Creative Entrepreneur
Maegan Monsees, the founder of Mae in Maine, transforms cotton rope into functional and beautiful home decor and accessories. She hand-coils and sews every piece on an industrial sewing machine and even hand-dyes cord to create one-of-a-kind pieces. Children and adults especially adore Mae in Maine’s gathering buckets for
creative inspiration
Peggy Li is the founder of Peggy Li, a woman-, Asian American- and Pacific Islander-owned jewelry brand. You may have spotted her designs on television, including “Arrow,” “Dead to Me,” “The Vampire Diaries,” “Private Practice,” “Witches of East End,” “Riverdale, “New Girl” and other hit shows. Peggy Li’s handmade
If you’re wondering what to get someone who loves baking, we suggest these handpicked gifts. Perhaps your gift will inspire them to share their goodies with you. Apron Every baker needs a good apron. The Hedley & Bennett brand is a fan favorite, enjoyed by professionals and hobbyists. We
We pulled together gift ideas for knitters and crocheters. As our editor hobby knits, we can tell you she’d love any of these suggestions. They range in price from stocking stuffers to over $100. So we ask you this: how generous are you feeling? Best Gifts for Knitters and
If you’re wondering what to get someone who loves to cook, we suggest these handpicked gifts. As you know, good home cooks are artisans in their own right, and the creative ideas below match that thought. “Menus” by Jacques Pepin (Signed Copy) Those who enjoy entertaining will appreciate this
Looking for a thoughtful gift for your crafty loved one? We did the research for you. These recommendations will nurture their creative soul. Plus, each one supports a small business. Private Virtual Calligraphy Lesson Gift a private, live and interactive lettering lesson to a friend or family member from Boston-based
If you have an artist on your holiday list, consider giving them something that supports their creative work. We asked artists to share gifts they’d appreciate receiving. These recommendations are handmade, sold by a small business or both. Check them out below. A Good Sketchbook Sketchbooks, especially handmade ones,
If you have a jewelry designer on your gift-buying list this year, why not get them something that can fuel their creativity? Handmade beads and findings can be unique and thoughtful gifts for jewelry makers, especially when they support small businesses. We’ve rounded up several of our favorites. Handmade
career change
After immigrating to the United States from Greece in 2019, Vicky Gkarmiri launched Next Door Goddess, a brand of limited-edition statement jewelry pieces inspired by her homeland. Though designing jewelry had been her passion for many years, Vicky’s decision to start Next Door Goddess wasn’t an easy one.
art
Sabine Joseph is the founder of All of Us, a line of skin tone crayons. Though when she made her first beeswax crayon, she didn’t intend to start a business. Sabine created it to solve a problem she had. “My daughter asked me to draw a photo of Grandma,
halloween
Many pet parents get a kick out of dressing up their furballs for Halloween, and the practice spreads joy. It’s hard not to smile when we see a cat, dog or hamster in costume. Here are three artisans who sell handmade Halloween costumes for pets. They all take custom
fashion
Handmade Halloween costumes are top of mind as the spooky day is quickly approaching. Since handcrafted clothing usually requires lead time, now is the perfect time to discover where to get handmade Halloween costumes. Artisan Joy knows just where to look. This article features two fashion designers who sew children’
A few years ago, Allegra Murray donated 36 handmade paper flower centerpieces crafted from upcycled book pages to her local library for a Jane Austen-themed event. “They were so well received that I decided to open The Petal Peddlerʼs Shop in 2018 to meet the demand,” she said about starting
Colleen Williamson was a marketing executive but charted a new course as an artist and entrepreneur, launching Kisco Print Shop in 2014. Colleen recalls that she wanted to explore her creative passions while spending time with her family. Colleen combines colors, patterns and shapes in her work and describes her
Yuliya Shulman creates colorful handmade jewelry and home and kitchen accessories made of polymer clay. We recently interviewed the artist to learn more about what motivated her to become a creative entrepreneur and the inspiration behind her work. AJ: How did you get started creating your art? YS: I’ve
artist
Interview with Crystal Walen One of the ways you can earn money from your art is to sell your designs on Spoonflower. We talked with Crystal Walen, the fabric pattern designer and artist behind the surface design brand Crystal W Design. In her interview, Crystal shared how she began selling