Ideas for affordable handmade pottery gifts to sell at Christmas market

103 replies

EllaBella1983 · 11/07/2026 18:29

This is my first post, so bear with!

I'm a novice potter. I'm also an absolute cheapskate but I also love handmade things and supporting locally made goods. In December I'm planning to participate in my community studio's Christmas Market. From a seller perspective, I do pottery as therapy, but I don't want to undermine those who use it as a form of income by undermining their prices. From a buyer perspective, I generally go to markets, look at things and think eek, that's a lot.. (even if I appreciate why it's the price it is) but wish I could support the seller by buying something small but still fab.

So I thought as well as my higher end items (plates, mugs, etc.), I could sell smaller items which didn't really require much in the way of decoration or individual processing, but were still hand made.

I like useful things. I'm not one for random bits of tat (or ornaments- as I've heard they're called), so my inspiration is a bit limited to what I would like to buy and use, and how much I would pay for it.

So I'm asking... if you went to a Christmas fayre on the hunt for presents, what would you want to pick up and what would you want to pay for it?

I'm thinking of a £1-5 section for stocking fillers, a £5-£10 for small gifts, and then £10+ for other bits. Also with a view to doing customisable gifts such as house signs, which could be pre-made and then decorated and glazed post purchase.

Please throw your ideas at me.

OP posts:

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Davros · 05/08/2026 10:48

I love bells so little bells would be good. Also little Robins. I know they’re ornaments but I’d like them. I’m also partial to a spoon rest and butter dish which could be small for less but very posh butter

rainbowstardrops · 05/08/2026 11:57

DPotter · 03/08/2026 12:53

OK so I'm going to be mundanely boring and practical now.

So assuming the Christmas market is at the beginning of December you have a max of 17 weeks to design, make and glaze stuff. If you're a novice you make not appreciate the pressure on kiln time as people start of think of Christmas - it's a serious thing, trust me. Especially hanging decorations which if you want them glazed on both sides have to go on a special frame which take up a lot of space. Best thing to do is keep things really simple - techniques you're comfortable with, glazes you've used before, hanging decorations glazed just on one side. Assume there will be breakages, cracks and big delays in kiln access. Don't try to make too many different types of things - ends up looking like a jumble sale - pick 2-3 things and make several of each, different sizes, different colours.

And be sure how you pay for your finished pottery at the studio, so you can cover your costs. Things in the £1-3 bracket although possibily attractive to buyers will probably cost you more than £1-3 to make.

Oh and avoid customised stuff and commissions, especially as a novice - biggest source of hassle and customer dissatisfaction ! Nothing like a friend asking for a house name plate for her mum to kill your creativity, skill and ultimately your friendship. I've been potting for a long time so I know of what I speak.

Making stuff for a market can be stressful - please don't loose sight of the thing you told us right at the beginning - I do pottery as therapy.

Oh and another thing - next year start your Christmas making at Easter !

Good luck and have fun

That’s really good advice. I haven’t done any pottery but I like the idea of it, so this is really helpful to me, thanks.

Pinkissmart · 05/08/2026 12:28

I love tiny clay houses too! If you offered different ones so they could make a scene- I would buy it.

Christmas tree ornaments - some with the year/ first house/ baby’s first Christmas

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