Gift Ideas for Friends and Family
Posted on
A beautiful gift guide from St Michael's Resort:
https://www.stmichaelsresort.com/journal/cornwall-gift-ideas-for-friends-and-family
Cornwall gift ideas for friends and family
CORNWALL GIFT IDEAS FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Cornwall is a county of contrast. Stunning and quaint locations sit alongside rugged coastlines and deep, craggy rocks, but one thing that never dwindles is the flocks of tourists that travel to the county every year to enjoy the picturesque sights and peaceful corners. For those who love Cornwall, have fond memories within its borders or are planning to visit in the future, then a Cornish gift is irreplaceable. Birthdays, Christmas or just an excuse to treat someone, Cornwall is full of unique and independent gift companies just waiting to share their goods with you all. Continue reading to find some of the very best thoughtful gifts for the special people in your life, as well as comments and quotes from the gift makers themselves.
Cornish Magpie is run by Shirley and is an online retailer full of wonderful gifts inspired by the local Cornish coastline. Full of unique, quirky, and homemade trinkets, this is the perfect website to visit for a meaningful gift all year round. We spoke to Shirley about Cornish Magpie and asked her what gifts she would recommend and why, she commented:
“The new ‘Gifts’ section on the website will help provide lots of inspiration for you. Bring back memories of happy holidays in Cornwall - or rekindle memories of where you used to live. How about a mug and coaster set, in a range of wonderful, nautical designs? Or a Christmas bauble for your tree? And not forgetting the all-important Nadelik Lowen Christmas cards, available individually or in great value packs.”
Shirley explains a little more about the importance of shopping local and why a Cornish-made gift is extra-special: “As a micro-business, I’m totally reliant on customers who love Cornwall, love the ocean and want to shop small - and I appreciate every single order, no matter how tiny. Buying small means you impact me as an individual, and every purchase gets me excited – and you’ll also get help and assistance directly from myself should you need it. Buying small & buying local means the world to all small businesses and supports the local economy immensely. Cornwall is full of the most amazing artists and crafters who all deserve our support. I, for one, will be buying local again this year for all my Christmas gifts. I hope you do too.”
Great gifts from Cornish Magpie:
· Mini Shoal of Fish Cosmetic Bag
· Candle in a Tin - Seaside Sundae
With a passion for all things handmade, Cornish Whispers is a family business run by husband-and-wife team Adam and Emily. The website is full of gifts, most of which can be personalised with special dates, names and places, making them perfect for wedding presents, christening gifts, unique Christmas or birthday presents.
We asked the duo at Cornish Gifts what locally-made gifts they would recommend as a special Christmas present: “New for this Christmas is our adorable wooden Christmas House box, which is a take on our personalised Christmas Eve box that can be engraved with the receiving families name which can then be filled with any treats of your choice. For anyone mad about surfing then our Surfer Wall Art which can be personalised with the recipient’s name will look great on any wall. And for the most special person in your life, why not treat them to our beautiful and popular Song Lyric Wall art, so that special song can be immortalised and admired daily. Made from reclaimed timber with a natural wax finish.”
Cornish Whispers is the perfect place for anyone looking for a totally unique but immensely thoughtful gift, that has been lovingly handmade near the Cornish coast. We asked Adam and Emily why they think a Cornish gifts will be well-received by your loved one:
“A handmade gift from Cornwall, especially a personalised one, shows that you have really thought about your recipient and gone out of the way to find something special that won't be destined to landfill, whilst supporting a local Cornish business at the same time. A personalised gift from Cornish Whispers is a quality keepsake that will be treasured for years to come.”
Great gifts from Cornish Whispers:
· Gin & Tonic Wooden Chopping Board
· Family Tree in a Glass Frame
Handmade trinkets from sunny Cornwall, Poppy Treffry is a shop full of gifts and quality souvenirs, perfect for those looking to enjoy a touch of this seaside county in their home. If you’re not planning to visit Cornwall any time soon but want to enjoy some of Poppy’s goodies, then head to the Poppy Treffry website to grab your gifts. We spoke to Molly, one of the team at Poppy Treffry about the shop and a little more about the gifts, she explained what makes them extra-special:
“A Poppy Treffry product is a treat at any time of the year, but at Christmas when you are looking for something a bit different you can’t go wrong with one of her freehand machines embroidered designs.
Originally created by Poppy on an old Singer sewing machine in her studio in Penzance and stitched by a small team of local women there is love poured into each piece. Dog, seagulls, wildflowers and more feature on embroidered and printed designs all inspired by Poppy’s Cornish childhood and coastal walks with her family and pooch.”
Great gifts from Poppy Treffry:
· Cheeky seagull - set of 4 coasters
As the name may suggest the Cornish store, A Gift From Cornwall, can offer you some of the best gifts from the county. From pottery to food, hampers, skincare and much more, the website is jam-packed with gifts for friends and family of all ages and interests. We spoke to Alex Gibbon from A Gift From Cornwall and asked him what makes their gifts extra special.
