Introducing brand new personalised Christmas baubles, sharing my work with Ingenious Gifts handmade marketplace, and what’s coming next in my calligraphy studio.
I’ve been a busy bee these last few months, and I have so much to share. My desk has been filled with calligraphy poem commissions and wedding orders – and all of a sudden, I’m staring down the barrel of a big box of Christmas baubles, all ready to write. How is it September? How is it nearly NOT September any more?
It’s launch week for my brand new hand lettered Christmas baubles. I have two boxes just waiting to be written on – and some new designs to share.
For years I’ve been wanting to sell white baubles with gold lettering – and this year I’ve found the right combination of metallic gold ink, a simple lettering style and cute ribbon to make them work. They’re not calligraphy baubles – there’s a difference between lettering and calligraphy – but they’re still written with love and will make lovely keepsakes.
Why handwritten baubles make the loveliest Christmas keepsakes
I’m sure you can buy baubles on Amazon for a pound, and the same on Temu and Shein for pennies. But I think we’re all tired of cheap tat and throwaway plastic, aren’t we? There’s a shift online – I’ve spotted it across my socials and on the platforms I subscribe to – towards Christmas keepsakes, crafted with love.
My baubles are painted by hand. I choose the background colour, I paint the leaves with a tiny watercolour brush, and I write every name slowly, carefully and with attention to detail.
And that’s really special – choosing a gift you know will be made with love, just for you. You can always tell the difference.
I’m proud to make personalised baubles people give as gifts, knowing they’ll be tucked away carefully in January and brought out again the next year, and the next, as little treasures from a loved one.
They’re made to last, and that’s better for the environment than replacing your tree decorations every year.
I avoid plastic: every bauble I make is ceramic, and packaged in soft tissue and a personalised paper gift box. Even my outer packaging’s plastic-free (my cat keeps finding and nibbling the corn starch packing peanuts I stuff the boxes with!) and I only ever use paper parcel tape. We have a planet to save, people!
Oh, and if you’re adding to your collection, all of the personalised baubles I sold last year are still available – find a selection of Christmas baubles in my Not On The High St shop, and more colourful baubles on Etsy.
I would love it if you’d buy my Christmas name baubles from Ingenious Gifts.
Of all the UK marketplaces for craft sellers, this is my favourite. It’s a growing platform, with a handful of curated sellers, and it was launched a couple of years ago in the Cambridgeshire area. Founder Andrew has been pouring his heart and soul into growing Ingenious Gifts and supporting independent makers.
Why I’m supporting Ingenious Gifts – the handmade gifts marketplace with more heart than most
In the summer, I left a comment on one of Ingenious Gifts’ YouTube videos. It was a brave and honest interview with Popsy Jewellery Design – where Poppy makes jewellery with hidden messages in morse code.
That little comment led to a chat with Andrew, and we shared a commitment to supporting independent businesses online – so much of what Andrew’s doing is similar to my work at English Wedding (a publishing platform for UK wedding suppliers).
A couple of months later, and Andrew came up to Cumbria so we could film some content around calligraphy and resilience as a handmade business owner. It was a brilliant experience – as simple (and as fun) as talking to a friend, and sharing all the background and behind-the-scenes stories of my little calligraphy business.
Featured in Made By Magazine – Autumn/Winter 2026 issue
And then this morning, Made By Magazine dropped. With me on the cover (showing off my newest tattoo, which I adore!) – and it’s a crazy, bizarre thing to see: I’m 50 years old this year (we call it Level 50 now) and over the moon to see that my story feels worth sharing like this.
I really hope other makers will see it and sign up with Ingenious Gifts and Made By Magazine. Supporting independent platforms which genuinely care (while some major platforms are dropping small craftspeople like hotcakes) really matters.
Christmas calligraphy workshop in November – Quirky Workshops, Greystoke (Cumbria)
Oh! Before I sign off (she said, like my grandma used to end her letters to me when I was at school) I have a handful of places left at my Christmas calligraphy workshop in November. It will be LOVELY – my favourite class of the year, and at my favourite crafts venue in Cumbria – Quirky Workshops.
We’ll be writing gift tags in softly shining metallic inks, playing with colourful papers and festive doodles, and learning all the Christmas calligraphy skills for our letters to Santa, and to pimp our presents for under the tree!
Here’s where to buy your tickets for the Christmas calligraphy workshop this year.
Anyway – my baubles shop is open. Come see!