Tag Archives: handmade

Dec 2

Made in West Virginia: Fashion and Accessories

Happy Monday everyone!  Traditionally, today’s post would be part of Mountain State Monday but instead, I decided to do another Made in West Virginia post so you can go ahead and get started on your handmade holiday shopping.  To recap, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite items and gifts that are made right here in the Mountain State and challenge you to purchase one handmade item for every mass market item you buy this holiday season.  It is impossible for me to show you EVERYTHING, so please consider this a few highlights of the offerings out there.  So far, the Made in West Virginia series has featured great gift ideas for Jewelry (check out that post here) and will continue today with ideas for Fashion & Accessories.

Price Range:
$     $0 – $25
$$      $25 – $50
$$$      $50 – $100
$$$$      $100+

Cold Weather Gear

Wenweave

Hand dyed and weaved from luxurious natural fabrics, Wenweave offers a variety of scarves, pashminas, and shawls that are the perfect outfit accessory.  The color combinations are endless and blend beautifully for a one of a kind piece.  Bonus?  They’re incredibly soft!
$$$ – $$$$ Wenweave Website

Handbags

Handbags by Tennile

A bag for every occasion, Handbags by Tennile offers a variety of items from totes to clutches to crossbody bags and even child-size bags that are perfect for the young fashionista in your family.  She has a large selection of prints and styles, both festive and professional,  to suit every personality, style, and budget.  Customization is available.
$ – $$$ Handbags by Tennile

Those Shoes

  Known for his whimsical leather shoes, Mik Wright of Those Shoes is also an expert in accessories with a full line that includes small pouches (as shown above), checkbook holders, and business card cases.  Each item is made out of hand dyed and hand cut leather in virtually any color, always finished with fun designs and patterns.  You can also customize any product.
$$ – $$$$ Those Shoes Etsy Page


Hair Accessories

Hats by Tatiana Rakhmanina

Tatiana Rakhmanina’s hats are perfect for the sophisticated person in your life who loves to express her personality in the most notable ways.  Her hats and head bands make any occasion special and are a key item to have in your closet.
$$$ – $$$$  Hats by Tatiana Rakhmanina

Kniceley Sewn

 

Offering a full line of fashion that encompasses purses, aprons, and even clothes, Kniceley Sewn also has fun hair accessories for all ages from dramatic to adorable.  She especially caters to kids by creating matching “felt clippies” (pictured above) that coordinate with custom outfits — perfect for the young lady on your list!
$ – $$ Kniceley Sewn Facebook Page


Clothing

Nikki Butler Design


If clothing is on your list but you don’t want something you can pick up off the racks of a chain retailer, then Nikki Buttler Design is the go-to designer for funky, fresh clothes.  From silk belts to tunics like the one pictured above, her styles are glamorous and right on trend.
$$ – $$$ Nikki Butler Design

SustainU Clothing

sustainu
For that guy or gal on your list who prefers a simpler look, SustainU is a great go-to for t-shirts. Although the actual products are produced in neighboring states, SustainU is headquartered in West Virginia and feeds into the Mountain State economy.  All products are Made in the USA, so you can still feel great about shopping small.
$ – $$ SustainU Website

Stay tuned this week and next for more gift ideas!  Next time, it will be all about Bath & Body products followed by Home Decor & Furniture.

Until next time,
Sara (WV Travel Queen)

Disclaimer:  I may know and may own an item from the artisans listed in the above post.  However, all opinions are my own and are not influenced in any form.  Also, I do not own any of the photos listed above; they were all retrieved from the artisan’s website.  Please let me know if there is any conflict and I will remove the photos.

Nov 30

Made in West Virginia: Jewelry

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and enjoyed spending it with your loved ones — I know I did!  I also hope that if you ventured out in the shopping extravaganza that was Black Friday, that you were safe and able to score some good deals on your family’s must-have items.  However, as exciting as deals from big box stores are, there are plenty of small businesses in West Virginia where you can find the “must-have” gift for each person on your list.  This holiday season, I’d like to challenge you to shop local, purchasing at least one West Virginia made item for every mass market item you buy.  And I’d like to start that challenge by sharing with you some of my favorite Made in West Virginia items.

Originally, I was going to do a long post and lump everything together but oh my — there’s so many great items that I couldn’t narrow it down!  So I am going to break it up into two sections that will feature locally made items for everyone on your wish list, especially those who may be hard to buy for.  I simply cannot include every artisan, no matter how spectacular they are, but I do promise to give you a highlight of offerings for that special lady in your life regarding jewelry and fashion.

This first Made in WV post is for the fashionista in your life — your daughter, your sister, your wife, your mother, your friend.  These are some of my favorite jewelry pieces and I know from experience that they make the perfect gift.  If you have someone on your list who likes to express her personality through her jewelry, then these are perfect!

Price Range:
$       $0 – $25
$$       $25 – $50
$$$       $50 – $100
$$$$       $100+

If your giftee is…. Quirky and Unique
The Queen of Arts-Curiosities by Adrienne

Funky and expressive, The Queen of Arts creates wearable sculptures out of polymer clay.  Her signature item is her colorful octopus followed closely by her vibrant owls.  She also specializes in screen printing and mosaics and can do custom pieces.
$ – $$ The Queen of Arts Website

Judy Belcher Designs

Known worldwide as a master artisan in polymer clay, Judy Belcher creates intricate designs that are unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.  Her attention to detail is reflected in the quality of her work and she offers something for everyone and at every point.
$$ – $$$$ Judy Belcher Designs 

Chrizart

Always designing the unexpected, each jewelry line that Chrizart offers has a completely different personality.  From twisted aluminum pendants to intricate brooches and copper wrist cuffs, your hardest decision will be choosing which line to purchase from.
$ – $$$ Chrizart Webpage

If your giftee is… Fresh and Simple
Connie McColley, Handmade Jewelry

Connie hand makes each piece of jewelry, starting with a sheet of metal and adding texture via hammers and and a rolling mill.  The end result is an earthy, fresh piece of silver, copper, or brass.  She offers a full line of jewelry from necklaces to bracelets to earrings.
$$ – $$$$  Connie McColley, Handmade Jewelry

Emmers Jewelry

A great selection of wire-wrapped and beaded jewelry, Emmers Jewelry is the perfect place for earrings that are a little bit quirky, a little bit earthy, and definitely a breath of fresh air.  You can’t go wrong with one of her designs.
$ Emmers Jewelry Etsy Page

If your giftee is… Classic and Elegant
WV Gems

WV Gems transforms rocks, gems, minerals, and even fossils into beautiful pieces of jewelry they wrap and design themselves.  Their line offers a variety of styles from casual to formal and no two pieces are ever the same.
$$$ – $$$$ WV Gems 

TLH Jewelry

Teresa of TLH Jewelry dabbles in a bit of everything from pearls to gems to wood to hammered silver and each piece has one thing in common: their timeless designs.  Whether your giftee prefers chunky statement necklaces, a pop of color in her earrings, or a classy strand of pearls, TLH jewelry has something for everyone.
$$ – $$$ Holcomb’s Woodworking / TLH Jewelry

Until next time,
Sara (WV Travel Queen)

Disclaimer:  I may know and may own an item from the artisans listed in the above post.  However, all opinions are my own and are not influenced in any form.  Also, I do not own any of the photos listed above; they were all retrieved from the artisan’s website.  Please let me know if there is any conflict and I will remove the photos.