by Noella Noelophile®
(Royalty-free image by Ray Miller from Pixabay.)
Okay, here’s a dilemma.
Over the years of doing this blog, I’ve had the pleasure of talking with so many talented small-business owners that I’ll never be able to name them all!
No matter who gets profiled here, I’m going to miss mentioning someone. Let me try, though, to name several talented artists and makers whose work you might like to see as we celebrate “Small Business Saturday”.
Something new has been added
(Royalty-free image by traveller537 from Pixabay.)
Starting off with one that’s new this year: Meglet’s Cottage.
“Happiness is being creative,” says proprietor Meg on her Facebook page.
And the designs she’s sharing are enough to make anyone happy.
In just the past few weeks, she’s displayed button Christmas trees (who would have thought of those? Not me!), wooden handpainted “gift tag” ornaments and, my favorite–wooden reindeer with all kinds of festive Christmas patterns!
Rumor has it that Meg may be planning some handcrafted-art workshops in the future. For now, you can see her work at the above link and on her “Chalk Couture” page.
Wowing with graphics
(Photo courtesy of Torrance Craftsmen’s Guild.)
Two years ago, I had the opportunity to interview Kards by Angie proprietor Angela Jackson.
I’m still wowed by the fact that she’s never had formal graphic-arts training.
Angie can design greeting cards for any occasion imaginable–and her work is absolutely gorgeous.
My personal favorite, for this Christmas season, is her red poinsettia with the sparkly red and green accents. But she also has a striking Kwanzaa card, as well as her African designs and her whimsical dog tangled up in Christmas lights.
That’s only one aspect of her work. You might also like to check out her birthday, flowers (those ribbon roses and lilies especially!) and general-occasion greeting cards.
As a small business, she can also craft individual cards if you just need one or two.
And if you’d like to meet and chat with her as you browse her work, Angie is exhibiting tomorrow, November 27th, in San Pedro–and has upcoming shows in Redondo Beach and San Pedro. Here’s a link to her schedule.
Steampunk creative
How do you craft jewelry and create something brand-new?
Well, if you’re Ali Krajewski, you combine Victorian and steampunk influences to make some very fun, imaginative things.
Ali, who is the proprietor of Long Beach-based Accessory Alchemy, has that gift down to a science.
Steampunk clock faces and porcelain Victorian roses adorn the barrettes she makes. Her earring selection includes Gothic-looking Victorian teardrop dangles, steampunk clock faces and eye-catching skeleton keys.
For the men, her creations include compass and clock-face cuff links, money clips with gears and tie clips featuring vintage watch faces.
My all-time favorite of her creations, however, is the miniature Christmas tree pendant under a tiny miniature dome. I wear mine every year, and so do several of my gift recipients!
According to her “Find Me” link on her website, Ali will also be exhibiting her work in the upcoming weeks: both at L.A. Comic-Con, December 2nd through 4th, and at Jackalope Burbank, December 10th and 11th.
His time is your heirloom
Okay, let us not be sexist about this. So far I’ve spotlighted some amazing women makers (with two more coming up).
But let’s also showcase a man who’s creating something amazing: woodworker David Ortega, of Heirlooms Etc.
David creates Craftsman- and mission-style mantel clocks and accessories. While his talent as a woodworker shines through his coat racks, tissue boxes and picture frames, his clocks are my personal favorite.
Each named for a different tree, these have that warm, burnished-wood look. These strike me (sorry, I’ll stick to my day job!) as a great special gift for someone. In fact, years ago, my mom and I went in together to buy my favorite uncle a handcrafted grandfather clock, which stood in his living room for the rest of his lifetime. I’m reminded of that clock every time I see David’s work.
While his Etsy page doesn’t show any upcoming appearances, it certainly does exhibit some beautiful work at which you might like to take a look.
Magic and miniatures
Is The Enchanted Wren magical–or just very talented?
Yes.
There seems to be very little that paper and fiber artist Barb Lieberman can’t do.
Her Etsy store creations include paper art, paper earrings, enchanted miniatures and stickers–all inspired by magic and nature. Her miniature “Moss Embroidery with Pumpkin” is a personal favorite. However, I can’t wait to see what Yule-themed art she may come up with!
Barb has been known to share her art by teaching classes in the past, and I can only hope she’ll do that online in the future. Meanwhile, if you’re in the Bay Area, you may get a chance to meet her firsthand, next Saturday, December 3rd. She’ll be one of the exhibiting artists in San Francisco School of Needlework and Design’s “Fantastic Fiber Fair”!
Seeds of magic
And last but by no means least is Ellie Lieberman, proprietor of Acorn Tops.
Ellie’s creative style leans heavily towards enchantment.
With the goal of bringing magic into daily life, Ellie carves, stitches, paints–and infuses magic into her work.
Carved fairy doors are her specialty, along with stitched sachets (her fabric trees and stars would make excellent stocking stuffers!), and her ornaments are eye-catching and unique. Meanwhile, if anyone in your house happens to be allergic to scent (and one of our cats is!), she can craft a pumpkin, star, Christmas tree, heart etc. that’s scent-free.
My personal favorite of her creations is a red Christmas-themed fairy door, which is usually one of the first ornaments we unwrap and set out as we decorate. But she also makes fairy houses, handpainted ornaments and scented bookmarks.
Bookmarks? Well, like her mom, Barb, Ellie is a gifted author. Don’t miss her Christmas story “The Memory Tree”, her novel, “Be” and her first novella, “Society’s Foundlings”, among her books!
And if you’d like a great, Christmasy read that features both their talents, check out a copy of the multi-author anthology “Enchanting Yuletide”, in which both Barb and Ellie have published Christmas stories!
Happy Small Business Saturday! Now–who are some of your favorite small businesses that you’d like to support, this Christmas season?