This Christmas it’s more important than ever to shop local and as part of our ongoing #SupportLocal campaign, we’ve rounded up some of the best gift ideas from Mackem makers, from prints by local artists to a Sun’Lun mug from Pop Recs and a ‘Santa is a Mackem’ face covering.
If you want to give an alcoholic gift, there’s a great range of Sunderland breweries, distilleries and shops doing gift sets. See our guide to places doing drinks deliveries here.
9. Love Lily Christmas Eve treat box
Love Lily has a whole range of festive cakes on offer including these Christmas Eve treat boxes, including vanilla cupcakes, Mars Bar crispies, chocolate cupcakes, dipping sauces, marshmallows and more. Priced £20, it's available for collection only from their Pallion bakery on December 23 and 24 (11am-2pm). Visit www.lovelilycakes.uk Photo: submitted
10. Artworks, National Glass Centre
Work by leading international, regional and local artists features in an annual selling exhibition at National Glass Centre. Artwork available in Gifted 20 is by artists working in glass and ceramics, and due to Covid restrictions, this year’s exhibition is online. Gifted 20 features work from: Elizabeth Welch, Frances Spice, Stuart Ackroyd, Dokter &
Misses, Lauren Frost, James Maskrey, and Jade Tapson. A range of festive gifts and treats is also available from National Glass Centre’s online shop and in store from December 3 – from beautiful baubles produced in the venue’s own studios, to exclusive glassware created by external artists, to jewellery handmade by local artists. To see the variety of gifts on offer, go to www.shop-nationalglasscentre.com Photo: Jo Howell Photography
11. Sunderland-made homewares, Grinder, Durham Road
As well as being open for takeout coffees and cakes, Grinder, near University Metro Station, offers a range of Christmas gift ideas, from a Grinder gift card to Sunderland-made homewares from candles by On My Wick to dried flower displays from Under The Ivy Flowers and ceramics from MBC Ceramics. Photo: submitted
12. Terrazzo trays and coasters, Terra Homeware
Treat someone with a terrazzo trinket tray, coasters and more from Sunderland-based Terra Homeware. Order through the instagram page on @terrahomeware Photo: JPI Media