If you've already tried your favourite canal market but are still looking for some inspiration for an original gift idea, here are eight suggestions from some narrowboat-based businesses.

1. The Crafty Canal Cruising Co.

Philippa Eyre creates hand crafted fabric bags, purses, children's aprons, phone cases, glasses gases, pencil cases, make up bags and other items, plus rag rugs and cushions in a variety of sizes and colours.

2. Boat Handling Training

For the lady in your life: Linda Andrews offers training courses in boat handling, especially for ladies, at Cheshire Cat Training, a small, friendly, RYA Recognised training establishment, based near Audlem in Cheshire. Linda has been a canal enthusiast for years, and has worked in the industry since 2001. She has lived aboard her own boat and cruised extensively on the inland waterways, both on canals and rivers. Cheshire Cat Narrowboat Training

3. Life Coaching

If someone you know is facing a major decision in their career, life or relationship at the moment, a gift of a life-coaching session could help your loved one to discover what they actually want. In her work as a career and life coach, Christine Rigden helps people to find more clarity about who they are, and to know their own mind Insights for Change.

4. Stained Glass

Martin Farrant works with stained glass for cratches, suncatchers, terrariums or even repairs, restorations and gifts. Ark Stained Glass offers original stained glass for the narrowboat community and beyond.

5. Doggie Gifts

Golden Boyz Doggie Gifts sell doggie based gifts for both dogs and humans from a narrowboat which moors in popular dog walking spots. Dog-lover and narrowboater Sandra Willis also offers personalised pet poetry: Moments in Rhyme.

6. Jellygnomes Art Prints and T-Shirts

Lesley Pearson is an illustrator and artist who loves to paint, draw and sketch. In recent years,the material for her painting has come from her narrowboat travels. Her boat, Hekla; is both her floating home and studio which occasionally opens as a gallery too. Jellygnomes Webshop

7. Handmade Rope Fenders

For a more practical present, PJ Fenders offers handmade rope fenders for narrow boats. Jennie Howland sells hand made rope fenders of all sizes, rope ladders, mooring ropes and more.

8. Fine Art and Boat Decoration

Penny Taylor-Beardow’s work includes paintings, canal-ware and doorblocks featuring birds of prey, kingfishers, owls, wrens, boats. briar roses etcetera. She also enjoys new challenges and has recently been asked to paint dogs, animals and people on door panels! Taylor-Beardow.com

If you’d love to start your own boat-based business in 2016 check out http://www.boatshedbusiness.com where a variety of business options offer you training, support and the opportunity to be a part of our global network.

Peggy Melmoth

Image credit: Golden Boyz Doggie Gifts

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