The Utterly Random and Completely Spectacular Christmas List

I can't even begin to describe the sheer joy of putting together this gift list. Honestly, I've never ventured into making a Christmas list before, largely because I’m well aware that budgets and tastes are all over the shop. Plus, let's face it, my tastes can be a bit… let’s say “niche.” But this year, I’ve had the delight of meeting so many other business owners who are utterly obsessed with their creations.

So, while it goes without saying that number one on your Christmas list will be something from The Fabled Thread (obviously!), here are numbers 2 to 55 to add to your list. Yes, it was meant to be 50, but a few snuck in. And no, there’s no rhyme or reason to the order—it’s a glorious jumble of brilliant finds. Enjoy the chaos!

Captions go left to right, top to bottom (make sense of that if you can!)

1. Studio Roof, Mask Kits, €24.95 | Studio Roof also do little kits, which would be perfect for hanging on a Christmas tree!
2. Any painting by Sophie Wake | Her work sells out very quickly, so I would enquire directly with her about availability!
3. Toast, Donegal Sweater, £175 | I literally live in my Donegal sweater through the winter, so should probably invest in a second colour so all my videos aren't in exactly the same outfit
4. English Popular Art by Margaret Lambery & Enid Marx, £15 | For any folk art lover, this now out-of-print book is a must! It's a compendium of every British folk art and hands down the book I reference from most
5. Papercut by Maria, from Folka, £59 | Folka is a treasure trove of Eastern European and Polish crafts, artfully curated by Karolina Merska
6. Young Gardner, by Jim Andersen, Original lino print from Edition of 12, £300 | I have gone on about Jim Andersen before but as the proud owner of two of his lino prints, I cannot express enough how wonderful these are IRL. The skill to create linocuts of this details and many layers- immense!
7. Passimenterie, by Elizabeth Ashdown, £36.99 | Lizzy is working to keep the endangered craft of Passimenterie not only alive but kicking with colour. If you are based in London, look out for her workshops, but if not, this book is colour-rich, will teach you a new skill and supports a very lovely, wonderful artist!
8. Mevalco Picante Gordal Olives, £3.20 | Let's be honest, despite these being very delicious olives, I am suggesting these primarily for the tin! If you need something to store your paintbrushes or pencils in...
9. Commission a banner! Joanna's Banners, from £300 | There is nothing more personal than commissioning a piece as a Christmas gift for a loved one - whether it's something to celebrate a special occasion, a line from a poem they love, or to brighten up their home.

1. Hungarian Oil and Vinegar Bottles, International Wardrobe, €195 | Never have I needed an oil and vinegar bottle more than this... to my husband Harry if you are reading this, PLEASE!
2. Recycled Plastic Tote, Third Man Records, £72 | My mum has a recycled plastic tote from when REfound Objects used to do them and these guys last YEARS. I love the yellow and black gingham on this one, and it looks the perfect size for a needlepoint kit.
3. Dolce & Gabbana Panettone, £58.99 | Last year I queued for over an hour to get my hands on one of these Panettone's from their Covent Garden pop-ups - the perfect tin that sells out every year! I wish there was a way to get the tin alone, but alas, you'll have to eat the panettone too.
4. The Classic Tinned Fish Subscription, from £60 | Okay, there might be a bit of a food packaging thing going on here. BUT if you love tinned fish and are worried about hitting your Omega3 levels (who isn't?), then this is a no-brainer. A perfectly packaged parcel of fish every month!
5. Still Life with Two Combs, Crail Gallery, £400 | Now, full disclosure, I think this painting may have already sold. These works from Crail Gallery are so unique and sell out fast, but get yourself on their mailing list!
6. Anything by Ben Fosker | My mum bought me a ceramic tile from Ben Foster a few years ago (from the gallery un.polished space which is also worth looking at), and I love it so! These plates are high on my wishlist!
7. Paper Marbling kit by Marmor Paperie, £72 | When it comes to making patterned paper, I don't think there is a method with a more exciting "reveal" moment than marbling. Jen in our team has done the workshop with Marmor Paperie and is currently in the midst of marbling all her wedding invites, so if you can't make it to a class, get the kit instead!
8. Arusha Trainers, Panafrica, £127 | I live in trainers and intend to spend next year in these.
9. Hand-embroidered banners from Kaross, prices from £500 | Kaross is a cooperative in South Africa, working with communities to preserve their embroidery heritage and bring employment. Whilst that alone is enough to get one of their pieces, they are also the most magnificent things. I can vouch for this as I own a wall hanging, and it's even better IRL!

