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