gc christmas market friends
Our global network of friends includes artists and makers of all kinds.
Here is our pick of talented creators we think are worth supporting.
Artist first and tour guide second, Stacy lives and works in Venice. Her contemporary artworks have been shown in the US and Europe. You can purchase prints and original work through Saatchi, or contact Stacy directly for custom work.
helen houston
Daughter-in-law of GC member Helen Houston, Helen is a brilliant knitter and textile designer, and she sells her designs online.
Reffel specialises in hand knitted Fair Isle hats and headbands, and other sewn textile accessories.
Inspired by nature and the colours all around.
Heritage of Shetland knitters
Reffel uses natural fibres for sustainability and heritage;
Each textile item is uniquely created for you
Coral is a well known food writer and runs a food tour company based in Florence. Through her website, Curious Appetite, she sells food boxes, virtual food experiences, and more.
john gormsen
The painter John Gormsen has an art gallery and a design shop in Avignon, France, where he exhibits and sells his own beautiful creations – for instance his small framed art works using precious metals – and a selection of different high quality design objects, like the very elegant candle holders in stainless steel or glass.
Because of John Gormsens's Scandinavian background you can right now find the charming Christmas «nisser», that are manual manufactured in Sweden. Any household should have these nisser to create a real Christmassy ambiance, and according to traditions, if you take good care of them, these Nisser will protect you against evill spirits!
Moulin de Barbentane
Jean Roch Ollier is the owner of the Moulin de Barbentane in Provence, where he makes the finest olive oil and many other products made with local olives. With his large knowledge and his immense passion, he decided to relaunch the tradition of the production of olive oil in 2009 in the village Barbentane, where the last olive oil mill had closed in 1941. The mill's AOC Provence olive oil has received several awards, and the mill is known for the oil made with a local olive variety called «Broutignan», and also the olive oil with sweet Corsican citron.
In the online shop, you can find the different olive oils, and also a large choice of high quality products like cosmetics made with olive oil, tapenade, typical Provence biscuits, nougat, fruit and flower syrups, «fleur de sel» salt and rice from Camargue, books.
scottish makers
GC Member Susan Brown recommends these artists for Scottish handmade goods:
Yvonne Macrae of Tartan Creations makes the most beautiful double sided scarves and ponchos from different plaids (tartans), tweeds and velvets and sometimes silk, including some tweeds and tartans that she has designed herself.
Marj Tait of Highland Celtic Art – offers a wide range of Celtic art colouring books, prints, Christmas decorations, calendars, cards, coaters, tiles and other gifts via her Etsy shop.
Heather at Loch Ness Leather – Heather is a second generation leathersmith and makes belts, handbags and accessories at their small family business on Loch Ness.
James macletchie
Photographic images by James Macletchie, photographer and Scottish Tourist Guide, from his home in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Haunting and beautiful, the images reflect the landscape and nature of this ever-changing landscape. View and order at www.jmacletchiephotography.com
James has transformed his beautiful images into luxury cushions. View and order www.bagsoflove.co.uk/stores/jmacletchiephotography
Glynis Ross
One of the highlights of the Rick Steves tour, or any tour to Scotland, is a visit to the working sheepdogs of Leault Farm run by Neil and Glynis Ross. The story of how Glynis arrived in Scotland, talked herself into a job and eventually married Neil is a work of fiction - which is exactly what she has created in the two childrens' books she's written.