Okay, I have been wanting to compile a list if some of my favorite Atlanta Makers & small businesses and finally got some time to do so! If you need some inspiration for handmade, small batch and local holiday gifts, look no further!! Instead of relying on Amazon and big box stores to complete your Christmas shopping, consider checking out some of these fantastic makers & artists!! Even if your not in Atlanta (or even Georgia!) All of these lovely people have websites and plenty of online shopping options! I’ve included everything from art, stained glass, keychains, novelties and tea towels to puzzles, body products and so much more!! *Disclaimer, some of the artists and makers included here are not based in Atlanta but I had the pleasure of meeting them at a craft show or market here in Atlanta and love their work!!*
Very Good Puzzles
Instagram.com/verygoodpuzzle
Www.Verygoodpuzzle.com
Operating out of Athens, Georgia. Very Good Puzzle combines their love of puzzling and passion for Art. Their designs and photos are chosen from compelling Artists and Journalists and their hope is to share their perspective to a broad audience through the practice of puzzling! I bought one of these puzzles for my grandmother-in-law and she said it was one of the most challenging and enjoyable puzzles she’d ever worked! I can’t wait to see the new designs they come up with!!
Korai Goods
Instagram.com/koraigoods
https://koraigoods.com
Corrie of Korai Goods designs & creates hand-crafted jewelry, textiles, and ceramics from her studio in magical Pine Lake, GA. Her work is designed to be worn, loved, and passed down or over. Each piece is equal parts modern simplicity and organic imperfection. I own a few pieces of her beautiful, unique jewelry and have given her jewelry and hand printed tea towels as gifts! Corrie is someone I’d continue to shop with for years to come, I love seeing the new things she’s designing and creating each year!
Wilde Autumn Apothecary
Instagram.com/wildeautumn
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Wildeautumn Wilde autumn is a plant based esthetician and training herbalist based here in Atlanta. Incorporating spirituality in ways of plant magic into her knowledge of skincare to ceate healing products for body, mind, & soul. She has a huge offering if body care products including toners, bath bombs, eye creams, natural deodorants, salves, balms, scrubs, massage oils and even candles. So much amazing goodness to choose from!!
La Soucique Studio
Instagram.com/la_soucique_studio
http://lasouciquestudio.com/
Kimberly of La Soucique Studio is a silversmithing and jewelry designer based on little Amelia Island, Florida. Kimberly Hanna-Wallis, the chief gold and silversmith, is committed to a zero-landfill, 100% wind-powered studio working with sustainable precious metals and ethical processes in her jewelry design and production. This lady is AMAZING and so is her work!! I purchased two pieces from her last year at a craft show in Atlanta and I just connected with her is such a positive way. I cherish those pieces and can’t wait to purchase more of her work in the future!
Mother Cuffer
Instagram.com/mothercuffer
https://www.etsy.com/shop/mothercuffer/
Cynthia is the mother + cuffer, owner + operator of all the things at Mother Cuffer! She started this business a few years ago never dreaming it would be where it is today. Her cuffs are hand stamped and created using salvaged and upcycled materials! She has so many unique sayings and designs and is coming up with new ideas and designs all the time!
Gemini and the Wolf Candles
Instagram.com/geminiandthewolfcandles
https://geminiandthewolf.com/
These candles are super cool! Small batch, Hand poured and filled to the brim with magic!! Each candle contains a crystal that you can keep long after your candle is burned down!
Natty Michelle
Instagram.com/nattymichelle
https://www.etsy.com/shop/nattymichelle/
So much ATL goodness! Prints, cards, mugs, tee shirts, pencils, keychains, cozies, coasters, magnets, ornaments and so much more!! Plus she offers more than just Atlanta merchandise, for my Alabama and Auburn fans, you TOO can find some great hometown pride gear in her Etsy shop!
Jennifer Upton
Instagram.com/by.jennifer.upton
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ByJenniferUpton?ref=search_shop_redirect
Jennifer is an Atlanta based artist and photographer. It’s taken her years to perfect her process and as the daughter of a construction man and the wife of a builder, the remnants of construction projects- like sheet metal and wood- have always been a part of her life. When she realized she could make these techniques and materials a part of her artistic process, something in the universe aligned. Whether you are interested in a piece created with her own photography or want to create a custom gift using your photos or the photos of a loved one, her process can get you there, and leave you with something special on more levels than one. I love seeing Jennifer’s work around Atlanta, it is always so inspiring and I hope to own a piece of here work for myself in the near future!!
Farm 2 Face Beauty
Instagram.com/farm2facebeauty
https://www.farm2facebeauty.com/body
Farm 2 Face Beauty offers natural, plant based and organic solutions for your face, body, babes and Home made on their farm in McDonough, GA. They keep their footprint small by using recycled (and recyclable) kraft paper, boxes, labels, bottles and jars. Their candle wax and wicks are Eco friendly & made in the USA and create a cleaner burn for inside your home.
