St Clement Danes Christmas Market has earned itself a reputation for being one of the best early Christmas shopping experiences around. But this year (29 Nov) looks to be the best yet. The PA committee felt that the school event needed a fresh lease of life and enlisted Katherine Foot of Little Fox Market to pull together an eclectic bunch of makers of gifts, homewares, garments, jewellery, floral décor, edibles and more. And she knows some of the best creatives for miles around ! The expertise and inspiration the stallholders have between them is impressive and everybody’s merchandise had to meet Katherine’s usual high standards before they were allowed to sign up. As well as market stalls there’s a raffle, hands–on workshops (cookery, pottery and wreath making), face painting and a Virtual Wardrobe (a special styling experience /makeover-come-photoshoot) which is predicted to be a hit, especially with the girls.
You can easily make it a full on shop-till-you-drop day – there’ll be refreshments and eats to keep energy topped up. And to get you in the Christmas mood, the Junior school choir will be singing classics and festive favourites led by Head of Music Anna Stevens.
Glow Beads
Katherine Foot started her company when she brought an iridescent beaded bracelet back from a honeymoon trip to Sydney ten years ago and they were so admired by friends she eventually found a stockist of loose beads and launched the Glowbeads business. “They make me happy! The Glow bracelets are most popular. The shimmer sparkle range is a good choice for Christmas parties and presents! ”
Glow bracelets, £12. Shimmer bracelets, £24.99.
The Dirt Creative
With merchandise as appealing as their name, The Dirt Creative was started by Leanne – Jay and partner Antony because they both suffer skin allergies.
“ Every soap, even mainstream soaps, are made up of detergents that we react to so we started making our own using traditional techniques. Friends loved the product and we now make an entire range from our garden studio. We grow a lot of the flowers and herbs ourselves and hand dry them”
Soaps, candles, bath salts, wax melts. From £3.50 – £7 . Hampers, £20
Sarah Kelleher Cards
Inspired range of greetings cards, notebooks and coasters by this textile designer, some in neutral tones – black lino cuts on brown paper effect, others in rainbow colours and jolly prints or muted 50s hues. The latest collection featuring watercolour effect flowers is an all round favourite
“ I paint everything by hand first before I work on the computer.”
Great value small gift – coasters £3 each, £10 for 4
A Novel Fold
Emma Young has always been a maker but when she discovered the versatility of creasing book pages to a pattern she was hooked.
“ My friend, an English teacher, had a book themed wedding and I folded their names into page. Then I folded figures and people bought them for anniversaries, births and christenings. I try out new ideas all the time – I am going to glitz edges with glitter and gold for Christmas. Folding is addictive and a book takes me around three hours to do! ”
Priced per fold..5 letter words around £25 – £30 including decorations
The Ridge Candles
Handmade candles made with love by Kim Thompson and daughters Choe and Elyse, both ex SCD
“We all work together in our spare time, each of us have skills in different areas. Chloe and I produce most of the candles. Chloe is responsible for social media and Elyse developed our web page and makes gift bags and is working on hand printed gift wrap.
Our Autumn fragrances are Sea Salt & Wood Sage, Pumpkin Patch and Bayberry. For Christmas we have added Winter Spice, Cedar and Winter Walk plus Whiskey and Leather for men. Our latest addition to the range are candles in copper tins which make perfect Christmas gifts.”
Cate’s Canvases
Cate Berry makes ornate box canvases for the wall from jewels, gems and buttons. It’s just like having the best contents of your jewel box and button jar permanently on display.
“I had the idea of experimenting with gems on canvas after watching a children’s art programme with my son!. Each piece is different and some are personalised. All have some sparkle! The Scottie dog and the humming bird are the most popular designs.’
