Seasonal & Holidays
12 Handmade Gift Ideas from California Artisans
Get inspired by a few local crafters to gift something handmade this holiday. The best part? You can shop these goods online.
Colorblock Leather Tote, $238
This simple colorblock leather tote is high fashion and handmade. A lucky lady will love this stylish bag big enough to carry all her daily essentials.
About Flowie:
"Flowie brings sweet and refreshing style to bags and accessory products, many featuring original textile designs. All products are handmade (and made-to-order) in Flowie's California studio. Each bag is unique! Since we use genuine leather, the texture of leather naturally varies from piece to piece."
This pitcher belongs on the table of a hostess with the mostess. It's 8 inches wide and 10.5 inches tall, perfect for serving up any beverage stylishly.
About Bauer Pottery Company:
"We make all of our products by hand using a traditional cast and kiln method. Our pottery is made from earthenware sourced right here in California."
Pineapple Lasercut Journal, $29
The cover of this cute pineapple journal is laser cut on certified, sustainable wood, and the back cover is navy vinyl.
About Cardtorial:
"At Cardtorial, we love paper goods so much we took them back to their roots. Hand-crafted and laser-cut onto beautiful, sustainable wood, each Cardtorial keepsake is meant to be just that-kept and treasured for always. Why wood? It's natural, elegant in its simplicity, and it lasts and lasts, like all great memories should. Our modern, whimsical designs paired with wood's timeless charm make for a surprising, delightful gift."
Golden Retriever Handbag, $24.95
Know a goldie lover? Who doesn't. Friends and family will love this dog tote even more when you tell them 10 percent of every product purchased on ToteTails.com goes directly to benefit the SPCA, Humane Society and other animal welfare organizations.
About ToteTails:
"All of our products are designed, illustrated and manufactured in our artist's workshop in Dixon, CA. We use digital illustration techniques to hand draw our illustrations. We then print out our beautiful custom and personalized designs onto our extra large and all natural farmers market 100% cotton twill tote bags. All of our tote designs are washing machine safe and easy to care for. We like to think of our pet themed totes as 'functional art' and we hope that all of our customers receive tremendous enjoyment and long lasting use out of each of our tote bags!"
Vinyl Record Bowl, $12.99
Here's a unique gift for any music lover. This bowl is handmade using an original Johnny Cash vinyl record. You may not be able to play it anymore, but this work of art will remind you of a world before digital music.
About Records And Stuff:
"We are located in San Diego, California. We began selling our handmade vinyl record clocks and record bowls in 2010. We are first & foremost music enthusiasts. With music primarily digital these days, we felt a nostalgic need to bring those old vinyl records back - and out in the open where they belong. We hope you enjoy our products as much as we enjoy making them!"
Llama Bow Tie, $13.99
You can be certain no one else will show up to the party wearing your bow tie if it’s covered in llamas. All Unique Chic bow ties are hand sewn and made to order.
About Unique Chic Bowtique:
"We make handmade specialty bow ties and hair bows for any occasion. Be unique and chic with our fun designs. Wear your unique chic bow proudly. Because, you can be certain that your purchased bow is handmade in the USA, in sunny California to be exact. We began by designing unique fabric, which is sent to be printed on 100% combed cotton fabric."
Heart Crochet Coaster, $28.99
Why settle for a single color when you can have a rainbow? This set of handmade cotton heart coasters will brighten any rainy day.
About Geekirumi!
"My process is simple yet focused on the detail. I like to start looking at images and thinking about how to embellish them by mixing forms that not necessarily go together. I like to put some humor on some of these creations! That's why you'll find a zombie candy corn creature next a to cute kitty cat. Then it begins the process of designing and making. The results are most of the times different than I thought, because I usually get more elaborated ideas while I'm crocheting and giving form to my original concept. Crocheting is for sure the best part of the process. And, yes, showing my work to people and making them happy with it makes me happy too. Geekirumi! is the work of one person, that's why I believe it should be a store that keeps business in a humane scale."
Neon Red Slingshot, $34
Every kid (or kid at heart) could use a slingshot. This one-of-a-kind slingshot is handmade in San Francisco from forked tree branches and outfitted with a leather projectile pouch. It's airbrushed with acrylic paint to make these neon slingshots the most colorful mischief-makers ever.
About Hella Slingshots:
"Of all the things that bring us sheer childlike joy-the yo-yo, the jump rope, the tree swing-the slingshot is tops. Stuffed in a back pocket and taken for a hike, it leads to endless amusement and mischief. I fell back in love with slingshots while adventuring on camping trips and bicycle tours. To kill time, my buddies and I would shoot cans, bottles, and bodies of water. Being a crafty sort of person, I thought I'd try making a few unique slingshots for myself. I got a little carried away-as I often do-and as you can see, I now make a slew of wooden slingshots along with other classic wooden toys and home goods."
Foodie Dice, $24
Get a foodie out of their rut with this fun way to shake up mealtime. Foodie Dice provide inspiration for creating simple, seasonal meals. Just select five primary dice, add a seasonal veggie die and roll. Then shop, cook, and eat.
About Two Tumbleweeds:
"Two Tumbleweeds is a Sonoma County, California-based company that creates uniquely crafted goods that inspire creativity in everyday life, the first of which was Foodie Dice.® Hailing from the great Midwest, then individually tumbling through many locations, we're two sisters who always hoped we'd eventually land in the same place and have the chance to combine our unique talents to create something bigger. That dream came true in 2013-we launched Two Tumbleweeds with our first product, Foodie Dice.®"
Personalized Name Plate Necklace, $19
This dainty necklace features a thin rectangular plate that can be personalized with a name or nickname, initials, or a short message.
About MignonandMignon:
"As our shop name suggests, Mignon and Mignon (MaM) is dedicated to bringing you a cute, delicate, elegant style that is perfect for any occasion. The Mignon and Mignon staff has always loved discovering the beauty in simple things, and it brings us great joy to be able to provide simply beautiful jewelry to our customers. We specialize in hand-stamped bars, charms, and pendants that come in a variety of finishes including gold, rose-gold, and silver. Our items are dainty, simple, and can be personalized with names, initials and special messages, making them perfect gifts for your loved ones."
Good Day, Bad Day Glass, $14.99
This etched glass is for anyone who likes to unwind with a cold drink in their hand. It holds 11 ounces of whiskey, scotch or bourbon, and the etching is dishwasher safe.
About Frederick Engraving:
"My husband and I design all of our layouts via computer. After an order is placed, we customize the text in our graphic design program, and send it over to one of our laser engraving machines (We have three in our home studio). After prepping the item, and the laser, we focus the laser beam on the item, and program the job into the machine. The best part is pushing the 'Go' button and watching the magic happen!"
California Cheese Tray, $39
This gift is full of Golden State pride. Handcrafted out of bamboo cutting board, this fun piece can be used to spice up serving appetizers, cutting veggies or snacking on cheeses.
About Backstage Goods:
"We are a group of theatrical artisans keeping our hands busy between shows. We use the off cut material as much as we can to keep our waste down. We are always coming up with new items so check back regularly."
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