It’s November, and for me (a Christmas lover) that means Christmas shopping will soon be in full swing. From the best toys of the year for the kids to the best tech gifts for the grown-ups it won’t be long until our highstreets, shopping centres and top e-commerce websites will be buzzing with busy shoppers.
I have come to realise that whereas in years gone by what mattered was buying as many gifts as possible to show my friends and family how much they mean to me, as I have gotten older I have come to the decision that fewer, more personal or precious gifts mean more and are longer lived. One gift that encompasses all these is jewellery.
This year I was offered the chance to select some lovely items of jewellery from award-winning Carrie Elspeth. Carrie began creating beautifully handmade jewellery in South Wales in 1999, and now is a leading supplier to independent gift shops across the UK and beyond, Carrie Elspeth operates from a studio warehouse on the outskirts of Cowbridge in Llandow.
Handmade in South Wales by Carrie and her small team of jewellery experts, she creates gorgeous necklaces, bracelets and earrings using the finest beads and materials, which Carrie herself sources from around the globe. They make such a super gift for all ages and come beautifully packaged. Carrie Elspeth won the Gift of the Year award in 2021 and their creed is that jewellery should always mean more than just beauty.
Being the generous human being that I am I decided to pick out an item for each of my closest friends (and something for myself) from the colourful range found on the Carrie Elspeth website. With a stunning choice of beads (recycled glass beads sustainably manufactured in the Czech Republic, resin, acrylic, semi-precious gemstones or even ethically sourced shells) which are handcrafted into stunning pieces and finished with 925 sterling silver clasps, catches and hooks it took some time to pick out the perfect gifts for my friends. These are what I settled on:
Ceramic Dots Necklace
This is a fun bubbly, bright necklace made with ceramic discs which are both bold and strong in colour, making a festive and cheerful accessory. Celebrate love of confident colour with this incredible necklace.
Spectrum Deco Links Necklace
Czech glass beads and miniature silver-plated cubes are mixed to form this minimal, elegant and eye catching design.
Enamel Heart Studs
These earrings are formed from 24k gold plated enamel heart studs. They are available in 12 different colours and will add a pop of colour to any outfit. Made with Titanium posts, they look great but are also kind to ears.
Seren Bracelet
This bracelet was my pick for myself, I really love the subtle festive design perfect for the Christmas season. Seren means star in Welsh and the metallic finished haematite bracelet really does shine like a star and sparkles in the light.
Spectrum Tablet Spaced Necklace
The spacing of these haematite beads makes this necklace stand out from the crowd, offering it’s wearer a little bit of je nais se quois at the Christmas party.
I love that there is a dedication to the environment with a sustainable range that uses recycled glass beads, made from old glass bottles, jars and other used glass products that would otherwise end up in landfill.
Not only are all the pieces from Carrie Elspeth lovingly handcrafted and of top-notch quality materials but they really allow each person to choose an item which represents their personality. So if you’re stuck for ideas for gifts this Christmas I think any jewellery from Carrie Elspeth would make for a fantastic festive surprise.
