Christmas gift guide: one-off handmade presents

They say it’s the thought that counts — and nothing could be more thoughtful than commissioning a  one-off handmade Christmas gift. But if you don’t know where to start, there is plenty of advice out there to help you commission just the right present.  Once you have an idea, a good place to start is online, using the Crafts Council Directory, which lists makers, what they make, whether they work to commission and contact details. Then there are open studio events, where makers display their work and are on hand to chat about what they can do. Contemporary Applied Arts has a long track record in helping people commission something special.