by Noella Noelophile®
“Small Business Saturday” is here! And here are two new, 2017-minted small businesses, in the Southern California area, that you might like to consider supporting.
We’ll start this with a “Congratulations!” to Tamiza Teja, of Tamiza’s Treats. She opened her brand-new storefront, in Torrance, just before Halloween.
To say it’s a beautiful, welcoming space would be an understatement.
Tamiza, according to her website, has a degree in Dietetics and Food Administration from Cal State Long Beach. And she’s been offering cookies, cakes, craft breads and homemade candy (not to mention popcorn!) through her small artisan bakery at a number of special events over the last few years.
The new storefront is an exciting “next step” in her entrepreneurial journey.
While we love her fudge and chocolate-chip cookies made with applesauce, a yummmmm of a new discovery, for me, were her tangerine-raisin cookies. These have a sweet and tangy flavor, a little reminiscent of the orange jellies my grandmother used to keep for visiting grandkids–but better and healthier.
But Tamiza’s new store is about a lot more than just selling delicious artisanal foods–or even about cool crafts. (We didn’t know, until our recent visit, that those are another area in which she excels!)
Tamiza is both showcasing the work of fellow artists, with a limited number of kitchen-related crafts on display, and giving back to the community.
A portion of the proceeds on some of the items get donated to charity–as is the case with these vintage teacups and teapots…
…and these Christmas ornaments.
And, she even has a “cookbook lending library”!
Tamiza designs gift baskets, and is planning on teaching classes, in the new year, in her brand-new “Audrey Hepburn room”, adjacent to the store’s main area.
Tamiza’s Treats Artisan Treats and Gift Boutique, at 3525 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite Q, in Torrance, will be open Saturday, November 25th from 10 am to 4 pm.
Meanwhile, I have the pleasure of wishing a very Happy “First Small Business Saturday as Bookstore Owners” to Barbara and Ellie Lieberman! They opened their magical bookstore/art gallery, Pipe & Thimble Publishing and Bookstore, in early May.
Ever since, they’ve been coming up with fun ideas.
Board game nights, author signings, story time for the little ones and seed swaps have been just a few of the events Barb and Ellie have been hosting. As they operate Southern California’s first all-independent-authors’-titles bookstore, these two immensely talented authors/artrepreneurs are working on the principle of treating authors, and artists, right.
Recently, they did a fantastic “Winter Wonderland Art Gallery” with an array of eclectic creations by local talented artisans.
And for “Small Business Saturday”, you can expect to see more of the same kind of talent.
Pipe and Thimble will be displaying works by artists including Robin Kinnaman-Nieto (she’s also the co-author of the Tales from Mema’s Garden series!), whose needlecrafted dogs are seriously cute! The basset is a favorite, but if you have a specific breed in mind, she takes custom orders.
In addition, Jena Baxter is likely to have more of her fantastic scented soaps…Talented chef Meg Tessensohn will be on hand with Pampered Chef cookware. And Barb and Ellie will be showcasing their talents as artists, as well as authors, with a look into their respective magical worlds.
Barb’s most recent creations include “Thumbles”, very cute gnomelike creatures inspired by the Nordic Christmas tomten, and some adorable needlefelted snowmen.
Meanwhile, Ellie excels at creating fairy worlds, doors and fairy houses that will leave you enchanted!
But then–so will just about everything else about Pipe & Thimble, including the garden you’ll see upon arriving! Everything’s blooming and growing–a metaphor for what’s inside the store. If you love books, indie authors and talented crafters, I can only wish you good luck on leaving without at least six new treasures.
I haven’t managed to, yet–and I don’t expect today to be any different.
Pipe & Thimble Publishing and Bookstore, at 24830 Narbonne Avenue in the City of Lomita, celebrates its first “Small Business Saturday” today, Saturday, November 25, 2017, from 11 am to 4 pm.