Anyone who has ever tried giving a ‘different’ gift for Christmas will know the difficulties in finding such a thing. There are always plenty of options when looking for gifts for women due to the kind of variety and range available in the market. But how about avoiding those over crowded, over scented perfume halls, and choose something that you know she would never have thought of buying for herself.

A sculpture, an original painting, or jewellery that won’t be found in every single high street shop!

Brazilian jeweller Patricia Segrillo weaves pure 999 Brazilian Silver into the most amazing design of jewellery, with Hollywood actor Orlando Bloom amongst her collectors. Her truly unique and highly stylish jewellery is exclusive to Scotland through Artery Gallery.

Lora Leedham has taken part in a series of events and her jewellery has featured in UK and international magazines, as well as making TV appearances – one of which was worn by Camilla Parker Bowles, on live television; she has worked with fashion designers, created jewellery for charity events, exhibited at London Fashion Week, created jewellery for catwalks and has created jewellery for a number of celebrities.

The jewellery has a very feminine, fresh, organic and romantic style to it and the designs portray an emphasis on texture. Lora uses her hobby of photographing nature as a source for her inspiration. She particularly looks at the organic forms and textures of nature.

Quality and design are the two key features in Lora Leedham’s work and by incorporating an artistic element with high end materials, such as metals and Venetian glass; each piece is a luxurious accessory to compliment any outfit and make the wearer feel truly special.

Angel Neal’s jewellery collection first launched in the US with great success, before she moved back to her roots in Scotland. Her work is now sold across the world. Angel also undertakes commission work for special occasions and bridal jewellery. Notable commissions include jewellery designed for Mary Kay in the US, and celebrities in the UK, as well as featuring in many high society magazines.

Scottish figurative sculptor Ronna Elliott creates beautifully crafted female figures incorporate her own take on ladies of leisure. The titles say it all, with ‘Ladies in Waiting’, ‘Pandora’s Box’, ‘Retail Therapy’ and ‘Ladies Who Lunch’. Each figure is embellished with their own marks and patterns which are not only decorative but also symbolise metaphorical fingerprints of people who have touched us in some way, often unknowingly.

Ronna graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 2000 and shortly after set up her own studio in Hamilton. She has sold out on numerous occasions whilst exhibiting through Artery Gallery.

For men, the choices are a bit more limited out there. Do men honestly appreciate the novelty socks, Homer Simpson beer holders, and remote control toys that break before New Years day!? And how many times can you gift someone golf clubs, aftershave, a watch or a leather wallet?

Men love alternative gifts, things that no one else will have and that they can proudly show off. Handmade steel mantle clocks by Yorkshire artist Tim Fowler, molten steel figurative sculptures by Scotland’s John McPhail, intriguing ceramic face wall plaques from Crete, amazing ‘Fantasy Boat’ sculptures by Mark Smith and so much more.

Make a statement with original, affordable artworks that can be treasured for years and years. A gift that will go down an absolute treat! Artery Gallery, based in St Andrews and Crieff, Scotland, have an eclectic mix to suit all tastes in art.

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More and more people are choosing to have their Christmas holiday away from home these days. Certainly if you are looking to be able to relax this Christmas then it is worth taking a late vacation with your family. Today there are plenty of places where one can spend the Christmas period and below we list the top 10 destinations that are worth considering spending this time of year at.

Destination 1 – The USA is a great place to spend your Christmas holiday this year. As you will soon discover there is plenty for all your family to do and see whilst visiting this country. You have the choice of either spending it in New York where the Christmas lights shine brightly or if you want something a little less cold then head towards Miami, Hawaii or the Bahamas. If you have children then a wonderful place to spend Christmas would be in Disney World Florida.

Destination 2 – Although it is a long way away another place that people are going to for Christmas these days is Australia. Remember when it ‘s winter where you live in Australia it’s summer and for something a little more unusual why not spend Christmas day on the beach. In fact many Australians have a Christmas barbecue rather than the usual Christmas dinner on the beach.

