great choice for the foodie in your life – and you might reap some of the (yummy) benefits. Bread Ahead, known for their moorish doughnuts at Borough Market, also offer baking courses – from sourdough to empanadas, tiramisu and more. 

In-person classes are available in Borough Market, Chelsea and Wembley.

If you know someone artsy, calligraphy could be talent they haven’t unlocked yet. Suitable for beginners, this workshop at The Old Barn in Edinburgh teaches the basics of forming strokes into words (alongside complimentary tea, coffee and homemade cake!).

They’ll write their very own invitation by the end of the session, ideal if they’ve got an event coming up. It takes place on Sunday 15th February, so just book a slot in their name. For more craft ideas, The Old Barn also hosts workshops in upholstery, lino printing, needle felting and much more.

For the busy person in your life, booking a spa day might feel like way too much admin. But that doesn’t mean self-care should slip down their list. Help them press pause with an Urban home massage, a pro comes to theirs whenever life allows – morning, evening, weekend.

There’s over 30 home treatments on choose from, including deep tissue, sleep and relaxing massages, to facials, manicures and even specialist bodywork treatments like physio. A grounding gift for someone who’s overdue some care.

Available in London, the South East, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

For a loved one who’s into skincare, gift them a facial that’ll add to their results. FaceGym’s treatments combine facial massage with workout-style techniques, powered by expert hands and skin science – the perfect treat. Available in London and Manchester.

A gift that always lands well is something they’d love, but would never book for themselves – a Head Spa treatment is exactly that. It’s the dreamiest mix of scalp massage, cleansing and deep relaxation – basically the hair-wash bit at the salon, times 100.

The perfect gift for someone who needs an hour to totally unwind. Head Spa treatments are available across the UK, but if they're in London, the Camden location inside Ellie’s Hair and Beauty Salon is a great shout.

Whether they’re a fan of Lush products or they love trying new treatments, Lush Spa’s Comforter massage is the perfect treat. Using Lush’s hot chocolate full-body scrub, they’ll get a 60-min full-body, medium-pressured massage, finished with a sparkling cloud cocktail.

Available to book in London, Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, Bath, Poole, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

This one’s great if they love a pamper, but rarely have time for it. They’ll get their nails, make-up and hair taken care of in one session with a 45-min Bio Sculpture treatment, make-up session with a Selfridge’s beauty concierge plus a blow-dry and style at Daniel Galvin.

Available Monday to Saturday, with sessions lasting around three hours.

Think of the friend who never needs makeup – their skin always looks great. As annoying as that is, it makes buying them a gift pretty easy; a bespoke facial to them is the equivalent to glazing a doughnut.

With an Urban bespoke facial (that’s us!), they’ll be treated to a skin refresh in the comfort of their home. Simply buy a gift card and select a bespoke facial as the treatment to quench their winter skin’s thirst.