Unusual Irish Christmas Gift Ideas 2020

A great collection of handmade lamps, lampshades and cushions to help to brighten up your day during these darker months! The quirky patterns are really beautifully designed and made by Jade & Jo in their Cork studio. If you are looking for something light and cheerful to bring a smile to a face then this is the place for you!  (They also have a great selection of greetings cards too!)

The work of Tamaru Hunt-Joshi would make a wonderful addition to any home. My current favourites are her collection of raku bird sculptures, though she also creates stunning botanical prints in clay which are also extremely striking. Each piece is handmade and totally unique, what is not to love? Go and have a look for yourself!

A gift you may not have considered this year is a bunch of flowers from Soah Flowers in Kilkenny. We have a lot of Irish flower farmers who are usually really busy at this time of year with weddings and events in full swing, but as we know this year is going to be difficult for them. Nothing can beat an amazing bouquet being delivered to your door and the arrangements put together by these guys are beautiful! 

Soah are also offering ‘Keeper Flowers’ this year which is a colourful bouquet of dried flowers which are really beautiful and will brighten up any room for the winter months. I love the yellow bouquet pictured here.

Thin Line produces a collection of 3D laser cut maps layering beautifully etched pieces of birch wood to illustrate the depths of the Irish coastline. Each piece is beautifully presented in a frame. With prices around €300 for most pieces they would make a beautiful present for anyone, particularly someone missing home this year!

I found this bookshop last year as I was walking to visit some friends on a trip to Dublin, needless to say, I was late to visit my friends. They stock an amazing selection of children’s books and have great new authors alongside all the classics such as Richard Scarry, Beatrix Potter and Winnie the Pooh!

They also stock a fabulous selection of prints of illustrations including, Alice in Wonderland, Carll Cneut and Jon Klassen. The only problem is, I am currently still trying to decide which one I want first…

For anyone, like myself, who adores the colours of the Irish landscape or for someone who might be missing home this year Caóilfíonn’s landscape textiles are like a big hug from home!

Caóilfíonn is based in the North East of Ireland and works in wool and silks to create beautiful landscapes in vibrant colours. She offers commission work but also offers a very affordable range of prints of her work. Definitely worth checking out!

For an affordable and unusual gift Air Plants Ireland might be for you. Susi creates contemporary and unique air plant displays in Galway. Air plants have come back into fashion over the last number of years, but Susi’s creations go further than that. When you buy from her, you are no longer buying a plant, it is a living piece of art, quirky and fun. The jellyfish are my favourite!

Cards that will make everyone laugh? I think that could be just what the doctor ordered this year! These hilarious cards are designed by Aoife, and most are priced at about €3.50 which is very affordable. 

For a lot of us Christmas is an occasion that brightens up the darkest month of the year, a time for parties and get-togethers, eating and laughing. This year we hope to be able to have small gatherings but to receive a thoughtful card from friends and family you cannot see will mean more than ever.

Rowena is based in Co. Clare and makes geometric jewellery out of sustainably sourced timber. She only uses salvaged wood felled through storm damage, land clearance or general maintenance. The timber must then be left to dry for a number of years before Rowena begins to create her work. For me, this makes the jewellery really special as each piece has a history, you are buying something really old! To read more about the fascinating process or to look at her collection of work check out her website!

Last but not least, I have chosen something completely different! Kiki’s work is extremely vibrant, bursting with happiness and fun. Everyone has been spending a lot more time at home and that isn’t going to change any time soon. Kiki’s work will totally change the mood of a room whether you go for her abstract colourful pieces or her animal art, each piece has it’s own story and will bring your room to life and make it a happier place to be! You can choose from a range of original artworks or prints on her website with prices starting at €80 for prints there is something for everyone.