Destination 3 – If you are trying to get away from the cold North winds, another place to head to for Christmas is the Caribbean Islands. Not only will the weather be much kinder but you may find that you and your family may well have much of the beach to yourself at this time of year.

Destination 4 – Another place that offers great weather in the winter and where you could spend Christmas this year is Goa, India. Based in the Indian Ocean, Goa has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, but you will find that the modern facilities will provide you with a very relaxing break.

Destination 5 – Another place that you may find wonderful to spend Christmas this year at is Paris. Why not spend time relaxing in one of the many sidewalk cafes enjoying a glass of wine or a coffee and watch the city lights come on as evening descends. Also throughout Christmas fireworks are set off and the city acts as a wonderful backdrop to these. To add to the enchantment why not take a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower to see the city in all its shining glory at night.

Destination 6 – Another place to visit for Christmas and really feel the fervour surrounding this Christmas is Rome. Here you will discover that more traditional celebrations take place and why not take time out to visit the many churches in the city which have been beautifully and tastefully decorated.

Destination 7 – It may be a strange place to visit at Christmas – but have you considered spending time in Japan? What many people do not realise that its carnival time throughout the month of December and the skies are often filled with dazzling fireworks. If you intend to spend Christmas and New Year in Japan then you should spend your time in Tokyo where things really do get a little crazy. But also take time to visit some of the many temples and hear the ringing of the bells.

Destination 8 – A place that really knows how to celebrate Christmas is Germany and in the weeks leading up to the festive season all the major towns and cities will have Christmas Markets in place. Here you can wonder around the stalls looking at many local arts and crafts along with having the chance to drink some warm Gluwein and try some of the local delicacies.

Destination 9 – If you are looking for somewhere magical to spend this Christmas then consider going to Austria. Throughout the month of December, towns and cities become winter wonderlands and at their Christmas markets you have the opportunity to try some of their special Christmas cookies.

Destination 10 – If you have young children then it is worth heading off to Finland for Christmas as this where Santa Clause resides. Along with having the opportunity to enjoy a truly white Christmas your child will actually be presented with a gift from Santa himself. During your stay why not go for a sledge ride or have a go at skiing or skating. In some places it becomes so cold you can take a walk across a frozen lake before you go and enjoy a traditional Finnish Christmas dinner.

Above we have shown you the top 10 Christmas destinations that many people choose to go to at this time of year. However, it is crucial that you arrange your accommodation well in advance to get what you want and also to get a great deal on it.

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Christmas is one of the few times when families are likely to get together, so ensuring that everyone has a great time is crucial. In some cases you may need to plan activities that will help to keep everyone amused throughout the festive season and the internet is a great place to look for things to do. In this article we look at the top 10 Christmas activities worth considering using when you have family and friends over this year.

1 When it comes to decorating the home ready for Christmas then why not get the whole family involved. You could even ask the children to make some special decorations themselves for hanging on the tree or around the home this year. If you are stuck for ideas then the internet is a great source for arts and crafts.

2. As on Christmas day you will be very busy in the morning preparing the food for lunch, why not prepare something the day before getting your children to assist you. You could even ask them to make some gingerbread items that can then be used as decorations on the tree or which can be used as snacks whilst waiting for Christmas dinner to arrive. But don’t allow them to eat too many else they won’t want the wonderful dinner you have prepared.

3. There is a great game that you can play on Christmas day that all your family and friends can participate in and that is “Remember That Carol”. What happens is that each person will take it in turns to announce what carol it is they are going to sing and then sing one verse of it. This is a suitable game for all to play when travelling in the car as well over the Christmas period.

4. Another great game that you can play with family and friends is charades. But this time rather than just being on any theme you base it around Christmas. So it may be a certain Christmas song that others may have to guess that the person is acting out or it could be in relation to a decoration or even an animal associated with Christmas.