1. Advent Calendar from le Chocolat des Francais, €35.90 | I am not entirely sure if I was swayed to include this advent calendar because I saw an absolutely giant version at Maison Objet or because they were handing out samples and it was delicious, but either way, it's colourful and maximalist and full of chocolat.
2. Pair of Chinese Ancestor Portraits, Objets Chinois, €179 | My cousin Rose has a pair of Chinese ancestor portraits which she bought in Beijing. Every time I saw them at her flat I felt burning envy, so you can imagine my delight to come across this company. These are so excellent framed up! I just need a bit more wall space...
3. Beaded Beasts from The Shop Floor Project, £225 | This is not going to be the only item in the list from The Shop Floor Project - if I am not careful the whole list would just become their site. They curate artists and folk arts from around the UK and Internationally. These beaded beasts from South Africa are a staple of their collection and pieces I have lusted after for years - particularly the really big ones!
4. Indian Diwali Lamp, Indigo Arts, £325 | This is the item I jealously wanted to keep to myself, but they are too magnificent not to share. Imagine this all lit up!
5. Garden Chair from Djilene Creations, €239 | Not only are these garden chairs surprisingly comfortable to sit on, but they are created in Senegal by Djilene Creations, focusing on training young people, giving employment and working cooperatively with the community. If my garden was more than 1 meter squared, I would have a pair.
6. Slipware Fish by Paul Young, Tinsmiths, £675 | Paul Young is at the top of my wishlists for ceramics. My sister is the proud owner of one of his Lion sculptures (rumour has it Jarvis Cocker owns the other of the pair, so you are in cool company).
7. Man with a Yellow Hat by Mitch Mantel, by IOTA Edit, £500 | IOTA Edit has a very cool curated range of both new and antique finds. Whilst I shall forever feel regret for the metal chameleon which I did not buy (go take a look at their site and you'll find it), I still browse regularly and constantly find new artists to admire!
8. U is for Unicorn, Emily Sutton, £375 | Emily Sutton is one of my all-time favourite illustrators, and whilst I really wanted to include her latest illustrated book on this list (King Winter's Birthday), it doesn't seem to be available yet. So here is a beautiful screen print instead!
9. Josef Frank placemats, Svenskt Tenn, €120 | I'll grant you, this seems like a mad amount to spend on placemats and whilst I am not likely to get them anytime soon, the combination of my too great loves (ships and Josef Frank) was too much to not make it to the list!

1. Timber Propelling Pencil, Hadley Paper Goods, £17.99 | I am a dedicated pen user when I sketch ideas and haven't been converted to a pencil until now... after seeing a video of Jo drawing with the pencil a week ago, I immediately bought it. Let me tell you, this is NO ordinary pencil. I shall never get another type.
2. Jonny Hannah 2025 Wall Planner, Penfold Press, £20 | As a notoriously disorganised person, I really just choose a calendar as something I think will look fun and creative on my walls. Enter stage left, the wall planner from Jonny Hannah. Going to invest in one for the studio that I can put dates in for things that I never accomplish. Or maybe I'll write them in with my new pencil and then I can just run them out!
3. Contemporary Afghan Kilim, London House Rugs, £805 | We also saw these rugs at Maison Objet and they were so joyful! Whilst I could say they would be perfect for a childrens bedroom or playroom, who am I kidding. I would totally have one in my room too, but I am sure Harry won't allow it.
4. Emma Carlow Cyanotype, The Shop Floor Project, £745 | I told you The Shop Floor Project would be back. This time with one of my absolute favourite artists, the multi-disciplinary and imagination master Emma Carlow. I adore these cyanotypes she has created based on medieval bestiary.
5. Set of 6 Tall Crowns, Cambridge Imprint, £15 | Why has no one ever thought of making Christmas crowns tall before? As ever, the geniuses of Cambridge Imprint have taken a classic and just made it better than ever. I'll be getting these for Christmas Day so we all feel magnificent.
6. Toy Box from Rice, €44.90 | I had seen this toy box cropping up in the background of a few pictures and always wondered where it was from. Rice have a whole range of them with different designs from dragons to wizards and more.
7. Pizza Lovers Set, Sous Chef, £27.99 | Okay, I've been suckered in again by good packaging. Whilst this is just a pizza cutter and slice at its core, it's such a good box that any foodie will love opening it on Christmas Day!
8. Colour Inspiration books, Papier Tiger, €19.00 | You may have seen me banging on about these books on our social media channels, so you won't be surprised they made the list. These are an absolute gem for getting you out of a colour rut.
9. Vintage Lassi Cup, Indigo Arts, £48 | I love this engraved tin cup and see it as a more sophisticated version of my pencil pot than the aforementioned olive tin.

