Shopping for someone who loves to spend time in their kitchen, and who takes pride in using beautiful kitchenware? You’re in the right place! There are no complicated gadgets here – I’ll leave that to the experts elsewhere. Instead I’ve pulled together a list of simple, soulful, handcrafted pieces that are a pleasure to use; things that I think would make perfect housewarming, birthday or Christmas gifts this year.
And with Christmas in mind, I’ve picked out a few smaller items that I reckon would make brilliant stocking fillers for grown ups, too!
When I’m choosing products for the shop, I look for things that are timeless; things the gift recipient will want to keep forever. Nothing throwaway. As always at Land Tales, all of these gifts are made in small batches by talented craftspeople all around the UK.
So let’s dive into my round up of favourite items to add handcrafted, stylish charm to the kitchen this year.
1. Hand-made Brown Oak Spoon
Find it here: Selwyn House Brown Oak Spoon
First up, this perfectly proportioned cooking spoon that's always a hit with Land Tales customers.
Working from their workshop in Northamptonshire, husband-and-wife team Sean and Ellie of Selwyn House craft these long, slender cooking spoons from rich British brown oak. Sustainably harvested timber and skilfully turned, the natural grain and warmth of the wood make this a kitchen tool that feels good in the hand.
I especially love the clean, minimalist design and shape of the spoon, with its perfectly circular scoop and long handle.
For a gorgeous gift combining pottery and wood, pair it with…
2. Stoneware Spoon Rest
Find it here: Stoneware Spoon Rest
A spoon rest is a little luxury for the kitchen side – somewhere to pop your cooking spoon between stirs, to avoid spills and stains on your worktop. When not in use, these beautiful spoon rests made by Florence Ceramics are something you’ll want to keep on display on the countertop.
Florence makes them on the potter’s wheel in her Bristol studio, and glazes them in her classic “oatmeal” glaze which is a lovely warm off white that suits any style of kitchen from traditional to contemporary.
These spoon rests were a bestseller last Christmas and I have a feeling they’ll be popular again this year as they’re such a sweet, thoughtful pottery gift.
3. Handmade Butter Dish
Find it here: Florence Ceramics Butter Dish
Another very popular piece from Florence Ceramics that gets a lot of love from Land Tales customers, and it's easy to see why! Hand-thrown from stoneware clay with a lovely swirled base and neat handle on top, this is a special piece of pottery for the kitchen. It’s almost sculptural in appearance - you’ll want to keep it on your table or worktop all the time.
Just like the spoon rests, it’s glazed in Oatmeal, a warm, goes-with-anything off-white.
Oh, and the best bit? It comfortably holds a 250g block of butter. Hooray!
4. Weekend Recipes Cookbook by Jess Elliott Dennison
Find it here: Weekend Recipes Cookbook
This lovely cookbook deserves a home on any kitchen shelf – and you’ll be reaching for it often to try out Jess’s joyful weekend recipes. Created, designed, photographed in her Edinburgh studio, and printed by a family-run business in Wales, this is a beautifully produced cookbook that is full of soul.
5. Brown Oak Flour Scoop
Find it here: Brown Oak Flour Scoop
This one’s for the bakers! I’m a huge fan of this gorgeous scoop that’s crafted from richly-toned British brown oak.
Selwyn House have carved a perfectly rounded scoop with a well-proportioned little handle. It’s designed to be the ideal size to scoop flour from Kilner jars. And when not in use, it’s a beautiful piece of kitchenware you’ll want to keep out on display.
6. Ceramic lemon squeezer
Find it here: Lemon Squeezer
I love the nostalgic look and feel of this lemon squeezer that’s handmade in Leeds by ceramicist Hannah Burgess. The umber glaze gives it a lovely, timeless feel that would suit a traditional or country kitchen.
Whereas lemon squeezers are usually made from plastic or metal, this ceramic version is a unique and stylish Christmas gift.
7. Handmade Ceramic Egg Holder
Find it here: Ceramic Egg Holder made by Eleanor Torbati 
I love the fun, wavy shape of this ceramic egg holder! It could be placed on the kitchen side to store eggs ready for baking, or on the breakfast table to serve boiled eggs.
Talented ceramicist Eleanor Torbati makes these egg holders in her Norwich studio, using stoneware clay and a glossy pale glaze, and each one is stamped on the base with her maker’s mark to show that it's an artisan, handcrafted gift.
8. Handmade Ceramic Oil Bottle
Find it here: Ceramic Oil Bottle by Clare Spindler (Oatmeal) 
A gorgeous gift to keep on your kitchen side or to add to a feasting table, these stoneware oil bottles are perfect for pouring olive oil.
Thrown and glazed in East London by Clare Spindler, each bottle features a minimalist profile, soft oatmeal glaze, and a detachable spout for pouring.
Where to head next:
> Want more gift ideas? Head to our Guide to Beautiful Gifts Made in the UK to find plenty of inspiration for good gifts made all around the country.
> Love handmade pottery? Check out our full range of ceramics here including mugs, jugs, pasta bowls, soap dishes and more.
> Shopping on a budget? Check out our Gifts Under £15 or Gifts under £30 collections, filled with thoughtful gifts at gentle prices.
Why shop from Land Tales?
I created Land Tales as a place where you can find beautiful things made all around the UK, to help celebrate and support some of the brilliant makers all around the country. I select products that I think would make great gifts all year round, to help make the gift buying process easy and perhaps even enjoyable! Our range celebrates:
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Tactile beauty: The feel of natural timber, the texture of hand-thrown clay, the way an artisan finish adds character.
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Soulful design: Beautiful things made by craftspeople and small-batch producers in the UK, made with skill and care.
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Sustainability and small-batch production: Products made using sustainable materials, crafted in small workshops and studios.
- Unique gifts that tell a story: Distinctive, high quality, “keep-forever” gifts, that the recipient will love and use for years to come.
How to shop and gift with ease
- Once you've chosen your gift, it's easy to add gift wrapping if you'd like us to handle the finishing touches
- We have gift cards available if you'd prefer to let the recipient choose from our full range of products.
- We send your order from our Walthamstow (London) studio, using plastic free packaging that's already been recycled where possible. We can send it straight to the recipient if you like - just add their name and address in the shipping details at checkout.
- If you need any help choosing a gift, you’re always welcome to get in touch with Hannah at hello@landtales.co.uk
