A very (ceramic) Christmas Gift Guide; purely from a potter’s perspective
I am writing this gift guide to answer the question why hand-crafted ceramic pieces are the best Christmas gifts (in my humble opinion)?
Apart from supporting a small business 😊, I can’t emphasize enough the carefully hand-crafted nature of each piece . The fine finishing details, which become apparent through touch, frequent use or looking closely at the ceramic piece.
I also include suggestions for whom this piece might just be the ideal Christmas gift.
Ceramic Poppy Seed Heads
- Poppy seed heads: a true gem for your garden! I lovingly craft each exquisite poppy seed head: I touched it 40 times from inception to completion. Consquently the exceptional quality is shining through in the intricate design, the lustrous glaze, and the captivating sparkle atop the crown. These treasures are completely frost-proof, thriving outdoors all year round. This makes them the perfect gift for passionate gardeners who cherish their outdoor sanctuaries and wish to embrace the beauty of nature even in winter. Moreover, they can breathe life into your indoor decor when elegantly displayed in a vase.
Handmade mugs
- Handmade mugs. Where do I start? I throw each handmade mug is individually. In addition the S-shaped handle for a comfortable grip and perfectly placed thumb rest that makes every sip feel natural. Finally I use a range of pastel coloured glazes, ranging from dark green to lime-green and light blue, complemented by a crisp white liner glaze inside. These beautiful, functional, and genuinely one-of-a-kind—these mugs are ideal every day from your morning tea until the evening hot chocolate.. every drink taste just better from a uniquely handmade mug. A meaningful gift for anyone who loves handmade craftsmanship and quality. And an ideal present to take for a host of a Christmas party.
Horizon Vase
- Horizon Vases. Small vase 14-17 cm tall, large vase 19-22 cm tall. The colour palette of these vases encapsulates the richness of blues and greens found in the British countryside. These pastel colour range from dark green to lime-green and sky-blue as well as satin matt white. The glaze merge together during the firing. Hence the resulting pieces are evoking the impression of an endless horizon. Therefor these vases would be an ideal gift for any flower- / and nature-loving person. Whether placed as the name suggests on a windowsill or on a table these vases enhance any rooms aesthetics adding a flair of the countryside. Also an ideal small gift for teachers or friends without breaking the bank.
Tidelines
- Tidelines are a special wall-hanging decoration combining driftwood and ceramic elements, glazed in a variety of blue and green glazes, resembling the colours of the ocean. I assemble the elements on a 60cm long metal rod. Furthermore the textures on the ceramic elements and the driftwood look like sea-foam or marine creatures and add a feeling of beaches. All elements can be removed from the metal rod and swapped around. Tidelines are the ideal decoration for indoors like bathrooms for example OR outdoors (backyard decoration/garden decoration). Also the ceramic elements are frost-proof and can be outdoors all year round! The slender design ideally fits into corners or on wooden beams. The ideal design for providing a coastal feel wherever the display! A very individual, uniquely designed gift.
Meteorites
- Meteorites: I throw these hollow ceramic spheres in one piece of the potter’s wheel. They are quite a challenge to my throwing capabilities, because the closing up of the top doesn’t come easy when the wheel is spinning around! I glaze them with semi-matte blue/green-/turquoise glaze and contrasting glossy blue-green glazes as well as a textured white glaze. They are offering a good contrasting colour in the garden and look stunning as part of a water-feature, on top of a low wall or along a path. Available in three sizes and different colours. Worth mentioning that these blues will stand out very well in the garden as blue is a quite rare colour in gardens. Also worth mentioning the tactile nature of the meteorites makes them an ideal indoor decoration.
Ceramic Pumpkins
- Colourful ceramic pumpkins are a stunning decoration for all year round. Above all they are not only for October!!! I throw these pumpkins on the potter’s wheel and subsequently alter and sculpt them. I glaze them in bright , vibrant colours, suitable for outdoors or the indoors. These small pumpkins are perfect to decorate your porch or they can add a festive flair to any indoor decorations. I have quite a collection myself and they are living in my fruit bowl all year round. I beleive ceramic pumpkins are an ideal gift for people who love the autumnal season and adore pumpkins (like me🎃)
Ceramic Rosehips
- Rosehips: going back to the late summer season or autumn. Brightly orange or red, proudly displaying the sepals; full of promise of a good fruiting season. Each seed head is sculpted individually by hand: a focal point with jewel-like quality! Again an ideal gift for keen gardeners or people who are hard to buy for!
Gift Cards
- Last but not least: Gift Card. If you can’t decide what to buy for someone, but you know they’d love a hand-made ceramic piece for the for the garden or the house, just get a gift card. They can be purchased from my webpage for any value and redeemed by the recipient any time within one year of purchase.
In summary I think Ceramics Buy Anja offers individual, hand-crafted, thoughtful gifts for a wide range of people. Go on and browse the shop……