1. Flowers on my Dressing Table, Al Bates, POA | I came across Al Bates work earlier this summer and absolutely love her innovative way of working with wool to create these collage like textile artworks.
2. Foodie prints from John Broadley, from £19 each | Illustrator John Broadley is known, amongst other things, for his illustration for chef Jeremy Lee at London institution Quo Vadis. Not only do I love his way with a line, but his witty and humorous foodie sayings are pitch perfect. I have a set of them waiting to be framed to hang in our kitchen one day!
3. Good Things to Eat, Lucas Hollweg, £20 | This one isn't on my Christmas list because we already have it, so it's purely a recommendation. Unlike my other packaging led recommendations like the pizza set, this one isn't a beautiful book, but it's full of deliciousness.
4. Antique textiles from Molly Hog | I am an avid follower of textile dealer Molly Hog on Instagram. Whilst she doesn't have a website, she regularly posts some absolutely wonderful textile pieces.
5. Greetings card subscription from Hadley Paper Goods, £15 per month | Every year I have a new years resolution to "be more thoughtful", and every year I fail. However, this greeting card subscription, which comes with stamps and all, could be perfect. Once a month, I could just sit and write four cards to friends to send them some love!
6. Guatamalan Embroidered Table Cloth, International Wardrobe, €170 | A fabulous tablecloth, no more explanation needed!
7. Set of 8 Knife Rests, West African, Raj Tent Cloth, £150 | Now this one probably does need more explanation. Whilst I'll admit, I haven't ever thought, "gosh, I really need a knife rest" - these guys would just make any table so much more jolly. LOVE THEM!
8. Set of 3 Fabric Covered books, Penguin, £33 | There is nothing better than a lovely book - to read or just to have on a coffee table. My favourites are these fabric covered books from Penguin - have fun putting together three to suit a loved one. Make sure to include The Jabberwocky though!
9. Japanese watercolour set, Choosing Keeping, £25 | Whilst I have not used these myself, I know many other creatives who swear by these watercolours. Not only will they look Instagram-ready on the desk, but they come in a perfectly curated colour palettes.

1. Sardine Matches, Archivist Matches, £8.95 | Archivist always expertly bring together the best illustrators to create small but perfect matchboxes. I have far more matches than I'll ever be able to burn because I just want to get my hands on the boxes. These favourites are designed by Louise of The Printed Peanut.
2. A Dictionary of Colour Combinations, £18.95 | Small and perfectly formed, this is the original colour reference book from Japan.
3. Masks from Central America, Ethic Tropic, €230 | It was nigh on impossible to choose which mask to put into this article. Follow the link to the Ethic Tropic website and you will see my predicament. These masks are quite something!
4. Set of ballpoint pens, Papier Tiger, €54 | I am a fan of aesthetically pleasing stationary, so whilst these may not serve a purpose any better than their contemporary, the biro, they would make me want to work.
5. Nierika Yarn Painting, Indigo Arts, $950 | Indigo Arts, based in the US, brings together folk arts from all over the world and celebrates the origins of their craft. It's a place I regularly visit to discover new forms of art or artists I haven't seen before. From the Korhogo Cloth from Cote d'Ivoire, to beadwork of Haiti or applique from Benin. They are an amazing place.
6. Pair of Yoruba Beaded Thrones, 1st dibs, £3780 for a pair | Every wishlist needs a mad item. When my dad sent his birthday wishlist last year, snuck in the middle of it was a 1970s triumph motorbike. Whilst it was pretty clear we were not going to buy him one of those, it's worth trying, eh. So here is my mad item!
7. Jour Ferie jigsaw, £25 | Ahh, the packaging fanatic is back again, but Jour Ferie do have a way of making a jigsaw look incredibly enticing. Whilst I would always opt for sewing over jigsawing (I like to have something to show for the hours), for someone who just doesn't love sewing, this could be a great Christmas to New Year filler.
8. Affenzahn Kids Backpack, £42 | These are just the sweetest backpacks I have ever seen. I wish I could wear one!
9. Hal Haines tiles, £330 for 9 | Whilst I don't think I will quite be stretching to tiling a whole kitchen to this extent yet, to have a few of these as part of a wider tiled area would bring daily joy and fun. Or maybe just the perfect coaster!

And here it is—the obligatory shameless plug. It goes without saying (or at least it should) that a bit of Fabled Thread will be gracing everyone's Christmas list this year. Yes, we’re a tad biased, but in all honesty, giving the gift of a hobby, the gift of time for oneself, and the gift of creativity really does trump everything else. While the rest of these items are undeniably fabulous, gifting a kit could just spark something wonderful in someone. You never know!