As the frost sparkles on the hedgerows and the afternoons grow shorter, I find myself thinking about thoughtful gift-giving. There's something so special about supporting fellow makers, particularly those who, like me, work with their hands to create pieces that celebrate nature and tell stories.
I wanted to share with you some of my favourite makers whose work I absolutely adore. These are people whose craft I genuinely admire, who create with the same care and connection to the natural world that I try to bring to Cast & Found. If you're looking for meaningful gifts this season, I hope you'll enjoy discovering them as much as I have.
Laura Creer Studio
Laura creates the most beautiful textured silver and 24ct gold jewellery alongside small-batch ceramic homeware from her Yorkshire studio. What I love about Laura's work is how she celebrates individuality in every piece – the dimples from sand casting, the organic wrinkles, each little mark that makes a piece uniquely its own. She works primarily with sterling silver, often using recycled off-cuts, which really speaks to me. Her designs have such character and depth, no two are ever exactly the same.
Priestleys
Karen and James from Priestleys create the most exquisite handcrafted leather goods from their Lincolnshire workshop. Their Bloom Roll – a sculptural leather flower holder inspired by Japanese aesthetics – is simply stunning. What I love most about their work is how they design pieces to last a lifetime and be passed down through generations.. Their vegetable-tanned leather develops a beautiful patina over time, holding the memory of each bloom it carries. It's craft with real soul. You can purchase gift vouchers online here.
Gathered Living
These gorgeous blockprinted hot water bottles from Gathered Living are like gifting a warm hug. The elegant covers feature beautiful blockprinted designs, tied with bows and finished with frilled trims. Made from blockprinted cotton with cotton wadding, they're perfect for cosying up on these chilly winter evenings. I love how they bring a touch of warmth and comfort – both literally and in their thoughtful, handmade quality.
Sarah Rickard
Sarah was one of my fellow winners in the Country Living 40 Best Artisans Awards, and her sgraffito ceramics are absolutely breathtaking. Working from her garden studio in East Sussex, Sarah creates decorative earthenware inspired by nature, folklore and mythology. She uses techniques like sgraffito and paper resist to bring intricate patterns to life, capturing hares, birds, and botanical details with such delicacy. Her deep connection to the natural world shines through every piece – you can truly feel the love and reverence for nature in her work.
Betsy & Els
I'm completely charmed by Betsy & Els' forever flowers. Created in a barn loft studio in Lancashire, these laser-cut wooden flowers are hand-drawn and hand-painted, designed to last forever. Each flower represents a birth month with its own meaning – from snowdrops for hope and rebirth to oak and acorn for strength. The Christmas bouquet is particularly lovely, featuring hellebores, holly, and winter jasmine. What a beautiful way to tell someone's story through the language of flowers. I discovered her at RHS Wentworth; her beautiful stand was just up from mine.
Ceramic Botanist
Another RHS Wentworth exhibitor, Louise Condon's work as the Ceramic Botanist is truly magical. She preserves real botanicals in clay, creating vases, wall plaques, and sculptural pieces from her Chester studio. Each piece captures a moment in time, with the actual imprint of leaves, stems and flowers fired into the clay. I find it so moving how she creates bespoke pieces using botanicals from people's own gardens – wedding bouquets, stems from a family home. It's about preserving memories and connections, which resonates so deeply with what I try to do.
Crafting Your Gifts
Sometimes it’s lovely to make handmade gifts too, l made these little woodland fairy faces with my son, simply roll some air-dry clay into a head shape, wait to dry and glue on an acorn cup as a hat, or you could use dried poppy seed heads too. We drilled holes and added string so they can hang. Then, using a pen added a face, and with round ends of cotton buds and some watercolour paint, we added their little rosy cheeks!
From My Own Collection
Speaking of nature and meaning, as we head into the season of robins and snowdrops, I wanted to share two of my most cherished designs:
Robin Necklace
The robin holds such a special place in my heart. These cheerful garden visitors are often seen as messengers, bringing comfort during the winter months. This necklace captures the robin's gentle presence, a reminder that we're never truly alone.
Snowdrop Ashes Pendant
The first flower to bloom after winter's grip loosens, the snowdrop represents hope, renewal and new beginnings. This delicate pendant can hold a small amount of ashes or a lock of hair, keeping your loved one close as you move forward into the light.
Both pieces are cast from nature and created here in my Nottinghamshire studio, ready to be treasured for years to come.
See the ready to post collection
I hope these makers bring you as much joy as they bring me. There's something so nourishing about supporting small businesses and craftspeople who pour their hearts into every piece they create.
Wishing you a warm and peaceful winter from the studio,
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