12 handmade gifts to buy this holiday season

I love personal gifts and small businesses. If there’s one great side-effect of entering into a design career, it’s being surrounded by amazing talent and creatives of all types. Often, my friends and coworkers turn to secondary creative outlets.

The following are all people I have personal relationships with, who make great products you can use this holiday season—for a touch more personal than the CVS card rack, or the As-Seen-on-TV store.

Greeting cards and paper goods

And Here We Are

what: handmade greeting cards, wax seals, and other custom stationery

where: New York and online orders

Capital Society

what: handmade greeting cards, stamps, and other custom stationery

where: DC/Virginia and online orders

DFMI Designs

what: handmade greeting cards and other custom stationery

where: Ohio and online orders

Home goods and fashion

AB Pottery

what: beautiful, unique ceramics

where: Ohio and online orders (via email)

Fashion Flamingo

what: earrings made from Scrabble pieces (proceeds toward charity)

where: Maryland and online orders

Katie McG Jewelry

what: necklaces and bracelets

where: Ohio and online orders

LON Little Shop

what: a store featuring hand-crafted items from local designers and artists

where: Colorado and online orders

Love Simple Herbals

what: handcrafted, natural soaps

where: Delaware and online orders

Edibles and plants

Coco Love

what: whoopie pies, cookies, and home goods

where: Pennsylvania and online orders

Dancing Bee Apiary

what: honey, soap, and more

where: Washington and online orders

Rogue Bakery

what: a cookie delivery service with seasonal flavors

where: Ohio and online orders

Walking Onion

what: plant nursery including edibles

where: Vermont

Honorable mention

Magic Maker Solutions

what: gift-wrapping and buying services

where: DC, Virginia, and Maryland

M and M Scrapbooking Retreats

what: group retreats to do some creative work of your own

where: Utah area