Buy a one-off: the design and craft shops reviving the high street with events and workshops this Christmas

The future of the high street, say retail experts, relies on shops being able to offer customers “an experience”, rather than simply a transaction involving the spending of money and the acquiring of goods.

One sector that has been following this route for some time is craft.

Open studio events have long provided the chance for shoppers not only to see and buy one-off pieces, but also to talk to the makers, enhancing the specialness of the objects.

Often held in unusual surroundings, most of these events now feature quality pop-up cafés as well as special workshops to learn new craft skills and hand-make Christmas gifts.

COSMIMA
November 22-25, weekdays noon to 8pm, weekend noon to 5pm at Clerkenwell Gallery, 20 Clerkenwell Green EC1 (cosmima.co.uk)

Work by nine leading jewellery designers and silversmiths includes vessels and spoons by leading silversmiths Simone ten Hompel and Adi Toch, plus exciting silicone jewellery by Isabelle Busnel and colourful laminate, wood and silver jewellery by Emily Kidson.

CHRISTMAS AT LONDON GLASSBLOWING
November 22 to Christmas Eve, Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 11am to 5pm at 62-66 Bermondsey Street, SE1 (londonglassblowing.co.uk)

An array of functional and decorative glass pieces includes work by Peter Layton and other glass blowers.

Some, such as Elliot Walker and Beth Wood, make quirky, figurative work, while the likes of Ruth Shelley produce more practical yet decorative pieces.

There’s something to suit all tastes here, including flameworked animal tree decs by Philip Vallentin, glass mice by Morag Reekie and the ever-popular sale table.

Makers blow glass daily on site, with a special glassblowing evening on December 13.

ARCH 35
November 24-25, 11am to 6pm, Arch 35 Ermine Mews, Laburnum Street, E2

View glass, ceramic lighting, handpainted ceramics, tableware and concrete pieces, including stand-out handcrafted ceramics and glassware by creative partnership Cristina Vezzini and Stan Chen. Prices start from £25.

THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
November 24-25, 11am to 6pm at Farleigh Place, N16 (chocolatefactoryn16.com)

Twenty-seven modern workshops set in a Victorian former chocolate factory are home to a mix of applied and fine artists.

Discover cushions and lamp shades by Deborah Coleman and Helen Rawlinson, alongside glass vessels by Michèle Oberdieck, contemporary jewellery by Lina Peterson and arresting ceramics by Ikuko Iwamoto, Susan Nemeth and Jo Davies — the latter has a one-off treasure trove of bargain ceramics.

COCKPIT ARTS

Over two sites, up to 170 craftspeople working in a variety of media.

HOLBORN: November 23-25, Friday 1pm to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 6pm at Cockpit Yard, Northington Street, WC1. Advance tickets £5, on the door £6, also includes entry to the Deptford event (cockpitarts.com)

Textiles at Holborn include BeatWoven fabrics, with design based on the digital soundwaves of musical compositions. Also see embroidered wall maps by Ekta Kaul, delicate ceramics composed of tiny porcelain flowers by Vanessa Hogge and vessels made from found objects and electroforming by Katrin Spranger.

DEPTFORD: November 30-Dec 2, Friday 1pm to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 6pm at 18-22 Creekside, SE8. Tickets £4

Cockpit Arts at Deptford features woven throws by Catarina Riccabona, experimental leather vessels by Fflur Owen and leather accessories by Joost Pasman.

There are also inventive ceramics by David Marques and functional teaware by Matthew Warner, as well as extraordinary ceramic vessels by Leah Jensen.

MADE LONDON: ST MARY'S
November 30-December 1, Friday 11am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm at St Mary’s Church, Wyndham Place, Bryanston Square, W1. Tickets £10, or £5 if bought before November 25 (madelondon-st-marys.co.uk/)

This new show is in the lovely, galleried Grade I-listed Georgian “Waterloo Church” by architect Robert Smirke that was built with money voted by Parliament to celebrate victory over Napoleon.

It showcases makers from outside London and includes a good selection of ceramics including colourful vases by Ken Eardley and humorously decorated vessels by Helen Beard, as well as jewellery — especially the brilliantly coloured resin work by Kathie Murphy.

SELVEDGE WINTER FAIR
December 1, 11am to 5pm at Mary Ward House, 5-7 Tavistock Street, WC1. Entry £5 (selvedge.org)

A curated mix of 50 merchants and makers selling rare vintage fabrics, covetable haberdashery and skilfully handmade textile treasures.

PULLENS YARDS
December 1-2, 11am to 6pm at Clements Yard, Iliffe Yard and Peacock Yard, Iliffe and Crampton Streets, SE17 (pullensyards.co.uk)

These very atmospheric, almost Dickensian yards complete with cobbles will host an eclectic mix of ceramics, jewellery, photography and fine art including decorated pewter vessels and tables by Gordon Robertson, ceramic lighting and sculptures by Daniel Reynolds and beautiful jewellery by Hidemi Asano and Donna Brennan.

VANGUARD COURT STUDIOS
December 1-3, 36-38 Peckham Road, Camberwell SE5 (vanguardcourt.org)

The place for ceramics, at Vanguard Court you will find stacking vessels by Carina Ciscato and decorative ones in earthenware and glass by Christopher Riggio.

Beautiful functional teaware is by Chris Keenan, Sun Kim and Kaori Tatebayashi; the latter also makes decorative ceramic wallpieces based on real flowers.

WALLACE SEWELL STUDIO
December 4-8, Tue-Fri 10:30am to 5.30pm, Sat 11am-6pm at 24 Lloyd Baker Street WC1 (wallacesewell.com)

Christmas sale at this woven textile specialist, with throws, cushions and silk and cashmere scarves.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART CHRISTMAS FÊTE
December 7-9, Friday noon to 8pm, Sat and Sun noon to 6pm at Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore SW7, and December 12, noon to 6pm at The WestWorks, White City Place, W12

More than 100 RCA students, staff and alumni take part, with prices from £1 to £600.

Buy from stars of the future at rock-bottom prices. Profits go directly to the students. Lots of textiles, ceramics and jewellery.

CLOCKWORK STUDIOS
Dec 8-9, noon to 6pm at 38 Southwell Road, SE5 (clockworkstudios.co.uk)

Gloriously coloured ties and socks feature here from Victoria Richards, tie maker to newscaster Jon Snow, plus luxury textiles from Sophie Roet.