Cool Gifts for Craft Lovers from the West Coast Craft Festival
As appealing and convenient it is to gift something that has been mass produced from established and well known brands, it is often even more appealing to many people to receive something that was hand made from a creator that has just been discovered. In fact, for them the journey is truly the destination. In our journey through the West Coast Craft Festival in San Francisco, TasteTV editors discovered several attractive and unique items that truly will make someone very, very happy when they receive them.
Award Winning Perfumes and Fragrances
SENT NUDES
Are you looking for stylish fragrances that will look as awesome on your dresser as well as smell fantastic on you? These award-winning creations from SENT NUDES will fit both of those criteria. Designer Christine Mineart’s collection of fragrances is handcrafted in Oakland, California from botanical extracts of flowers, herbs, woods and other earthly sources. Several of her scents recently placed in the high ranks of the Artisan Fragrance Awards.
Handcrafted Luxury Leather Wallets and Bags
JAW Leather Goods
When you think about how long you’re going to be having a favorite wallet, a very nice bag, or even a basic card holder, you definitely want it to be something that is striking and feels great to hold and admire. This hand made collection of accessories from JAW Leather Goods comes in rich combination of color palettes that will make you want to show them off to everyone, and definitely makes gifts that will be well-appreciated.
A Kit that Will Keep You Calm and Revitalized
CEYBON
Dr. Giulietta Octavio’s CEYBON features plant-based medicinals and healing cocktail elixirs that are designed to be dropped right onto your tongue, or to be put into sparkling water or beverages. You can even use them in coffee, and this gift set comes with a bag of San Francisco’s favorite Ritual Coffee. The name on each bottle tells you exactly when they’re supposed to be applied, for example for improved digestion, sleep, or pain relief.
Artisan Jewelry with Fruits and Flowers
WOLL
If you’re going to put something on your ears, make it fun and eye-catching. WOLL is a California based design studio focusing on jewelry and accessories, and all of their pieces are made by skilled crafts people in California and New York using high quality materials that are imbued with a sense of joy, nature, and mouthwatering pastels.
Artisan Jewelry with Refined Bling
Lingua Nigra
Lingua Nigra can be translated as Black Tongue, or Black Language. Or even Black Taste. Either way, these pieces of texturally rich and organic jewelry shine in a way that will make you feel like the Queen of Egypt. Designer Alicia Goodwin earned her degree at the State University of New York Fashion Institute of Technology, and she works using several techniques, most notably acid etching and metal reticulation. Her brass, silver and gold collections are inspired by nature, with a focus on ancient talismans, Victorian era work and mourning sentimental jewelry.
Handsewn Happy Jackets and Bags
DoDo Studio
One thing the pandemic has done is brought us a new crop of creatives, including dodo studio. Rather than sit around for an entire doing nothing, DoDo Studio designer Jack Reed hand cut in hand sewed an entire collection of jackets, bags and pillows that express that desire for inner happiness and to make people externally joyous. Says Los Angeles-based Reed, “All creations are sold as art…At Dodo Studio, we design objects that are fondly familiar yet curiously odd and exciting.”
Some Wild and Furry Colors
Lana Licata
Maybe you know someone who likes things a little fuzzy? And not metaphorically, we mean literally fuzzy. It’s up to you to decide if you might want to wear these, hang these on the wall, or just lay down on the couch with your head on top of them. All sound like comfortable choices. In addition to Lana Licata’s fuzzy selections, there are other bright and stylish clothing pieces from which to choose from this artist-driven boutique, including beaded purses that she calls “a beautiful, handmade, unique, one of a kind, durable, a walking art piece on your shoulder.” Lana’s resume includes both the California College of the Arts, and the AICAD Studios in Brooklyn, and she regularly shows her work in galleries across the Golden State.
A Place to Hold Your Guitar (or Cookbook)
OFT (One Forty Three)
The minimal and functional designs from OFT (One Forty Three) were handcrafted in southern Nevada using timeless methods and natural locally sourced materials that include molded plywood, bent solid seal, and Hansel and brass. Two of their furniture accessories are designed specifically for use to hold guitars, but for those of you who like to cook a lot and spend time in the kitchen, you will find that these are equally useful as cookbook holders. Especially if you have large and expensive cookbooks. The wood options come in natural Walnut, Oak or Teak hand-sanded and coated in high-performance satin lacquer for durability and eye catching appeal.
Badass Knife with Awesome Carved Handle
Everett Noel Knives
Everett Noel turned to making knives as a hobby, but over time that hobby turned into a craft. He craftsmanship has produced a range of knives that go from small in size to quite large, and all have a very unique look and feel. Our favorite is this one, with the blade that curves under the handle so there’s no chance that your fingers will slip on to the sharp edges, as well as gives you the feel that you may be equipped with a Klingon “bat’leth” every time you go to battle with a new recipe. Of course, as fine as this knife and its beautifully carved wooden handle are, you may just want to hang it on the wall and frame it.
