Cornish Christmas Gift Guide: For the Millennial
Did someone say the C WORD? Christmas is just around the corner and if you’re anything like me then you’ll leave gift shopping to the very last minute. This year, I’ve made a promise to myself that my Christmas shopping will be completed by mid-December to avoid a mad panic before the big day.
Lets support our local small businesses this year! Cornwall is full of incredible small business owners and Christmas is the perfect time to champion and support.
I’ve tried to make your Christmas shopping a little easier by compiling a number of wonderful gifts, perfect for the stereotypical MILLENNIAL (23-38 years old.)
Natural Beauty by the Sea - The Coconut Bee
The Coconut Bee is hand crafted on the north coast of Cornwall in the UK. The Coconut Bee offers a unique organic range of 100% natural skin & hair care alternatives tailored for coastal living.
The Coconut Bee are passionate about creating chemical free beauty alternatives with sustainably sourced ingredients. Zero harmful effects on our planet & completely cruelty free! A range not tested on animals, containing only ingredients from sustainable and fairtrade sources. One with no palm oil or microbeads that are harmful to our planet. We choose a clear conscience. Not only that, we choose a product that really works to our lifestyle, Naturally.
The lovely Holly is the founder of The Coconut Bee. Holly began creating homemade organic skin and hair care alternatives as a teenager. Holly always enjoyed the process of using raw ingredients to create something unique to taste and needs. In 2017 Holly and her partner Anthony decided to take the leap and share these with the world. After 2 years of hard work and development we finally launched 'The Coconut Bee' in December 2018.
Buy The Coconut Bee now.
Handmade Sea Glass Jewellery - Mordon Jewellery
Mordon Jewellery is all about offering people affordable, thoughtful jewellery. The sea glass is picked up straight from a Cornish beach and crafted into something truly beautiful by the lovely, Emma. Mordon Jewellery began in February 2019 after Emma’s sea glass collection and creativity merged. Prices start from just £5 and each piece comes with a little hand-written note including information on where the glass was found.
“I started making jewellery because I wanted to make something natural and beautiful that everyone could afford. Something personal and handmade that wasn't going to take months to save up for. Like everyone, I understand how hard it can be to save for the special things and I wanted to give people the option to buy local and support independent businesses without feeling as though they need to spend a large amount of money. Items that compete with the high street prices but with a handmade, local quality” - Emma Coster, founder of Mordon Jewels
I’m absolutely in love with Emma’s jewellery and I adore that she includes a written note with details about the sea glass. Contact Emma and shop the latest via her Instagram page @mordonjewels.
Delicious Gin Supporting Conservation Charity - Land of Saints Gin
Mike and Sue Bearcroft are the wonderful couple behind Land of Saints gin, a non-profit gin produced in partnership with Fauna and Flora International, the world’s oldest conservation charity. For every bottle sold, a minimum of 50p will be donated to the charity. Over time, Fauna and Flora have been able to take action, set up groundbreaking conservation projects and ensure a future for vulnerable species.
A unique, natural blend of thirteen organic botanicals were produced with help from their distillers and a panel of tasters from the gin trade and general public. Distilled with pure Cornish water, natural organic grain and juniper berries; the organic botanicals also included are (and not limited to) coriander seeds, cardamom pods, pink peppercorns, ginger root, dried rose buds, hyssop, orange peel, camomile, violet leaves, blueberries, nutmeg and orris root.
Buy Land of Saints Gin now.
Small Thoughtful Messages - Nyassa Hinde Cards
The perfect way to post out love to your friends and family this Christmas with a cosy Cornish scene based on the Mousehole Harbour Christmas Lights, and ice skating in a winter wonderland. These cards feature designs painted with intricate details (spot the fox sneaking through the snow!) and are printed on high-quality paper and are blank on the inside with lots of room for heartfelt messages and last minute scribbles.
“I started running my little business while I was still studying Illustration at University, selling some highly questionable prints and cards at local arts fairs. Most of the things I sold back then were just silly scribbles taken from my sketchbook, but I’ve learnt a lot in the three years since then and the products I sell now definitely have a much better thought process behind them, and of course a lot of painting practice. I now make and sell all cards and prints for all occasions, alongside brightly coloured, handmade earrings.” Nyassa Hinde
We need to bring cards back into fashion! I genuinely believe that Nyassa can do that. Nyassa was kind enough to send me some of her gorgeous cards (along with some beautiful festive earrings!) and I can’t wait to send them to my family this year. Personally, I think that written notes/cards add a personal touch to any gift. It’s the little things that count!
Find Nyassa at nyassahindeillustration.com or @nyassahindeillustration on instagram and purchase her illustrations here.
Cornish Photography - Sandbox Studios
What better gift this Christmas than a limited edition fine art print of their favourite Cornish beach or rugged coastline? Sandbox Studios are an online art gallery selling prints and artwork of the Cornish coast, founded by photographer Jack Hopkins. Jack has developed his own style and love for photography over the years exploring the beaches, caves and coves of our county’s unique coastline.