“We pride ourselves in giving our customers the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of Cornish made food, drink, pottery and skincare and other gifts. Each of our products has its own unique story. We stock biscuits, local tea, fudge, and chocolate all of which can be packed in a small gift bag or box or wicker hamper, depending on your budget. The pandemic has taught us it is more important to not only shop locally and support local business but also share your favourite products with your loved ones. Each product is made within Cornwall and packaged sustainably ready to be gifted. We have a wide range of ready to go hampers that have been carefully selected but also with the opportunity to customise a hamper to suit the individual, be it by taste, allergy, or personal preference.”
Great gifts from A Gift From Cornwall:
· The Cornish Condiment Hamper Box
· The Super Savoury Cornish Food Hamper
· Rosemullion Harvest Gin 250ml
· Chocolarder Cornish Honeycomb Milk Chocolate 50%
Naturally Cornish prides itself on creating unique products that are sourced from the local land and crafted from the rugged sea. The site is now home to a plethora of Cornish independents who all share the same passion for sustainability and locally produced products.
We spoke to Lily from Naturally Cornish, and they told us why they think a Cornish and sustainably-made product is the ideal gift: “Cornwall has so much to give, and our natural environment is unlike anywhere else in the world. It is home to some of the most innovative and sustainable brands, which value the outstanding beauty, environment, and extraordinary heritage of this special county. From premium food and drink to locally-sourced, organic skincare, Cornish brands are becoming the leader for ethical, high-quality and handcrafted products, that focus on time-honoured skill and passion. You won’t be finding these gifts anywhere else in the world.”
Great gifts from Naturally Cornish:
Lily offered us some details on some of their favourite products that would make amazing birthday and Christmas presents for people of all ages, they commented “You deserve the most magical Christmas this year, that's why at Naturally Cornish we've prepared it all - from advent calendars, handcrafted decorations to the perfect gifts. Surprise your loved ones with something from the best Cornish independents.”
· Naturally Cornish have created the ultimate Cornish feast with their exclusive festive hampers. You simply can't beat the celebratory combination of fine Cornish Brut, delicious chocolates and handmade cheese; making these wickers of wonder one of the most popular presents to give... and receive.
· Get into the festive spirit with Naturally Cornish’s expansive range of luxury gins, whiskeys, liqueurs and craft beers. Created and distilled among rolling fields and rugged coastlines, make this Christmas extra-special with unique Cornish flavours from the county’s master distillers and brewers.
· Gift the greatest remedy for chillier winter evenings with a collection of indulgent gifts from The Cove Bathing. Hunker down with luxury bath salts, organic bath milks, fragrance oils and nourishing soaps, all handcrafted and containing dreamy calming essential oils that are going to help you feel super relaxed.
· Naturally Cornish have created the ultimate sugar-coated paradise for the sweet tooth on your list. Treat them (or yourself) to decadent gigantic buttons and a selection of handmade milk chocolate bars from Josh’s Chocolate.
· If there’s one thing that can ease the sadness of shorter and colder days, it’s the thought of sinking our toes into a luxuriously soft pair of slippers. Crafted in British sheepskin, these winter essentials by Celtic & Co will have you welcoming dark nights
Who doesn’t love new soap as a gift? Homemade soaps are one of the most versatile gifts for men, woman, and children and Wild Cornish Soap create some outstanding offerings with a plethora of delectable smells and scents. They explain a little more about their ethos on their website, saying: “At Wild Cornish Soap, we use ethically sourced ingredients and traditional cold process method to create beautifully nourishing soaps for your hands.”
Rebecca from Wild Cornish Soap went on to tell us why soap makes a great gift all year round: “We can all do our part to reduce our plastic consumption and one of the easiest ways is to have a bar of soap! Handmade cold process soap is fantastic for your skin - containing natural oils and butters to moisturise and nourish. Soap is plastic-free, and one bar can last numerous washes which is good for Planet Earth too. We suggest our Winter Warmer soap which contains organic cocoa butter and a warming essential oil blend of Orange, Nutmeg and Cinnamon.”
Cornish gifts are special for so many reasons, one of them being that they are lovingly made by Cornish locals, and this is something Rebecca also explained to us a little more: “Cornwall is a place that holds many special memories for people - whether it is a Cornish cream tea, a walk on the beach or a weeklong holiday in the sun. Having a piece of Cornwall in a gift - whether it is quirky painting, rustic ceramic, or handmade soap - connects the recipient back to Cornwall and their wonderful memories.”
Great gifts from Wild Cornish Soap:
If you know someone who loves Cornwall, who has been on a spa break in Cornwall and falling in love with their surroundings or someone who is planning to visit very soon, then these unique and thoughtful Cornish gift ideas have hopefully given you some inspiration for upcoming birthdays and Christmas presents.