Tokens of Affection: Valentine's Design Gifts

Gifts are my love language (there is possibly nothing dearer to my heart than a carefully chosen curio), and now, as we transition closer to spring and the days become fractionally longer, some hearts may be lightly turning to thoughts of love. 

For those of you who’d like a helping hand to choose a meaningful gift; rest easy, there are alternatives to cut flowers shipped from the continent and boxes of chocolates wrapped in cellophane. Closer to home you can find glorious items that will move the dial in the right direction with your crush or pay tribute to a platonic friend who deserves a treat.

Glasgow-based jeweller Patrick Murphy is the designer and maker behind PAS.COS. Pleasingly textured molten metals merge with vibrant hand-sculpted crystals.

His signature style are unisex rings with angular shapes softened with the beautiful gems in cool tones. The Lagoon Ring is available from Lunch Concept (£225) and features a purple baguette sapphire and a blue star sapphire, made with recycled 925 silver.

PAS.COS. Image: Lunch Concept Store.

Jorum Studio is an independent fragrance brand founded in Scotland and led by Scottish perfumer Euan McCall and Chloe Mullen. Jorum craft exciting, poetic fragrances that capture the beauty of nature with an unconventional spirit and an ever-evolving perspective on modern fragrance. Designing and manufacturing all products in-house, the studio celebrates the craft of perfumery using only the purest materials in truly unique and creative ways.

Part of the Scottish Odyssey collection, Pony Boy is a fresh interpretation of the Kelpie featuring aquatic elements and an enticing zesty flirt. An opening impression of rhubarb, pink grapefruit and coriander seed is uplifted by champaca absolute and pink lotus absolute with a hearty dose of vetiver, red cedarwood and calamus to fade.

Unspoken Gesture is inspired by tender, platonic love; it's an enchanting skin-scent designed to last. Exuding soft skin-like salinity, cocooned around a tender heart of rice and sweetened cardamom, hazelnut, and almond. A trail of pollen-drenched mimosa petals precludes lingering memories of musk, sandalwood and ambrette seed. A visit to their chic Edinburgh showroom on St Stephen’s Street would be a memorable date! Prices start at £89.

Emer Tumilty specialises in the design and production of murals, set-design and illustration. Her recent foray into furniture design SPREE – a collaboration with M’eudail M’eudail was was presented to critical acclaim at last year’s Dundee Design Festival. For fans of her style there are products available at a very accessible price. She describes her Living Casual range as follows: “Living Casual is art for everyone. It is art for places and art for bodies. These works embody experimentation, playfulness and individuality, brought to life with care and love.”

Beach. Image: Emer Tumilty.

The monochrome Beach print has been produced as an edition of 50 and is £18.

Cecilia Stamp is a Glasgow-based designer and maker. Inspired by abstract forms from Modernist architecture, packaging, and the man-made, she creates graphic, contemporary jewellery with an understated palette and considered simplicity. Her Chub Disc Ring (£125) is minimal yet weighty, easy to wear and goes with everything. It’s handmade in silver, with a subtle satin brushed finish and stamped with the Edinburgh hallmark. 

Julija Pustovrh is a Slovenian-born artist and ceramicist living and working in Edinburgh. Her functional and decorative tableware is based on a clean minimalist form, using the natural qualities of clay and sand as a way to convey the dynamism unique to Scottish landscapes. This large cup is perfect for lattes, teas and cappuccinos – it’s made with dark brown clay mixed with wild clay and decorated with a variety of wild clay slips and glazes, including recycled clay and porcelain.

“I collected these materials over the past year or two and tested them over time to develop these unique effects." says Pustovrh, "The brush strokes are applied with handmade brushes from different types of grass that I collected in the area of Arthur's Seat or applied simply with my fingers.”

Free Palestine T-shirt. Image: Jemima Dansey-Wright

Other notable gift ideas from around the country are Jemima Dansey-Wright’s Free Palestine T-shirt which is available to buy for £25 from Welcome Home. These screen-printed T-shirts have been made in Glasgow to raise money for Medical Aid Palestine – all profits from the T-shirt will support this cause. 

Òr Shop consists of two creative retail stores in Portree on the Isle of Skye. Their Tiny Taper Kit (£20) is designed by Tiny Norah, a traditional beeswax candlemaker based in the heart of Scotland. Laura Thomas Co’s Citrus + Herb Bubble Bath (£15) is an all natural bubble bath by the Scottish maker. Scented with citrus and herb with notes of lemongrass, lavender, bergamot and pine essential oils. 

Finally, what could be more romantic than drawing a bath for your loved one and filling it with petals? Floral Bath Salts contain real petals and are also available from Òr Shop – these are handmade on the Isle of Skye by local maker Kasia of Half of Nine (£8.50) and have the additional benefit of a beautiful floral scent to help relax as well as repair.