Prices from £12.50 – £35
Ellsey Bellsey
Gifts and accessories in graphic designs. Homewares come in striking cotton prints while pencil pouches, iPad cases, spec cases and purses are made of melton wool with bold felt appliquéd motifs ranging from taxi cabs to dachsunds and moustaches. Our favourites are the hashtag cushions
“Our red and white polar bear and Westie ranges sell well at Christmas, ipad cases are popular too and the mirrors and embroidered robin and snowman badges make great stocking fillers.”
Prices from £3.50 – £25 Bespoke orders taken
Crafty ideas
Handmade gifts made from reclaimed wood by Barry Lawrence in a tiny workshop at the bottom of his Watford garden. Products include wooden trugs and caddies, trinket and keepsake boxes, coasters, clocks, pencil holders, tealight and candle holders, ipad holders, plant labels, sticky note holders and photo clips. Quality, solid and practical
Hattie Henstitch
The cutest handmade Children’s clothes in delightful cotton prints , including reversible dresses, pinafore dresses and skirts for toddlers to 4 years. Plus adorable Toblerone chunk-shaped lavender filled hens, jolly Christmas bunting and stockings.
All dresses £25, Lavender hens, £2, Stockings from £6, Bunting 9ft for £10
Raw Bites
Tasty and healthy freshly made raw chocolate truffles made by Zuzana from nuts, seed, flax seed, almonds and cashew nut, raw cocoa and coconut oil, all cold pressed. 100% natural Gluten/wheat/dairy free. Vegetarian, Vegan and Diabetic friendly. Expect some festive spicy surprises at the market.
£3.50 for a box of 4 tied with ribbon. Will keep for a month
Sue Cain Aromatherapy
Sue Cain offers a range of all-natural aromatherapy creams, gels and lotions, massage and pampering treatments.
“I have been an aromatherapist for 15 years now! I buy base creams and add essential oils and carrier oils. I can make up gift packs like a hand cream/ foot balm duo (£12) a gardener’s pack of muscle gel, hand scrub and hand cream or a pamper pack of face scrub and face cream. Lavender gels at £4 make perfect small presents or for somebody special there’s a bumper body cream jar at £20.”
Handmade with Love
Fun gifts and home accessories made by Caroline and Gemma. Our pick…. Liberty print and Harris Tweed dog collars, (Bows and bandanas available on request). Vintage puffin book cards and very special seasonal specials like festive cocktail jars, Christmas Eve kits and doggy biscuit reindeers. Witty and wonderful – don’t miss this one. “ Last year reindeer shaped hot choc mix. Collars £12 – £14
Blossom and Bramble
Freelance Florist Emma Vaughan has a distinctive vintage-rustic style and will have a selection of Christmas floral wreaths and must-have table decorations on sale
EXTRAS
* Wreath making with Emily Reid.
* Cookery Workshop with Caroline Byrne who trained as a chef at Leith’s School of Food and Wine
* Pottery workshop with ceramic artist Amanda Toms
* Virtual Wardrobe – Real life ‘photo booth’ Professional Make over – Hair, makeup ( £5 each) and photo shoot in vintage clothes. There will also be a mini nail bar and a reflexologist doing mini reflexology tasters.
* Face Painting with Frankie’s facepaints.. Pro make up artist wit skills for creating all sorts of faces using soft brushes and child friendly easily removable paints.
*BBQ Crepe Heaven, Mulled Wine
* Christmas Café
* e Raffle – Buy tickets online at scdpaevents.co.uk/raffle beforehand ( from 9 Nov) Prizes include a laptop, a Family Photo session and cash prizes
* Bottle tombola ( drop donations at Chorleywood Sports and Sewell and Gardner)
All workshops should be booked online in advance and paid for at ericabendall@btinternet.com
“Last year we raised nearly £7000” says Erica Bendall of the PTA, “We are looking to beat it this year! We are lucky to have Sewell and Gardner sponsoring signage and the support of Barclays Bank who for the last seven years have match- funded money raised and are doing it again! We would love another local company to follow suit.“
St Clement Danes Christmas Market, Sun 29 Nov.