06 Nov 2023
It is no secret that we believe in craftsmanship; in making beautiful pieces that last. As Christmas season approaches, and gifting is at the top of one’s list, we look at shopping locally and consciously. Introducing Author Interiors, a small, enthusiastic team based in rural Scotland who champion the excellence in British design, craftsmanship and luxury, we discussed what is at the top of their gifting list.
AUTHOR have always asked customers to shop consciously, a message even more pertinent this Christmas. Their mantra is buying less with more consideration and buying well with a little more thought. They believe shopping consciously is about supporting independent makers, paying them fairly for their craft which is usually made in sustainable small runs, limited editions or to order, and appreciating their skill and craftsmanship. It’s about selecting pieces that stand the test of time, that are not fashion-orientated or mass-produced. Jane says “Being AUTHOR, we believe that it is imperative to let the recipient know the provenance and stories behind each piece; these often get lost along the way.”
Here’s Jane’s top 5 picks of pieces with stories to tell for this year’s festive gifting:
Bee Ramekin Dish
This is such a great little present as we all love bees and the gold lustre rim makes it look festive; these dishes can also be used for holding candles or treasurable items such as jewellery and family trinkets. This piece has been slab built using Porcelain flax clay textured to mimic honeycomb and then decorated with the maker’s hand drawings of bees and finished with the hand painted gold lustre rim , there are different sizes available from £45.
Handcrafted Drinks tray
Such a perfect piece for entertaining and we love that it is sustainably sourced. Perfect for a home bar or to sit elegantly on top of a sideboard, the trays are ample enough for a bottle, a few glasses and a bowl of nibbles to sit on top. This sustainable drinks tray is handcrafted from a new, innovative material, made using the spent grain from local breweries and distilleries in the Tayside/Angus area. A limited edition run, the AUTHOR-commissioned Draff trays are uniquely numbered and each tray comes with a Certificate of Authentication, making this an utterly unique and special present, Personalisation is also available.
£495
Horse Head Sculpture by Jennie McCall
This is not only a unique decorative piece but a great festive message as it celebrates the noble virtue of clemency. A Stunning horse head sculpture sitting on a blackened oak plinth handcrafted by Jennie mcCall and named ‘Clementia’ after the Roman goddess of forgiveness and mercy, its main handcrafted from porcelain feathers which gies it an ethereal feel.
£2750
Bronze Cherry Leaves
This is both a great gift and the perfect decoration for a festive table. Real cherry leaves cast in bronze using the ancient lost wax technique resulting in a bronze work that is a direct translation of the original leaf.
£220
MINTA Cushions
I had to pick this beautiful soft decorative cushion which is cleverly designed to bring the beauty of nature indoors. I love that the British alpaca wool used to make these sumptuous cushions are sourced from small farms across the UK, supporting local and ensuring only the finest materials are used. I love the story behind the piece too with the design inspired by the ferns found in Scotland’s many forests and hillsides . Its neutral colouring allows it to be used in both traditionally and contemporary styled spaces; ethical elegance. Perfect and the cushion is made from with the softest, finest carefully sourced undyed British alpaca. Available in white, caramel and grey.
£250
Visit Author Interiors exquiste boutique to see these pieces and more at authorinteriors.com.
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We are guardians of people’s stories...
We ourselves are stories that weave and take shape through the thread, thanks to the gentle hands of the weavers.
The yarn, the loom, our and your stories, are the tools we have chosen to make what cannot be seen or touched, real and wearable. We give shape to the values in which we believe, we give voice to stories to be shared with those dearest to us, forever.
Not just exquisite works of art to wear, but ambassadors, ‘talking’ objects, timeless storytellers of meanings and values that we want to preserve and pass on.
Meet Isabelle, one of our talented handweavers!
Isabelle has long had an interest in textiles, ever since her grandmother taught her to sew.
She discovered weaving when visiting universities before applying to study. Immediately captivated by the woven textile displays at Loughborough University – the home of our George Wood looms – She became fascinated by how these complex woven structures could be created from just a few cones of yarn.
Isabelle enjoys the slow, hands-on process of weaving, appreciating how it demands your full and present focus, and is always excited to share the complexities of handweaving to our visitors.
Meet Helen, one of our talented handweavers!
As an advocate for sustainability and ethical production, handweaving appealed to Helen as the embodiment of slow, responsible craft.
She fell in love with the challenging yet meditative weave process during her textile degree at the Glasgow School of Art.
Helen adores that she can name the alpacas in the pieces that she weaves, as this level of provenance imbues the pieces with deeper meaning for both weaver and future owner.
We choose 100% undyed British alpaca fiber for our designs because it embodies the values we hold dear: sustainability, durability, and unparalleled luxury. Each fleece is sourced from carefully chosen UK farms where animal welfare is a top priority.
Our close relationships with breeders enable us to trace many of our yarns back to the individual alpacas, ensuring exceptional quality and transparency. The alpaca’s fleeces are left undyed, allowing the natural richness and unique tones of their coats to shine through in every piece.
In the UK, only 5–10% of alpacas produce fleece of the exceptional quality we require. Every fiber is meticulously selected for its fineness, crimp, luster, and colour, ensuring our pieces meet the highest standards of luxury and craftsmanship.
It has taken years for our weavers to attain the skill and knowledge required to create our handwoven items.
Handweaving takes precision and patience, with each warp prepared by hand and meticulously threaded through the shafts of the loom. Once weaving is complete there is a lengthy finishing process involving darning, stitching, washing and brushing – all by hand.
It can take our handweavers anywhere between 2 to 6 weeks to complete one of our Signature pieces.
Each piece in our Heritage handwoven collection has been inspired by Araminta’s deep love for the natural beauty of the Scottish landscape.
From the golden glow of the beech woodlands surrounding her family home in the Royal Deeside Corridor during autumn, to the ethereal light of the Scottish Highlands at dawn and dusk, the landscape is a constant source of inspiration for Araminta. The shifting interplay of colours, textures, and natural rhythms informs each handwoven piece, translating fleeting moments into timeless design.
Any moment in time could become Araminta’s next creation.
Meet Lisa, one of our talented handweavers!
Lisa studied weaving at Heriot Watt University, in the borders of Scotland – an area renowned for its textile production.
She always enjoyed creating things and was recommended to study textiles by her art teacher. When first starting out in her weave degree, she found the slow process of setting up challenging, yet today it’s her favourite part.
She finds peace whilst threading the loom, enjoying and embracing the flow.
Each piece has been lovingly handwoven and finished in our Edinburgh Atelier by our team of handweavers on vintage George Wood looms.
Araminta Campbell is one of the largest employers of handweavers in Scotland, fostering employment for talented craftspeople in Scotland plays a vital role in preserving the rich legacy of Scottish textile craftsmanship. Every thread woven in the Atelier carries with it the heritage and passion of centuries-old traditions, brought vividly to life through contemporary designs, and the work of our talented weavers.
It has taken years for our weavers to attain the skill and knowledge required to create our handwoven items.
Handweaving takes precision and patience, with each warp prepared by hand and meticulously threaded through the shafts of the loom. Once weaving is complete there is a lengthy finishing process involving darning, stitching, washing and brushing – all by hand.
When you choose one of our handwoven treasures, you’re not just owning a piece of Scotland’s rich textile heritage – you’re connecting with the hands that brought it to life.
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