5. If you want to help the younger children in your family wind down on Christmas day or even on the days leading up to it then spend 5 minutes each night reading them a special Christmas story. It is crucial that you let your children decide what stories it is they want read to them each night. Plus every year why not purchase some new books that you can read to them that year as well as the ones they already have.

6. Sometimes families like to open one present on Christmas Eve and if you want to make it a little more memorable make it in to a treasure hunt. You will need to prepare everything in advance and make sure that you give them simple easy clues to follow which they can solve and will lead them to where their gift has been placed. If you find you have not got enough time to actually spend on coming up with your own clues the internet is a wonderful source for getting some very inexpensive ones readymade that you can print off and use.

7. Another activity you may find fun is actually taking a wonder round your neighbourhood one evening to see how other people have decorated their homes. Some people spend weeks before Christmas decorating their homes, not just inside but out so that everyone else can enjoy the festive season. In some cases there may be a charity box left outside where you can make a donation and the money raised is given to a local good cause.

8. Another thing you can do to help make your family Christmas special is for the whole family to learn about where they came from. Through this you and your family can learn about the ways your family use to celebrate Christmas in the past and maybe incorporate some of the activities they use to enjoy into your own. There are plenty of places online as well as speaking with others relatives that can help you to find out just what sort of Christmas your ancestors would have led.

9. Another activity that you could consider doing that you may not have done before and especially if you have young children is to go see a pantomime. Often these take place a few weeks before Christmas and will certainly help you and the rest of the family get into the swing of things.

10. One final activity that you should consider incorporating into your own family’s Christmas festivities is to make a big thing about turning the Christmas tree lights on. Spend the whole day with your family putting the tree up and decorating it then at the end of the day you then gather together and count down to the moment when someone flicks the switch and the lights come on. Why not make it a special event for someone in your family each year as towns and shopping malls do when they get some celebrity in to turn on theirs.

Above we have offered our top 10 Christmas activities which could help to make this festive season for your family and friends special. Certainly the more involved everyone is in this special event then the more enjoyable the time will be and of course you won’t be so stressed out.

CHRISTMAS IS HERE!

We all know that Christmas is season to be happy, and a season for every family to be with each other, but we can’t ignore the fact that when the season comes we are expected to get gifts, and presents.

We are also expected to give gifts to our relatives and loved ones, but what if w can’t? What shall we do? I think that even before the season comes we had already set aside an allowance or a budget for gifts and stuff. Well I had my fair share of unpleasant Christmas time, because I wasn’t able to give presents to a family member. But that is not what Christmas is all about is it? It’s the time to be together with family members.

What are the things that are especially meant to be given at Christmas time?

Christmas is a time of joy, piece, and giving. It is also a time of being broke. Adults often think that the idea of making Christmas gifts is only for children who do not yet have their own money to buy gifts. However, with a little bit of ingenuity, some clever shopping, and a fair amount of free time, you can make some very grown up do it yourself Christmas gifts.

The first step is to spend an afternoon at a craft store, and see what sticks out at you as things you would be comfortable sitting down to work on. Some very basic, but very nice final product ideas include:

(1) Knit caps. If you have time to pick up crocheting or knitting, Christmas is a perfect time of year to put that talent to good use. You can make knit caps, mittens and scarves for men and women alike on your holiday shopping list. With all of the different available colors and textures in yarns today, it is virtually limitless what you can do to personalize a knitted gift. For some extra special fun, you can work in some fun beads fairly easily to jazz up a more basic design.

(2) Pick up some shadow box frames at the art store, and make some personal . For example, if you have someone on your list who is a big fan of Beethoven, you can create a shadowbox picture with some music notes in the background with a copy of a Beethoven songbook and maybe a dollhouse piano in the frame. Stuff like the dollhouse furniture as well as lots of great designs for backgrounds and the like can usually be found in the scrapbook section of your favorite craft store.