Georgia Jams
Instagram.com/georgiajams
https://www.georgiajams.com/
Lori, the owner/operator of Georgia Jams, LLC is such a sweet, amazing woman that I had the pleasure of meeting on my show “route”. She is a classically trained pastry chef who made her way back to Georgia soon after pastry school and started dabbling in preserving that summer. Her dad gave her a copy of the Ball Blue Book (the handbook on canning and preserving), my great-grandmother’s old tools, and a little guidance to set me off in the right direction. Jam was something she had to conquer. Learning from her mistakes, she started producing batches worth eating. That “worth eating” product quickly developed into a line of low-sugar fruit spreads that will change your idea of what jam should be!!! I can attest to this, her jams are AMAZING!!! I have been buying from her for 2-3 years now and plan to continue to do so as long as she’s making her YUMMY jams!!!
Studio Schmidt Designs
Instagram.com/studio.schmidt
https://www.etsy.com/shop/studioschmidtdesigns
I have know and worked with Shelley Schmidt for about a year now and she has become one of my favorite local “maker friends”! She helped me bring my coffee cat stickers to life! Shelley designs and creates uniquely patterned items with a cheerful spirit and a fresh, contemporary vibe! She uses eco-friendly and American-made materials whenever possible and designs all of the artwork for her fabrics and paper products. Not only that, she personally sews each and every fabric item herself in her Atlanta studio! From handmade journals, stationery sets, greeting cards, bookmarks, tote bags, kitchen tea towels, notepads, stickers & magnets to art prints, baby hats, baby blankets, and baby burp cloths- your sure to find something perfect for yourself or someone on your holiday list!
Miley Made
https://mileymade.com/
Miley Made started with a kitchen table for Thanksgiving dinner. The Atlanta couple, Rachel & Josh, then began to work on a line of hand made, useful goods with sustainability as a primary focus. Rachel sources her beeswax from local bee keepers and Josh sources his wood from local arborists and saw mills. They believe that bringing utility and beauty to every day tasks is just as important as sustainability, so they focus on unique patterns and interestingly figured wood. The kitchen table that started it all is still the table that they use every day. I got the opportunity to meet this inspiring couple through my craft show “circuit” and fell in love with their products and story!
LU LA Naturals
Instagram.com/lulanaturals
https://www.lulanaturals.com/
Louise, founder of Lu La Naturals, was in desperate need of a creative outlet so she picked up soap-making book at her local bookstore. She immediately immersed herself and felt liberated by the possibilities of simple ingredients – most of which she found in her kitchen. The moment she made her first bar of soap, she was hooked! She realized a newfound passion for helping others not only feel good about their skin, but their mind, body and soul. From there, Lu La Naturals was born. I have been using Lula’s “cold care” items for over 3 years now including shower steamers, menthol chest rub and topical oil rollers!! They are like magic!!!
Cutesturbing by Joe Havasy
Instagram.com/Cutesturbing
https://www.etsy.com/shop/joehavasy
Joe Havasy is an Atlanta based Artists who creates original paintings, prints, stickers, magnets and custom items that are cute, yet often a bit disturbing… My husband saw his work at a local show and LOVED it!! Since then he’s been a go-to for really cool, original stickers and magnets to cover our fridge!!! Be sure to check out his work for fun, quirky Christmas gift ideas!!
City in Bloom Ceramics
Instagram.com/cityinbloomceramics
https://cityinbloomceramics.com/
Meredith Elaine Bradley is a young ceramics designer living in Atlanta, Ga. Her focus is on small batch ceramics, that exhibit her skills in design layout pattern and screen printing. Her work is playful, feminist and chic! Meredith is a full time maker, dedicated to bringing beautiful, handmade pieces to an audience that desires more than the mass produced, impersonal wares our lives are often cluttered with (Ikea… amiright???). I fell in love with her work while in my craft show circuit and Meredith is a very sweet, talented and inspiring woman!!
Big Yellow Dog Designs
Instagram.com/bigyellowdogdesigns
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BigYellowDogDesigns
Ashli Keller makes the BEST vintage style keychains (with so many funny sayings and pop culture references!) If you are looking for stocking stuffers, gifts for coworkers, gift toppers, swap gifts, etc. These keychains are amazing!!! I met Ashli on my show circuit and this year worked with her to buy cat mom keys in bulk! She is super sweet and super creative- P.s. keychains aren’t all she has to offer so be sure to check out her shop!!
Pink Sheep Design (Who me??) 😂
You know I have to throw myself in there because it’s my blog… 😂😂 I’ve got tons of ready to ship cozy goodies in my shop including hats, scarves, gloves and of course my signature cat cozies!! All super chunky, warm & cozy… like a sheep in blanket (a pink one, of course!)
