I thought I’d share some Christmas gift ideas and my top tips on gifting.
Christmas Cards
Digitally printed Winter Robin Christmas cards from my original linocut design.
148mm x 148mm. Blank inside. White envelope. £3 each or 4 for £10
Limited edition linocut prints
My limited edition linocut prints are all hand carved and hand printed in my studio in York. Each is inspired from photos I take while out walking and cycling. Each design is limited edition and hand printed, so no two are the same. Most designs are available mounted or framed to order (pick up from my York Studio). See my full print range here.
Yorkshire Coast linocut prints from £90
North York Moors linocut prints from £90
Yorkshire Dales linocut prints from £90
Linocut prints from £90
Linocut prints from £80
Linocut prints from £65
Linocut prints from £55
Linocut prints from £50
Christmas Gifts for £20
The ideal stocking filler for art-lovers. Limited edition unframed linocut prints. £20 each. Will fit into most standard 5 x 7" (13cm x 18cm). See my printmaking page for designs available.
Gift vouchers
Think creatively and make your own. A few ideas: a night in a B&B, gift your time, that could be as simple as walking the dog.
Gift vouchers are available for linocut workshops or linocut prints. Small groups of 4 people so you get lots of 1:1 tuition. Get in touch to order.
Gift an experience… Linocut Workshops
We live in a world of too much stuff, so why not just an experience instead? What’s nicer than spending quality time with friends or family?
Limited to 4 students per workshop, so you really get the one to one experience. Don’t forget I’m always happy to do bespoke dates for 4 people. Find out more on my linocut workshops page.
Last order for Christmas
Orders to be posted (mounted only):
Midnight Sun 15 Dec 2019 (2nd class signed for postage, posted on Tue 17 Dec.)
Orders to be picked up from my studio:
Midnight Sun 15 Dec 2019 (to pick up from studio Tue 17 to Thur 19 Dec.)
Christmas Gifts - Linocut printing tools for beginners
Everything you need to start making your very own hand-carved and hand printed lino prints.
A starter kit of linocut materials and tools for beginners:
Linocuting tools: A good beginner set is the Essdee linocutters and handle set with 5 linoccutters.
Softcut lino: Essdee Softcut lino comes in various pack sizes
Glass slab: I use glass kitchen workshop savers
Ink roller or brayer: These Essdee rollers or similar.
Printing ink: If you are making linocut prints at home I recommend using inks such as Speedball block printing inks
Smooth cartridge paper
Wooden spoon: For hand burnishing the inked up lino block onto the paper.
Tracing paper
Pencils, pens and rubber
Photocopy paper: For drawing and printing proofs or test prints
Find out where to buy these from at the bottom of my Lino cutting equipment blog
If you have a bit more money to spend I would recommend these. My favourite birthday present was this set of Pfeil professional linocutting tools. Read more about 'What are the best linocutting tools?' in my 'Lino cutting equipment blog'.
Christmas Gifts - Linocut and printmaking books
These are a selection of my favourite books and magazines.
Pressing Matters magazine: An inspiring magazine celebrating modern printmaking.
The Simple Things magazine
Linocut for Artists and Designers by Nick Morely. Published by The Crowood Press
Making an Impression, Designing and creating artful stamps by Gennie D Zlatkis. Published by Lark
Fresh Prints by Christine Leech. Published by Quadrille
Angie Lewin - Plants and Places. Published by Merrill
British Prints from the Machine Age - Rythms of Modern Life 1914- 1939. Published by Thames and Hudson
The Life and Art of Clifford Webb by Simon Brett. Published by Little Toller
Anita Klien linocuts. Published by The Fine Art Partneship
Homemade Christmas Gifts - Make it
I’ve always made gifts for friends and family. It’s a thoughtful way of giving. Made with heart and truly appreciate by the other person. Pinterest can provide lots of ideas too. Follow me on Pinterest at Michelle Hughes Design.
Support independent artists, makers and shops
Shop local and support artist and makers, Independent shops. Have you heard about the Just a Card campaign? The Just a Card campaign aims to encourage people to support, value and buy from artists, designers, independent shops and small businesses.
Reduce - set a limit or say no
Be honest with friends and family and say no to buying unnecessary gifts. Consume less. My mum, dad and brother and I have set a limit. It’s a maximum of £10.
Recycle
Think about the type of paper you buy to wrap gifts in. Foil and glitter papers usually can’t be recycled. Avoid buying things that have lots of excess packaging. I love up-cycling things too.
Most of all Christmas is about spending quality time with friends and family. So enjoy.
Merry Christmas!
Michelle
About the author
Michelle Hughes is a North Yorkshire landscape artist. Much of her work depicts the Yorkshire landscape and Yorkshire coast, including the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors.
Michelle loves exploring the British countryside by bike or on foot, camera in hand, capturing ideas for her next prints. Back in her garden studio, Michelle creates simple but stylised silhouettes based on her photographs, and hand carves these shapes into lino. She hand prints with an etching press, using oil-based inks to create tonal blocks of colour.
Michelle’s original linocut prints are limited editions.