(3) Jewelry is a great personal do it yourself gift. There are all different skill levels for creating your own jewelry, and lots of different pieces that you can purchase to make your gift as professional looking and beautiful as you want. If you go to a good bead store, they will have lots of different settings on which to put earrings and a great selection of different and interesting beads for you to use. The best part though, is that they have expertise. With a little bit of help from the experts, you can make beautiful, one of a kind jewelry for less than a dollar a piece.

(4) Ornaments are a great way to celebrate the Christmas season. There are so many different ways to create your own unique ornaments, that you could make a different type of ornament for nearly everyone on your list. You could cross-stitch some ornaments, hand paint a box of regular glass ornaments, create egg shell ornaments with glitter or paint, make picture frame ornaments, bead Holiday shapes with pipe cleaners and pony beads, string some Hawaiian flowers for a funky tree garland, or just put a glittery hook on a plain ornament bulb. The best part about this gift, is that you get to see it every year on your loved one’s Christmas tree.

As the holiday season draws near, you’re sure to be busy making your list and checking it twice.  Between balancing your budget with your children’s wish lists, battling the shopping malls for the best bargains, planning family gatherings, decking the halls, preparing holiday meals, gift wrapping, and more, it’s easy to see how Christmas can come and go without the time to slow down, take a breath, and enjoy the holiday season with your family.  

If you’re looking for ways to stop and smell the gingerbread this year while creating some precious memories that can last a lifetime, here are a few simple and fun holiday activities that will ensure your entire family has a holly jolly Christmas!

“Remember that Carol” is a simple game that both kids and adults will enjoy as they go from person to person each taking turns announcing a Christmas carol that they remember and singing a verse from it.  A great game to entertain your children at home or to pass time on the road while traveling for the holidays, it will have your family making beautiful music together in no time! 

Christmas Charades is fun for the whole family!  Just have everyone write out 2 or 3 common holiday-themed items, characters, or decorations, etc. on small pieces of paper.  Fold them all up and place them in a bowl, and then take turns drawing out one at a time and acting them out for all to guess.

Holiday bedtime stories.  Dedicate 5 minutes each night throughout the month of December to read your child a bedtime Christmas story book.  Let your little ones take turns picking out which book you will read each night.  You can let your children choose one or two new Christmas books each year to add to their collection. 

Christmas Gift Hunt.  If you like to open a gift early on Christmas Eve, or hunt for presents on Christmas day, you can create a memorable fun way for your children to receive their gifts by making a simple Christmas holiday hunt.  You’ll need to prepare ahead and hide a trail of simple holiday clues that when solved will lead your child from one clue to the next until they ultimately reach and uncover where their “treasured” Christmas gift has been stashed away.  If you don’t have time to make your own clues, inexpensive pre-made print ‘n’ play Christmas hunts are available online for both children and adults at Treasure-Adventure.com.  Simply download, print, and play instantly! 

Deck the halls!  Make holiday decorating a group effort.  Take time to work with your children to make a few simple personalized holiday projects that can be displayed in your home or be given as memorable and unique gifts to friends and family such as painting ceramic angels or holiday candles, making ornaments or homemade candy canes, coloring and cutting out Christmas designs and applying them to windows, stockings, sleds, and other traditional holiday decor, or making a wreath together with everyone contributing.  There is an endless array of Christmas craft kits you might take advantage of or just grab your construction paper, glue, scissors, glitter, garland, and crayons, and make your own holiday decorations. Your kids will love this family craft time and beam with pride as they get to show off their special creations to holiday visitors.

Finally, make Christmas eve all about family time.  Turn off the TV and video games, turn on the Christmas tree lights, and play an old-fashioned family game or just come together as a family to talk and enjoy each other’s company. 

It takes only a little time and creativity to bring your loved ones together around a few special holiday activities and make your own Christmas traditions and lasting family memories of the joyous holiday season together.