With the arrival of December, and festive celebrations now at the forefront of everyone’s minds, who better to have a Christmas chat with than Alice Collyer.
Otherwise known as ‘Alice in Scandiland’, Alice’s award-winning blog, as well as her much-loved online and high street stores never fail to inspire. And, whether buying a gift for someone special or a little treat for myself, I know I’ll find exactly what I’m looking for.
Offering a carefully curated selection of homewares, textiles and prints, vintage and Mid-century finds Alice in Scandiland is always a must-visit, and why I was thrilled to find out more about Alice’s journey, her own festive influences and what she’ll be wrapping up for her nearest and dearest this year.
Over to Alice to tell us more:
Can you start by telling me a little about yourself, your store and what the idea behind it was?
Alice in Scandiland started out as the name of my blog and Instagram account, where I would share renovation and design inspiration, glimpses into our life here in Cornwall, recipes and anything I fancied really.
Then in 2017 I won an international blog award and started to take it all a bit more seriously and by March 2018 I had begun selling vintage items from my garden shed which went so well I opened my shop in Lostwithiel that August.
My guiding principle for the shop is simple, would I want to own and use these items in my own home? I’ve never deviated from this core thread, and I think that level of personal investment has really engaged my customers.
Elements of the design of the shop echo details people will have seen in my own home too, and I want them to feel they are in a familiar but inspiring environment, which helps them to visualise these timeless products in a real setting. By mixing old and new, I hope to demonstrate the longevity of buying well once, celebrating handmade, unique design.
Who or what inspires your approach to Christmas, and when do your celebrations get underway?
I’ve always been inspired by nature and utilising natural elements within my Christmas décor. My granny used to have big garland wound around the balustrade of her stairs. It was fake, but she’d thread in real bits and bobs she’d brought in from the garden. It was the first thing you’d see when you entered her house, and it captures much of my childhood memories of that time of year. My mum carried this on, bringing in bags of ivy and using it to decorate shelves, the centre of the table and so on.
I won’t lie, owning a shop can make creating your own magic at home a little difficult as it’s such a busy time of year. Our home is also a little smaller than ideal and can quickly feel cluttered, so I decorate very simply, and I love to create a hanging centrepiece above the dining table, using Eucalyptus and Gypsophila, which I sell at the shop from the start of December.
When it then comes to Christmas what are you looking for in the products you stock?
Longevity, heirloom quality. I want the items you choose to buy from me to be used for years to come, those extra special pieces you look forward to seeing again, as you bring down the decorations from the attic.
I have no interest in stocking or following short-lived fads, fashions that will pass quickly and be disposed of. Our Christmas specific collection is quite small and paired back these days, I enjoy sharing ways to use objects we sell all year and change them up for the festive season, adding a few new additions to your favourites over time.
What are your top five Alice in Scandiland Christmas gifts and why?
Beeswax candles are always top of my list. You can’t beat that warming, cosy glow and we sell a beautiful collection of artisan British beeswax candles which make wonderful gifts.
The Nordic Winter Cookbook by Cozy Publishing is packed with Nordic winter inspiration, magical imagery, recipes, gift ideas and much more, and is sure to become part of anyone’s yearly traditions.
Our wheel-thrown speckle stoneware Berry Bowl, which I designed in collaboration with ceramicist Bel Holland, is one of my favourite new additions to our kitchen collection and would make a wonderfully special and useful gift.
While our utterly unique Angus Whale Bottle Opener, which is handmade in Devon, is both useful and fun for any festivities. And last, but not least, our cute and cosy Sheepskin Teddy Bear Hot Water Bottles will make the perfect companion for cold, darker nights, whatever your age.
Finally, when Christmas is over what are you looking forward to most next year?
January has become a real time of rest for me, as we usually close the shop for a few weeks and retreat into hibernation. We’re going to try staying open this year, but I will mostly be absent, as I enjoy some quiet time at home, pottering, cooking, reading and swimming in the sea as much as possible. After the craziness of Christmas, it’s just what I need to reboot.
Want to know more?
Thank you again to Alice for the chat, and for her fantastic gift recommendations, each and every one would be a joy to give as well as receive.
If you would like to find out more about Alice head over to her blog, or if you too have Christmas shopping still to do then her online store can be found here.
Alternatively, you can visit the Alice in Scandiland shop in person by heading to 28 Fore Street, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0BL.
All images courtesy of Alice Collyer.
Enjoyed reading this post? Then find out more about the home of writer and photographer Jen Chillingsworth and her latest book, ‘Green Christmas: Sustainable Celebrations that Won’t Cost the Earth’.
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