Magnolia Heather
Instagram.com/magnoliaheather
https://www.magnoliaheatherart.com/
If you’re looking for something SUPER unique, Heather O’Donnell of Magnolia Heather has something amazing for you! As an old soul with a desire for simpler times, she quickly fell in love with the art of embroidery. What started as a passion project, turned into an artistic focus when she began using magnolia leaves as her canvas. Her work is so unique I just couldn’t ignore it! Be sure to check it out this holiday season!!!
Southern Charm Textiles
Instagram.com/Southerncharmtextiles
https://southerncharmtextiles.com/shop/
Owner of Southern Charm Textiles, CJ Evans, moved to the South in 2001 after growing up in the Pacific Northwest. In no time, she fell in love with the southern way of life – the friendly people, slower pace and endless amount of endearing expressions. Among other things, the “peaches, porches and sweet tea” –as one of her most popular tea towels says it – became her way of life. What began as handmade housewarming and hostess gifts for local friends, quickly grew to a product line being sold in shops and markets all over the South. All Southern Charm Textiles products are made from start to finish by CJ and her small team of creators at their studio in Decatur, Georgia. I have known CJ for about 3 years now and she is such a sweet, positive, creative, caring woman!! I am so happy to have had the chance to meet and work with her and I absolutely love her work!!!
NOOSH Studios
Www.instagram.com/nooshstudios
https://nooshstudios.bigcartel.com/
Noosh is another one of my husband’s picks for this list! An Atlanta printmaker and woodcut artist, Noosh creates amusing designs out of wood. Since studying printmaking at Kennesaw State University, He shows work in galleries, at festivals, and on the streets of Atlanta! My husband found Noosh at one of my shows and bought me one of his orginal woodcut designs along with two block printed teeshirts for the both of us! It’s so cool, he actually prints the teeshirts on site using his original woodcuts!
Map of Home
Instagram.com/mapofhome
https://www.etsy.com/shop/mapofhome
Atlanta based small business, Map of Home, creates unique pieces to give people a new perspective on the world around them. That could be in the form of a clean-lined modern map offering a bird’s-eye view of a neighborhood. Or it could be a map using fresh colors to display waterways, geology, or other beautiful features of our natural world. Each map involves hours of research, figuring out how to visually display various data layers, experimenting with color palettes, and creating a final product that looks artistic and informative.
Lovely Bones Illustrations
Instagram.com/lovelybones.illustrations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/LovelyBonesBySydney
Sydney Ellen Privitera is a full-time artist currently based in Acworth, Georgia. She creates whimsical watercolor paintings, taking inspiration from the natural world and it’s many critters. She graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2015 majoring in Fine Arts, and after a year of unfulfilling work, decided that she would pursue a career that would allow her to live a life filled with love and passion. I met Sydney through the Atlanta craft show scene and have been craft show “neighbors” quite a few times. Her work is so beautiful & whimsical and I’ve always loved seeing her new designs each year!
Deercat Atl
Instagram.com/deercatatl
http://www.deercat.com/
Deercat is a collaboration of homemade, re-purposed, and outsourced goods that provide aesthetic inspiration for the soul. Thier mission is to contribute to a healthy and happy lifestyle for others, spread knowledge and love to those who seek it, and do what they can to help create a sense of community. Founder, Michaela, was born in Napa, CA. Blessed with a strong and capable mother who could build, create, or craft almost anything, she learned to make from an early age. After receiving a Biochemistry degree from UCDavis, she moved to San Diego and worked in the biotech industry focused on Leukemia research. It was there that she began mixing her love of science, with her passion for making that her mother instilled in her. It was also their that she met the love of her life while on vacation. And guess where he lived… Atlanta, GA! I got to meet Michaela on my show circuit and immediately knew she was “good people”. She’s so very sweet, caring and MAN is she creative!!!
Daylight Glassworks
Instagram.com/daylightglassworks
https://www.daylightglassworks.com/
Last but definitely NOT least is Daylight Glassworks, created by Day Kennedy. Day is a self-taught stained glass artist born and raised in Atlanta, GA. A lifetime of pursuing multiple creative outlets including fiber arts, painting, photography and metalwork led to the discovery of her passion for glass. She began researching and learning about the history of the art form and the tools and techniques involved. She bought a few starter tools and began experimenting, immediately falling in love with the process and design possibilities. She became captivated by all of the colors, textures, reflections and other “magical” qualities that different types of glass have and uses those qualities as inspiration for her designs. I met this happy soul in the Atlanta craft show scene and am SO glad I did! Her work is beautiful, unique and well made!
This is nowhere NEAR all of the local artists and makers worth checking out but they are a few of my favorites and can get you started!! Maybe I’ll do another post as Christmas gets closer if I get good feedback on this post!! Are you a local maker?? I’d love to check out your work! Please share your Instagram account, shop website and what you create in the comments!!! #makerlife 🙌🎄
