Pintuck tea towels

Last year, I was in charge of organising Secret Santa at work. I asked everyone to supply a list of three things they would like to receive. Anyway, I was inundated with complaints from people who couldn't think of anything to put on their list. Fine, I conceded, they could have a surprise instead.

But really, who can't think of anything to put on a list? Ever since I got flashing reindeer antlers from Secret Santa one year, I have believed in the importance of asking for exactly what you want.

My list consisted of:

• socks
• Green and Blacks chocolate
• tea towels

Perhaps not the most exciting list ever*, but look at the beautiful possibilities there are in the tea towel world.

The tea towels below are by Pintuck, a lovely British label, and cost a reasonable £9.50, including postage. I think they are very relevant in today's miserable economic climate. They have aprons too, and shopping bags.

* I really believed I could not go too wrong with this list, especially as I worked in publishing, an industry where almost everyone has impeccable style taste. I did receive a tea towel, and it was pink - not my colour - but very pretty indeed, and very useful, so thank you Secret Santa.

Photos via Pintuck.