One of a kind: London's best festive open studios and workshops for unique one-off Christmas presents

Not normally open to the public, many of the capital’s workshops hold Christmas open studios when you can meet the makers, commission gifts and find unusual one-offs not available on the high street or online.
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Corinne Julius17 November 2017

Finding that special present need not be difficult. Many of the capital’s craft workshops hold Christmas open studios with handmade decorations, mulled wine, mince pies and the chance to buy unusual, intriguing one-off gifts not available on the high street or online.

Meet the makers, commission gifts, browse or buy special-offer items and explore workshops and studios not normally open to the public.

November 23 to Christmas Eve at 62-66 Bermondsey Street, SE1. Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 11am to 5pm

£450: Klimt Circle of Hope by Peter Layton at London Glassblowing

Sumptuously coloured glass vessels and decorations by Peter Layton and colleagues will delight. Makers blow glass daily on site, with a special exhibition day on December 4.

November 24-26 at 110-116 Kingsgate Road, West Hampstead NW6. Friday 6pm to 9pm, Saturday noon to 9pm, Sunday noon to 6pm

Potters, silversmiths and artists in this historic Victorian warehouse include Angela Cork and Nan Nan Liu, whose silver was recently shown at the V&A, and ceramicists Deborah Jaffé and Daphne Carnegy. Freya Bramble, a contestant in BBC2’s The Great Pottery Throw Down, will serve mulled wine in limited-edition mugs for sale.

November 23-26 at The Clerkenwell Gallery, 20 Clerkenwell Green, EC1. Thursday and Friday noon to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday noon to 5pm (cosmima.co.uk)

Silver goodies here include vessels patinated in blues, greens and browns by Rebecca de Quin and vases striped in blues and greens by Scottish silversmith Hazel Thorn. In jewellery, find Jessica Turrell’s enamels and Kathie Murphy’s beautifully coloured resin.

November 23-26 at Farleigh Place, N16. Friday 4.30pm to 9pm, Sat and Sun 11am to 6pm

£35: Helen Rawlinson’s Panama cotton cushion at The Chocolate Factory

Striking functional ceramics by Jo Davies, Susan Nemeth and Akiko Hirai are here in Stokey, plus glass by Michèle Oberdieck, contemporary jewellery by Lina Peterson and interior textiles from Deborah Colman.

CRAFT CENTRAL WINTER MARKET

November 24-26 at The Forge, 397-411 Westferry Road, Isle of Dogs E14. Friday 5pm to 8pm, Saturday 11am to 6pm, Sunday 11am to 5pm

The first Winter Market in Craft Central’s new home, a converted 19th-century Victorian forge, features home accessories, fashion and jewellery. Find porcelain by Tamsin Arrowsmith-Brown, platters patterned with modernist buildings by People Will Always Need Plates and Sato Hisao’s paper pop-ups.

COCKPIT ARTS CHRISTMAS OPEN STUDIOS, OVER TWO VENUES

November 23-26, Northington Street, Holborn WC1. Thursday 6pm to 9pm, Friday to Sunday 11am to 6pm. Tickets bought on the door in Holborn, £6, also include entry to Cockpit Arts Deptford. Tickets in advance, £5, include entry to both sites.

A good mix of ceramics, textiles and jewellery, with textured ceramics by Helen Johannessen and vessels encrusted with porcelain flowers by Vanessa Hogge.

December 1-3 at 18-22 Creekside, SE8. Friday 11am to 9pm, Sat and Sun 11am to 6pm. Tickets £4. Friday free entry from 11am to 2pm

£2,300: Katharine Morling’s 45cm-long Strange Cargo train in porcelain with black stain at Cockpit Arts Deptford

Exciting craftwork on offer here includes small silver bowls by Adele Brereton, glass by Shelley James, ceramics by Anja Lubach and delightful, playful ceramic sculptures by Katharine Morling.

December 1-3, Clements, Iliffe and Peacock Yards in Iliffe and Crampton Streets, SE17. Friday 6pm-9.30pm, Saturday 10am-9.30pm, Sunday 10am-5pm

A mix of ceramics, glass and metals with fashion accessories, jewellery and art thrown in. There’s Rimmington Vian glass, pewter platters and vessels by Gordon W Robertson, ceramics by Daniel Reynolds and lovely jewellery by Hidemi Asano.

December 1-3 at 36-38 Peckham Road, SE5. Opening 11am to 5pm daily (020 7701 2940)

A must for ceramics fans, with work by Chris Keenan, Carina Ciscato, Sun Kim, Kaori Tatebayashi and Robert Cooper.

December 2-3, Balls Pond Studio, 8b Culford Mews, N1. Open 11am to 7pm

Celebrated ceramicist and judge on The Great Pottery Throw Down, Kate Malone’s annual open studio weekend is the only time her work is for sale other than through her dealer. Also on sale are works by Anna Barlow, Miray Mehmet Fontanelli, Erika Albrecht and Malone’s Great Pottery Throw Down colleague Rich Miller of Froyle Tiles. All the makers are contributing a piece as prizes for a charity raffle in aid of Clay College in Stoke, of which Malone is a patron.

December 2, Mary Ward House, 5-7 Tavistock Street, WC1. Open 11am to 5pm, tickets £5

Products from £5 to £500 include Japanese shibori textiles by Romor Designs and monochrome cushions and blankets knitted from Yorkshire-spun Merino wool by Rose B Brown.

December 5-9 at 24 Lloyd Baker Street (corner with Amwell Street), WC1. Tuesday-Friday 10.30am to 5.30pm, Saturday 11am to 6pm

Christmas sample and seconds sale features throws and cushions, silk and cashmere scarves, plus woollen items.

December 8-10 at RCA, Jay Mews entrance, Kensington Gore, SW7. Open noon to 8pm, Sunday 2pm to 6pm

Current students and alumni sell fascinating pieces. Seize the chance to buy work from emerging stars.

December 8-10 at 38 Southwell Road, SE5. Friday 6pm to 9pm, Sat and Sun noon to 6pm

For anyone who fancies a tie like TV news anchor Jon Snow’s, or has seen his show Colour is my Brand at the Design Museum, this is the home of his tiemaker-in-chief Victoria Richards. Also find ceramics, hats and textiles here.

December 14-17, The Carriage Ramp at Deptford Market Yard, SE8. Thursday 6pm to 9pm, Fri and Sat 10am to 6pm, Sun 11am-5pm

From £22: large Offcut tray and dishes by Sebastian Cox at Designer Maker Xmas Fair

Furniture designer Sebastian Cox and friends will be selling a range of products including pieces from Cox’s Underwood and Offcut collections. Plus workshops.

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