Welcome to the enchanting world of the British Toymakers Guild, where craftsmanship meets imagination. We've curated a magical gift guide for all age groups, ensuring that the joy of play knows no bounds. From toddlers to the young at heart, our guild has something special for everyone.
1. Tiny Tots (0-2 Years)
For the littlest ones who are just beginning to explore the wonders of the world, consider the following gifts:
Love Heartwood
Love HeartWood rattles are handmade and based on a traditional Shaker design. Super safe for baby since they’re turned from one single piece of local beech, make a pleasant sound and work brilliantly as a teething aid.
Liz also takes commissions and offers beginner’s woodturning sessions and a wooden toy repair service.
Tel: 07897 998586
Polly had a Dolly
The snuggly, cuddly baby doll is specially designed for teething babies and toddlers.
Using pure natural materials, heritage craft skills and simple designs my dolls appeal to all the senses and inspire open-ended play. I love to design and make treasured, high quality dolls which will last for a lifetime of play.
Tel: 07980576953
2. Playful Preschoolers (3-5 Years)
Imagination runs wild in this age group. Choose gifts that inspire creativity and foster cognitive development:
Thimble and Doll
I relaunched my diverse doll making business under a new name Thimble & Doll ready for Christmas 2017. The dolls are still designed, drawn, cut and stitched by hand by me but are now even more environmentally friendly, safety conscious & more diverse.
Tel: 07868 635283 https://www.thimbleanddoll.co.uk/
D B Crafts
My aim is to keep the art of traditional toy making alive. All my toys are made to British toymakers safety standards. I have recently produced items for local churches in the Devon area. Commissions are always welcome and I would be glad to make that special item for that very special someone. Also if you have a wooden toy that needs renovation I would be glad to help.
Mobile: 0771 3619271
Tel: 01392 217128
David Plagerson Noah's Arks
I trained as a painter at Camberwell School of Art. My initial inspiration came from the collection of European folk toys in the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood where I took my recently arrived Bangladeshi students. They and I responded to the simplicity of design, strength of colour and fluidity of brushstroke decoration. I became particularly interested in the Noah\'s Ark sets reinforcing my love of hand-held objects and collections that can be arranged as a tableau.
Tel: 01803 866786
Sussex Toy Craft
Sustainability and the opportunity to recycle is seized by Iain at every possible turn. All of Iain’s toys are happy toys! They have all had a previous life but will love your children even more for giving them a second chance.
Tel: 01825 750611
Ophelia Dolls
I make handcrafted heirloom dolls using traditional jointing methods and natural materials. Each doll is unique and comes wrapped in museum quality paper and a sturdy box.
Tel: 01580 752328
Taganau Tegid Toys
I am a Toymaker based in North Wales , I pride myself on using locally sourced hard woods , all our toys are cut on a scrollsaw and are hand painted by myself using non - toxic paints. I also take on commissions and do a Wooden Toy repair service.
Natural Play
We are passionate about making sustainable choices in life and try to be as eco-friendly as possible whilst creating our toys. We use responsibly sourced beech wood, which is then hand crafted & painted using non toxic water based paint before being protected with natural oils and waxes. Our vision is for our products to become heirloom toys - being passed from generation to generation and providing happy memories for years to come.
3. Dynamic Discoverers (6-9 Years)
As children grow, so does their curiosity. Encourage exploration and learning with these captivating gifts:
The Rocking HorseShop
Our Rocking Horses are individually hand carved & finished in Yorkshire, England. They are available only from us, the makers, so we are able to keep our prices affordable whilst maintaining the highest standard of quality.
Tel: 01759 368737
Croglin's Toys
A charming set of five happy dolphins, who are lovingly handmade from five different British hardwoods; Oak, Beech, Sycamore, Ash and Elm. The dolphins can stack, interlock and balance on each other in a huge variety of ways. A great family present!
