With Saint David’s day on the horizon, I thought I’d share with you some wonderful Welsh gifts from some fantastic Welsh small businesses that I adore.
Whether you’re looking for a treat for yourself or a gift for someone else, there will be something here that will tick your boxes. From ceramics to cakes, here are some of my favourite Welsh gifts for you and your home.
This beautifully illustrated Welsh Map from Megan Tucker Illustration is a must-have for any Welsh person. Packed with fun-to-spot details, Wales’s most-loved landmarks are depicted in Megan’s instantly recognisable, unique style. Working from her home studio in South Wales, Megan creates gorgeous, stylish gifts and stationery in both English and Welsh using a mixture of traditional and digital illustration methods and techniques.
Emily Parkinson is a talented silversmith who creates bespoke silver jewellery in her pink shepherd hut on the Gower Peninsular – hence the business name One Little Hut. Her carefully crafted pieces from her Heart of The Gower collection are loved by any fans of this beautiful Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Pictured here are her Langland Bay (left) and Three Cliffs (right) hearts.
The Welsh sea-side town of Tenby is famous for it’s colourful harbour. Cag Rodwell has captured its quaint quirkiness beautifully in this fused-glass piece of art work. Cag, based in Crickhowell, creates a whole host of beautiful glass gifts from cocktail swizzle sticks to bunting swags, that are ready to buy from her website, as well as taking commissions for bespoke personalised pieces too.
Skratch Studio is the trade name of ceramic artist Kate Russel. Based in the picturesque Welsh countryside town of Cowbridge, Kate uses the technique of sgraffito to create intricate patterns into her clay. Fusing traditional Welsh imagary with contemporary geometric patterns is Kate’s speciality, resulting in her instantly recognisable style. Whether you’re after a plaque, a bowl or a love spoon, Skratch Studio ceramics is a must-visit when you’re looking for that special gift.
Of course, being a Welsh small business, it wouldn’t be right if Doli Dwt didn’t have a specific Welsh Gift in our repertoire!
After two years mulling over and refining my ideas, my Cwtch and Hiraeth Welsh Lady dolls were released in 2020. My goal was to marry a traditional welsh costume with a contemporary twist, and following research into the history and styles of the national dress, I settled on heart and bunting motifs. Due to popular demand, a third Welsh lady doll is on her way for Saint David’s Day 2021…..watch this space!
Daffodils are the infamous national flower of Wales, and whether you’re Welsh or not, nobody can deny the cheer that these sunny yellow blooms bring when they begin to appear in early Spring. As well as her traditional canvas paintings and prints, Gower Artist Annabel Dann creates a huge variety of hand-painted plaques and tags. This happy spring tag with its daffodil motif looks beautiful hung from the neck of this glass vase. A quick and easy way to add the perfect little nod to spring in your home decor!
There’s no better feeling than a luxurious spot of pampering, especially with all we’ve had to endure over the past year. Little Bit Different is famous for their gorgeously-scented vegan soy candles, hand-poured in South Wales, however in addition to this, Vicky has developed an exquisite range of body washes and lotions. Available in “Cariad” and “Haf”, the elegant amber glass bottles really add a touch of lux to your bathroom. They’re available as a gift set (if you can bare to part with them), or individually if you want to treat yourself. Go on, you deserve it!
Of course, during (and after!) a pamper session, it’s vital that you are cosy and comfortable. Why not lay your head up on a beautiful, handmade Welsh blanket cushion from Millie’s Welsh Decor? This beautiful “Teulu” (Family) cushion would look perfect in any setting, blending with both traditional and modern interior design schemes. Shirley Price, the creative force behind the brand, creates a whole host of beautiful home items in English and Welsh. She works with traditional welsh blanket prints as seen here, as well as other stylish, modern, printed fabrics.
The Welshcake is, quite arguably, to Wales as the scone is to Devon. This traditional treat is cooked on a bakestone and eaten hot or cold. They make the perfect foodie gift which will be appreciated by anyone; they are dense and slightly sweet, so perfect any time of day with a cuppa! They’ve become increasingly popular here in place of canapes and favours at weddings, and Calon Lan Cakes (who created these fabulous Love Spoon welsh cakes – another traditional iconic Welsh symbol), have established themselves firmly as the go-to brand for amazing, physics-defying Welsh cake towers and wedding cakes.
And finally, how can we forget our four-legged friends?
With one newspaper reporting that us Brits spent a WHOPPING £162 million in 2020 on Christmas gifts for our canine companions, it’s only fair that they have a slice of the Welsh gifts action around Saint David’s day too! So why not treat them to one of these gorgeous felt daffodils for their collar from Crafty Jo Designs so that they can be the envy of all the furriends at the park on March the 1st!
And that concludes my round up of perfect Welsh gifts for Saint David’s Day, or any time of year you want to celebrate or share your love for this beautiful little part of the world.
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