Pop-up presents

Apparently some people do their Christmas shopping ahead of the week-before-Christmas apocalypse, lovingly poring over ideas and browsing the shops until they find the perfect presents for their cherished ones. I personally find that a medium to high level of panic heightens my gift-buying ability, allowing me the focus I need to speedily purchase questionable objects in a matter of hours.

If you’ve vowed to be less like me this year or if you’re already good as a golden Christmas star, then here’s our top pick of pop-up Christmas gift shops to get cracking with your spending over then next few weeks.

For the crafty:

Made in Clerkenwell Winter Open Studios should yield a good few Christmas gift gems. Open from 25-28 November at Clerkenwell’s Craft Central building (London EC1R), this venue will be a key opportunity for female relatives, with a host of jewellery, fashion, ceramics and accessories made by more than 100 designers. They’ll also be plenty of designer-makers in their studios so you can find out about the gifts you’re buying and have a little story to tell during the great unwrap.

The Victoria and Albert Museum's open source-inspired Friday Late
The Victoria and Albert Museum’s open source-inspired Friday Late

For the cheapskates:

The Victoria & Albert Museum is hosting an Open Source Design Event as part of its next Friday Late on 26 November. As well as offering a night full of events based on skill-sharing, The Royal Collage of Arts Design Products MA students will be in the Grand Entrance to help visitors make clever and free Christmas presents. From origami food, heated business card holders and kitchenware made from recycled material, the students will be on hand to help you adapt their ideas to suit a loved one.

Jacqueline Rabun's alphabet
Jacqueline Rabun’s alphabet at The Temporium

For the design-lover:

Pop-up concept store The Temporium is a stylish alternative perhaps for the in-laws you’re keen to impress or the friend whose house you wrecked during last year’s New Years Eve party. Small independent or online brands, such as shoe designer Tracey Neuls, light designer Lee Broom and design-led furniture company Theo, will come together to fill the temporary central London space (221 Brompton Road, London SW3).

Books Room
Books Room

For the ‘zine fan:

For one day only this Saturday a number of independent publishers will come together for the Books Room publishing sale. Representatives from Duke Press, Famicon Express, Landfill Editions, Nous Nous and Tor Press will be selling comics, ‘zines and prints – perfect for cute hand-printed cards as well as presents for graphics fans. The sale will run from 12-4pm at Thomas Briggs Building, 2-4 Southgate Road, London N1.

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