Tel: 01768 896405
4. Tween Treasures (10-12 Years)
For the inquisitive tweens, look for gifts that strike a balance between entertainment and education:
Viktoy
Our toys are hand crafted using only natural materials such as leather and wood. We teach children attending the events about the Viking tradition. They play for hours with our non technical toys, much healthier than alone with a computer game.
Dr Zigs
Dr Zigs Giant Bubbles are environmentally conscious and ethically sound. A full six years of research have gone into every bubble! Our bubbles are perfect for making friends, having fun, and building confidence. Dr Zigs giant bubbles and kits are helping to change the world one bubble at a time.
Tel: 01248 511395
Doumdims Dolls
Doumdims Dolls made by me who always love dolls. The dolls have bodies made of fabric and felt stuffed with polyester. I give them painted faces and dress them as their characters suggest. I also accept commissions for portrait dolls based on clients personal photographs or my own drawings.
Tel: 07940 265610
5. Forever Young (13+ Years)
Age is just a number, especially when it comes to the young at heart. Find gifts that capture the essence of playfulness:
Baker's Hat Personalised Wooden Spoon
by Wendover Wood
If you have a love of all things wooden then you have come to the right place. It is this love of wood that has led us to setup this small business based in Wendover, Buckinghamshire.
Tel: 01296 623869
Muttley the Toymaker
I have been making toys for the last 28 years. Toymaking by my own definition is a license to exaggerate the silliness and quirkiness of life which appeals to everyone who is child at heart. I work in toys because I love the fun, the colour and the movement it gives. My influences are many and varied from everyday events to nursery rhymes, in fact anything with humour in it. I work principally in wood but will use a variety of other materials, such as glass beads, wire and easily worked metals. I especially enjoy making automata which provide a magical event to the turner of the handle.
Tel: 01785 600732
Briar Rose Bears
All bears are hand designed and crafted from scratch, using a variety of fabrics such as mohair, alpaca and faux fur. Each bear is a one of a kind limited piece made in a traditional way with glass eyes and cotter pins joints, making them collectable bears suitable for teenagers and adults.
Mayflower Miniatures
John Alden, cooper on the Mayflower in 1621, maker of toys and automata in Sussex in 2020. My varied artistic career has included miniature painter, cartoonist, antique dealer, dolls house restorer and maker of dolls house furnishings. I worked with the Singing Tree from the early 1970's and then discovered automata at West Dean college in 2005.
6. Adults (18+ Years)
Toys aren't just for kids! Our toymakers offer a range of beautifully crafted items that make excellent gifts for adults.
Peter de Wit Toymaker
I make painted wooden decorative objects. The best description which seem to fit them is toys. I do not know why I make them. My inspiration is fairy tales and half forgotten memories from childhood, Hugo Pratt and Corto Maltese, Herge and Tin Tin.
Emily Archer
Creator of beautiful collectible dolls.
Information on local exhibitions and where you can purchase Emily’s art is frequently released on both Facebook and Instagram @EmilyArcherUK.
Tel: 07311 480008
Shirley Emmerson Ceramics
I predominantly make surreal, animal headed dolls with porcelain, vintage textiles, paper and found objects. I start most dolls with a stuffed Calico core for strength and durability. I use old silk, wool and cotton to layer up a patchwork of cloth and stitch to create an interesting surface, inspired by my environment and the impact of passing time.
Tel: +44 7988 608375
The Little Toy Dog Company
Little Toy Dogs are fine quality, heirloom toys, designed by artist and illustrator Alice Wood and made by hand in her London studio.
Robert Race
I have been a full time maker for over thirty years and my work has covered a wide range, from dolls houses and moving toys for children and adults to automata, kinetic sculpture and exhibition design. I try to make things which move in simple but interesting ways.
Tel: 01225 863724
Remember, the true magic lies in the memories created and shared with loved ones. Happy gifting from the British Toymakers Guild – where every toy tells a tale!