It’s that time of year again. the time to buy gifts for those you love – or yourself because let’s be real. This year has been something else. I’ve continued to create myself and have come across so many awesome businesses this year that are so wonderful. A few are new this year & are absolutely amazing – and a good chunk on this list have been around for a while.
Once again, beyond me plugging myself this is not a sponsored post. I am just spreading the love and sharing some really amazing folx from Milwaukee and beyond. I encourage you to share/save this post to come back to it even after the season is over. Do you have a small shop that you love? Drop it in my comments below.
Half of the images in this post are pulled from others various shops, in order: soulroost, high tea, liv lysvzyk prints, keela vangrinsven art, some people i know
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- Soulroost – I’ve just gotten back into painting. It has ebbed and flowed throughout this year but I’ve come to realize it is quite therapeutic for me. Especially through this pandemic I have found a lot of solace in being able to create things. It makes me giddy to get packages ready to go. This has been such a wonderful way for me to center my self. I really enjoy making things & allowing my emotions to come out through this art & it has been a great way for my daughter and I to bond. It is a catalyst for conversation between us and I wouldn’t trade that in for anything. Beyond paintings I also have prints, found item candles, essential oil roll ons, bath bombs, and now I feature a small area full of work you can purchase from my daughter (all those proceeds go directly to her). Art is for everyone!
- High Tea – High Tea is a lovely Milwaukee company which sells CBD honey + a few other products. I have used so much of their honey over the past year. Right now they have elderberry honey in stock which is absolutely delicious and helps combat those winter colds.
- Fragment Jewelry Co. – Sarah makes some truly gorgeous earrings. I have two pair from their shop so far & I’ll probably get another pair for myself sometime soon because they are so fab.
- Not Your Sweetie – “Chocolate with a feminist agenda.” This chocolate is absolutely rad. They are mostly sold out from their latest drop – but I encourage you all to get on this waitlist. Valentine’s day is coming! Seriously. Do it.
- Liv Lyszyk Prints – Liv creates some really amazing prints / mugs / holiday cards & stickers. Boob prints, pride prints, mugs, greeting cards – I pretty much love everything in their shop. From Liv “I’m primarily a wedding and portrait photographer but as the year got wild I wanted to find something to occupy my time. Watercolor kind of fell into my lap and after I posted my watercolor boobs design online I had a ton of interest and that’s how it started! Now I do mostly digital work but still incorporate original watercolors into a lot of what I do. I draw inspiration from my own interests, feminism, activism, lgbtq pride, and mental health advocacy. Since opening in June my work is now in three different brick and mortar stores and I’ve been lucky enough to ship to almost 35 states! I’m also super lucky to have so much support from my partner as well who gifted me and iPad and cricut for Christmas and my birthday which have taken my shop to the next level! I’m so glad that I made this opportunity for myself to learn and grow in a way that I haven’t before. Retail is totally different than service based work which I was used to, but I’m so glad it’s been received so well. “
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- Leaf & Luna – Leaf & Luna crafts really fabulous handmade jewelry. They currently have a tear drop necklace in their shop that I adore + a lot of their pieces are currently on sale. “Obsessed with the act of creation since they could hold a crayon Bianca Brandolino explores figural abstraction through a genderqueer lens; focusing in the combination of textile and paint to create a visual landscape of the human body that feels familiar but also surreal. While not painting, they’re making gemstone jewelry for their jewelry business, Leaf and Luna, cooking with tomatoes, or watching some 80’s retro anime.”
- Hundred Grasses | Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine – Feeling a little burned out on the holiday season or looking to take care of someone else? Hundred Grasses is a great way to find a way to re-center & take care of yourself. Krista uses Traditional Chinese Medicine to give individualized and holistic care to her clients through acupuncture and other techniques.
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- Keela Vangrinsven Art – I definitely have the Ruth Bader Ginsburg print (pictured left) for my daughter’s room. I love the bold colors of Keela’s work. My prints from their shop came with a lovely handwritten note & a Black Lives Matter sticker which was a really lovely, unexpected surprise. Here’s a little bit from the artist & their journey into their craft: The beginning was May of 2020 when a Black man by the name of James Scurlock was murdered by a known racist at a Black Lives Matter protest in Omaha. As a Black woman, I felt scared, overwhelmed, and helpless. I wanted to do my part in helping James Scurlock and his family reach justice, so I took commissions for portraits in exchange for donations to his family’s GoFundMe. I was able to raise over $300 in donations!…I enjoy painting portraits the most. I like the idea of breaking rules for how people should look – and in general, I love that art allows me to do whatever I want. A lot of life is doing things we’re “supposed” to do, or are expected to do.
- Some People I Know – absolutely adore Tyler’s bright colors in his work. His portraits are wonderful and bring a new perspective to portraits. I recently bought two of his paintings. They came wrapped with care & with a cute little card + a magnet. When I asked him about his work, he told me “…it’s all about giving up whatever idea I had about what “art” is or what I’m allowed to do or not to do. I’ve spent a lot of time letting my style form itself and letting it do it’s own thing, which has been super helpful to me and I hope it helps bring joy to others when they see it!”
- M Jade Design – From earrings to mugs and tumblers, M Jade Designs has so many adorable things for your creative heart. Plus, you can customize with their help and create something exclusive to you! I have a pair of earrings so far – but a travel mug is in my future. “I am a mom to two little boys, a wife to the most supportive husband, and a full time social worker. A slice of my happiness is creating, another is to play my part in making the world a better place for our children; my business is a safe space and a place to bring awareness and creativity to all.”
- Feral Works – Micah does some crazy amazing work. If you have a horror fan in your life you must check their eye pendants out – they are amazingly creepy. Not to mention their masks!
the Bronzeville Collective is open during the pandemic! this is a shop made to empower black, brown, and queer Milwaukee creatives. They have so many absolutely amazing artists in residence you are sure to find something that will inspire you.
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- Two is for Mirth – Lane makes absolutely stunning handmade jewelry from pendants to earrings to cuff links. She’s got you covered in jewelry made with intention.
- Ramie and Co. – Their polymer clay earrings are so so fabulous. Glitter, patterns, fab geometric shapes, or something simpler – they’ve got it all and they are going to drop their next collection!
- Sweet Mettle – Handmade gorgeous jewelry. My best friend bought me a pair of their earrings this year and they are wonderful. I love wearing them & have had my eye on a couple of their rings.
- House of Fiber – “After losing my service industry job for a few months due to covid (and currently about 70% of my shifts) I needed to put my energy into something that fueled my creativity and made me happy. I started experimenting with with macrame and embroidery and found my self creating new things daily. Friends started asking to buy some of my pieces so I set up an Instagram to post what I have and progress work. A few months and a couple pop-up art sales later and I couldn’t be happier with my little collection of work! Stop by to check out earrings, plant hangers, wine carriers, wall art, pillows and more!”
- Knotty Craft Girls – Hand made scarves, hats, plus other rad wearables. I have a serious thing about hats during the winter and these look so warm & fashionable.
- Lauren Marvell – Illustrations, cards, and cute little pins. My favorite thing in their shop is a Cudahy city map illustration. I don’t live in Cudahy but if I did – I’d be excited to put it on my wall.
- Victress Vibes – A new sustainable woman-owned clothing brand with inclusive sizing (yay)! Their hand printed designs are wonderful