If you are looking for an unusual Christmas gift or present for a baby, child or parent seek out work by some of South East London’s talented designer makers. Lawrence Roullier White discovers just some of the extraordinary talent on offer.
Felt ball filled wooden letters, £25, By Anja Dreyer in East Dulwich, etsy.com/uk/shop/hoppsydaisy
Santa Baby card, £3.50, made by Clare Faulkner in Upper Sydenham, smalldots.co.uk
It’s Twins, one of a collection of glorious handmade cards with a doggy theme, £3, by Joy Fitzsimmons in Herne Hill, londonpooch.co.uk
Not with an SE postcode, but so deserving of a mention, these adorable heirloom alphabet quilts, £155, are handmade by prisoners in Brixton Prison as part of Fine Cell Work’s admirable initiative to create paid employment and impart life skills, finecellwork.co.uk
Personalised brownie boxes, ‘It’s A Boy’ pictured, £20.50, baked by Suzie Godfrey in East Dulwich, thesweetreasoncompany.co.uk
We all want one of these! Soft toys (and water bottles), from around £25, handmade by Terri Leahy in Forest Hill and her workshop in Cockpit Arts in Deptford, terrileahy.co.uk
Personalised pure merino wool baby blanket, £120, knitted in a wide range of colours by Sarah Moore in Forest Hill, smallflame.co.uk
MiPad dolls’ houses are the types of abode of which dreams are made, and they are made by Elaine Shaw in Brockley. Collect them floor-by-floor, from £180 plus delivery, miaimminiatures.com
The absolutely perfect stocking filler, bobby horses, £22.50, made in Forest Hill by Angela Tobin, etsy.com/shop/thisiswiss
Personalised circus name prints, £25, printed by Kay Vincent in Peckham, ketchuponeverything.co.uk
Helen Walters designs practical, wearable and robust babywear in West Dulwich. We are loving her signature baggy baby harem pants, £12, shmuncki.com
Childs unisex ‘baggy trousers’ using fabric sourced from Nigeria, £20, handsewn by Madeleine Famurewa – etsy.com/shop/LittlePrintsClothing
Vintage style romper, £40, part of a collection of beautiful handmade children’s clothes by Hannah Whitham in Sydenham, etsy.com/uk/shop/youaresmall
These educational, portable, no-mess craft kits, £11.99, made by Michelle Wiseman in Catford, support early learning in a fun and creative way for ages 3 -7 yrs. Four themes; dinosaurs, sea life, farm life and zoo life, littlegeniuscrafts.com
Lawrence Roullier White writes Gift Guides for all issues of SE Magazines.
www.roullierwhite.com @RoullierWhite
This feature first appeared in the November 2015 issues of SE21, SE22 and SE23 magazine.