Wish list: Cool, yuletide gifts

Christmas is coming and the list is getting fat — with cool, yuletide gifts handpicked by Esther N McCarthy for your Christmas time present perusal.

Picture 1: Isn’t this a gorgeous look for Christmas, not a bit of tinsel to be seen, but still somehow so festive? All available in Debenhams: the globe is €46.50, the Gisele Graham letter box is €30, the wall map is €77.50, the globe book-ends are €62, and the fabulous Parlane wooden floor-lamp retails at €349.

Picture 2: Ahoy there, me hearties! If you’re on the lookout for some Christmas cards why not support the RNLI Helvick lifeboat station? This one shows RNLI crew with Liam Harty at the helm along with Aodh MacCraith and Shane Walsh aboard the RNLB Alice & Charles, in Dungarvan Bay against the majestic backdrop of the Comeragh Mountains. Cards are available in the following outlets in Dungarvan and Abbeyside: I Eye Opticians, Sue Ryder; Kelly’s Pharmacy; Abbeyside Post Office; Remedies; Mike Kiely’s Butchers; Twomey’s Eurospar; Nugent’s Centra; SPAR An Rinn and The Anchor, in Ardmore. (Pic: Joan Clancy)

Picture 3: Don’t forget your garden and the little birdies this Christmas — we love this handmade porcelain bird house/feeder, which is both decorative and super-functional. It’s designed by Kerry-based artist, Mary Neeson, and retails at €35. Neeson also creates sublime angelic forms in porcelain that are just perfect for this time of the year. www.maryneesonceramics.com.

Picture 4: A former database manager, Laois woman Maria McNulty set up an online business to supply personalised sweet treats after she produced chocolate bars for her daughter’s party. And now, chocolate bars, sweets and lollipops with images of Santa Claus, Rudolph and angels are the latest from Maria’s Little Wrappers. The bars are available individually, or as part of a hamper and can be personalised with text of your choice to include a Christmas message and the person’s name. Just remember, folks, Esther has a ‘h’ in it. www.mariaslittlewrappers.com.

Picture 5: Made in Cork, boy, The Bia Beauty range has a new addition to the family, just in time for Christmas. The 100% organic plant-wax, wild fig and grape scented natural candle has up to 45 hours of burning time. We’re talking natural ingredients, including nut and seed oils, herbs, spices and fruit essences, and it costs €14.95. Available online, at www.biabeauty.com, with free, nationwide delivery for orders over €30. The Irish beauty range is also stocked by the Avoca Group, Evergreen stores in Galway, and Cara pharmacies.

Picture 6: I Am of Ireland is an online shop that features handmade Irish craft and art. Here are a set of funky expresso mugs from Kira O’Brien —€15, www.iamofireland.ie

Picture 7: The Kilcoe Studio Calendar for 2014 features beautiful paintings of healing plants and herbs from the garden, and the wild so it’s great for gardeners and wild-life lovers alike. Each year, Sonia Caldwell paints a new collection of images on a different theme, and, afterwards, the A4 images can be used as botanical prints. Caldwell is an artist and sculptor living in Skibbereen, Co Cork and she and husband, Eamon, work out of Kilcoe Studios to produce fine woodwork and stone craft, as well as these painterly calendars. Available at €12.50, the calendars are 100% local and can be purchased at www.kilcoestudios.com.

Picture 8: I have been waiting for years for the slightest excuse to feature Homer Jay Simpson on these pages. And, now, I have it. An early Christmas present to me, thanks Santa. This officially licensed egg cup and toast cutter are enough of a reason to get out of bed on these chilly morns.

Remove the top of his head to reveal a large, empty space. D’oh! And use the toast stamp and cutter to create bite-size, dunkable pieces of toast with some of Homer’s quotes printed on them. Bring back the ’90s. I miss them. Available for around 10 of your euro on www.red5.co.uk.

Picture 9: I really like the russet pot in this Louis Mulcahy collection of flower pots. Wouldn’t a nice poinsettia be only lovely in one of these beauties? €19.95 from www.louismulcahy.com.

Picture 10: What’s not to love about this Love is Like silk scarf in 100% Mousseline Italian silk and designed in Shanagarry, Co Cork? A large, 70 x 180cm delicate, gossamer-like silk scarf, with colourful butterflies and musical staffs, it comes in a presentation box and is gift-wrapped. Handy. Available from www.zipitandhide.com, for €79. There’s a 10% discount code for Wishlist readers, until Dec 16. Just enter the code “examinerchristmas” at the checkout. Nice.

Picture 11: Home-fragrancing experts, Max Benjamin, have introduced a new gift set, featuring a mini-diffuser and a candle in lemongrass and ginger, one of the most popular signature fragrances in the range. The candle, made from 100-natural plant waxes, burns for 30 hours. Retailing at €35, all of Max Benjamin products are available from Griffins Garden Centre, Dripsey; Brown Thomas; Arnotts; Avoca; Kilkenny; Meadows & Byrne. See www.maxbenjamin.ie.