From St Ives, Perranuthnoe, Godrevy, Newquay, St Michael’s Mount and many more, you can find artwork from some of the county’s most popular beaches and towns.
Every print is signed and numbered for authentication. Printed on fujicolour fine art lustre paper ensures a high quality finish, with every print being individually spot checked before going out for delivery.
If you’re stuck for gift ideas this Christmas then be stuck no more, a fine art print of their favourite beach from Sandbox Studios is the perfect gift with a personal touch, after all who doesn’t want a print of their favourite Cornish beach in their home?
Personally, I absolutely adore Jack’s prints. There are many photographers in Cornwall but Jack’s style is incredibly unique, and is genuinely one of my favourite Cornish photographers (hence why I asked if he’d like to feature in this list!)
Buy Jack’s prints here.
The Cornish Coast Calendar 2020 - Henry GV Photography
It’s almost that time of year again! December is the month of the new calendar. Every Christmas I receive a new calendar and diary, ready for the new year. Could there be anything better than importing your dates and reminders next to a beautiful photo of the Cornish coast? I think not!
Photographer Henry from Falmouth has curated a 2020 calendar which includes the very best Cornish coast photographs from his portfolio. Celebrate each month of the year with a beautiful view of the Cornish Coastline, with photographs of Cornwall's stunning beaches and cliffs for every month right up until January 2021.
“I am a photographer based in Falmouth, specialising in natural history and lifestyle images. I graduated from Marine & Natural History Photography at Falmouth University last year, and have since been expanding my portfolio and working with artists, creatives and local businesses, to create content for their websites and social medias.” - Henry GV creator of The Cornish Coast Calendar 2020
Pick up your 2020 calendar here. Explore Henry’s website here.
Adopt a Seal - The Cornish Seal Sanctuary
Each season, the Cornish Seal Sanctuary rehabilitates over 70 seal pups rescued from around the Cornish coastline. Explore behind the scenes at the heart of marine rescue in Cornwall’s only working Seal Hospital.
Seal pups cost on average £2000 to go through rehabilitation – and this doesn’t include those that require special care, such as Ted who came to us with a broken jaw and needed surgery or Harry who was so entangled in netting his wounds were life threatening. Pups such as these need more care and this can be pricey – we had 86 rescues during the 2017/18 season, and the costs add up!
You can help support the wellbeing of the amazing animals here at The Cornish Seal Sanctuary by purchasing one of our animal adoptions.
An animal adoption includes:
2 free entries to the sanctuary
20% voucher for the Cafe or Gift shop
Certificate of adoption
Cornish Seal Sanctuary gift
Photograph of your adopted animal
Profile of your adopted animal
Presentation folder
Adopt a resident Animal/Seal Pup for £40.00 or £50 for a plaque that will be up at the Sanctuary for 5 years.
To purchase an adoption, simply call the Cornish Seal Sanctuary on 01326 221 361 or purchase your adoption pack during your visit!
Foodie Hamper - The Cornish Larder
On the search for a Christmas gift for a foodie? Why not create a hamper full of Cornish goodies? The Cornish Larder offers several foodie products that have been made collaboratively with local alcohol companies. Seriously guys, what more could you want!?
The Cornish Larder began life in 2018 by young Cornish Chef, Jake Kendall. Whether it’s selling products in local shops or hosting dinner clubs, it always relates back to our core vision, to celebrate Cornish food & drink.
“You'll be able to purchase our products from selected Cornish deli's, farmshops, our website and various food festivals across the county. We create delicious preserves in which we incorporate other local produce. A real celebration of Cornish food & drink. Our flavours include Spiced apple & St Ives cider chutney, Beetroot & Cornish Mead relish and Orange & Tarquin's gin marmalade.” Jake Kendall, founder of The Cornish Larder
You can buy The Cornish Larder products here. I also attended The Cornish Larder’s event, Taste of Cornwall recently, read the post here.
Botanical Sparkling Wine - Floreat Wines
Pioneering a new category of sophisticated sparkling wines, Floreat Wines (5.4% ABV) contains botanicals with benefits that range from anti-oxidants to cell regeneration for hair, nails, and skin, to stress relief. Floreat’s botanical set offers an appealing and modern flavour profile that simultaneously actions a broad range of desired benefits. Perfectly placed in gold and black packaging, the Floreat glass bottle is something worth a display. With a classy look, the bottle oozes sophistication, perfect as a thoughtful gift for the bold and health-conscious woman who loves her fizz.
Floreat creatively challenges standards to introduce a new, lower alcohol wine that optimizes socializing while unveiling the often-overlooked therapeutic benefits of herbs. Floreat can be purchased at www.floreatwines.com for £26 per bottle.
Buy Floreat Wines now.
