Because I had to prep the fireplace for my Holiday Studio Tour, I’ve been in Holiday mode for awhile. So have all the big box realtors!! I find it frustrating that so many businesses turn the season of giving into a season of selling. However, I do love to give (and receive!) gifts! As much as possible, I like to give things I’ve made myself (or made with the rest of the family), but that isn’t always possible. I’ve been purchasing lots of handmade items from online shops for this holiday season, and I thought that I’d share them with you; perhaps I’ll introduce you to a new artist that makes something perfect for someone on YOUR gift list (or yourself!) So, here’s a list of what I’ve been buying for this holiday season (all pictures are from the respective artist, there are links to each shop throughout the post).
Yummy Deliciousness
Darthia Farm
This farm is located in Downeast Maine, and has been certified organic for 35 years! It’s run by Cynthia and Bill Thayer, they are old family friends. I have many fond memories of vising the farm when I was young – they were very inspiring to me. In fact, Cindy’s weavings made by wool she raised, dyed and spun herself were probably my introduction to textile art!
They have a farmstand where they sell their veggies and goat’s milk during the summer, and every winter they have a holiday shop, where they ship preserves and other delicious goodies, as well as wonderfully smelling decorations made with balsam pine cut from their own organically managed woodlot. Cindy and Bill suffered a devastating blow in a year and a half ago – their 150 year old barn burned down, with all their livestock: three horses, 20 sheep, pigs, cattle, and many young birds! Oh, it was hearbreaking. They are part of an incredible community that spreads far and wide: donations, both monetary and of hard work, enabled them to rebuild this timber frame barn which houses their new animals. Bill has a team of Haflinger horses, Andy and Archie, and they’ve been given a small flock of glorious Island sheep.
Something lovely from their shop has been my go-to gift this season, take a look and see if anything there would be a good fit for someone on your list!
Functional and Beautiful
Silly Boodilly
The simple, elegant work of Victoria Gertenbach truly elevates the homespun feel of the cloth that she uses. She and I became friends after meeting on the set of Quilting Arts TV 3 summers ago, and she made a pair of lovely art quilts with indigo dyed fabric I sent her this Summer, one of which now belongs to me! I bought this pincushion from her last year:
and covet a few of these fabulous hand stitched beads she makes:
If you’ve never seen her work, take a minute and stop by her blog or her shop!
Made in Lowell: Liz Smith
Liz is a twitter pal who works in Lowell, Massachusetts. I purchased some beautiful felted hair jewelry from her:
and also some lovely cards that her Mom paints:
And look at this incredible felted cupcake pincusion:
You can find these, and lots more beautiful hand felted, crocheted and knitted accessories at her shop: Made in Lowell.
Sage Advice and Lots of Color!
Aimee from Artsyville
Aimee Dolich’s art is an awesome combination of on-point observations about life combined with awesome color and delicious handwriting.Last year she self-published a book “The Things We Do” about parenting, I had to immediately get 3, one for myself, and 2 for my best buds here in Redlands who are also Moms – I know the way she describes parenting joys and trials would ring true with them.
This year she produced her own line of washi tape, I’m going to have fun decorating packages with my set:
I also have several of her prints, but I thought that these groovy doodle clips would make great stocking stuffers:
You can find these, and lots more, at her shop: Artsyville.
Stephanie Levy
Ah, Stephanie is such a talented artist who is SO inspiring! She’s a Tennassee native who lives with her family in Berlin. She shares her love of travel to all places European on her blog, it’s amazing how intrepid she is! She’s been running her very popular “Creative Courage” e-courses for a year now, and has just begun offering a collage e-course as well! I’ve told Santa that I’d like some of her prints for my new kitchen. Both “London”:
and “Helsinki”
would look great in my newly renovated kitchen! Check out these and other lovely pieces in her Etsy shop.
Sarah Ahearn Bellemare
Oh, I love, love, LOVE Sarah’s work! She is a mixed media artist who often features botanical images – she very skillfully lays down color after color, and then includes just enough text to add to the mood. I’m putting this print on my Christmas list:
I buy one of her 5″ x 7″ calendars each year – it fits on a little clipboard and hangs in my studio. She hasn’t posted a 2014 calendar in her shop, fingers crossed she will!
She also has lots of amazing art, please go check out her work!
Holiday Decorations
Skinny LaMinx
I’ve written about my love for everything Heather Moore does before – her paper cutting art rocks my world! Last year, the second I saw an Instagram picture with these ornaments in them, I was at her shop to see if they were for sale yet! They were, and a pack of both the bird and baubles ornaments, lasercut from birch, were winging their way to SoCal from South Africa!
Of course, I needed some birdie gifts tags as well, to gussy up my packages!
Take a peek in her shop and revel in all the glorious screen printed fabrics as well: Skinny LaMinx.
The Little Red Door
The wee clay houses made by the Little Red Door always make me smile. Now, she’s making awesome Christmas ornaments, I just ordered the house on the right:
and this tree last year:
This year this cute blue roof house will join them on the tree:
Head on over before they’re all gone!
Shane Keena
Shane is an amazing local ceramic artist. He usually makes huge, abstract sculptures based on sea-life, but this time of year, he also makes these incredible ornaments:
He gets this incredible texture by applying precious metals to the orbs before firing:
They look like the most amazing granite in fantastical colors, don’t they? A few sets of these ornaments are making there way to several folks on our list this year (and another set is coming home to me!) Shane is pretty low-tech – this link takes you to a facebook album that I hope you’ll be able to see. If you would like to order one or more, just email him smkeena@gmail.com and he’ll send you a paypal invoice. He also is part of the Holiday Studio Tour(on Sunday only, his daughter’s birthday is Saturday) that’s just under 2 weeks from now, you should be able to pick them up there as well!
Phew! If you’ve made it all the way to the end of this post, congratulations! Looking at all the ways I’ve been able to find awesome gifts from artists close to me either in distance, or because of the internet, I am happy to report that it is easy to find gifts that are meaningful in so many ways! And of course, it would be silly of me not to mention that you can find lots of handmade gifts right here at Candied Fabrics! I’ve got lots of hand dyed silk scarves in stock:
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and I just put some headbands in the shop as well!
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And this whole week: 15% off all in stock items!! 🙂
One Response
What a wonderful post of handmade goodness! So much talent and so many goodies! I am honored t be included.
Thank you, Candy!
Wishing you and your family the Happiest of Holidays!