Creative Community Gift Guide: 8 Small, Women-Owned Businesses
I’m endlessly inspired by the creativity within my community of talented friends, creative partners, mentors. Amid a sea of promotions for big box discounts this holiday season, I wanted to highlight a few creatives in my community and their beautiful, small batch products and services made with love.
Shopping small for special gifts is incredibly impactful. Not only will you give a high quality, one-of-a-kind gift, but each purchase also makes a big difference for artists, entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Check out some items and offerings from my creative community below, and if you’re not ready to snag something just yet, follow along with their work… a follow, “like” or kind comments is free, and means the world to small businesses, too!
1 - Paintings by Bessie LaCap
Bessie is a go-to prop stylist partner and one of the most creative people I know. Not to mention, one of my favorite people to swap stories and inspiration, plus laugh through the 3pm shoot day slump (photo friends: iykyk).
Bessie dove head first into her passion for painting this year and recently launched her art studio, with insanely gorgeous pieces for sale. While some have sold quickly, more is coming soon - check out the shop, and follow along!
Photos by Bessie Lacap
2 - SEWING WORKSHOP + Designs by ANALI woodward
If you’ve worked on a shoot, you’ve likely met Anali. Always 10 steps ahead, curating the best playlist, bringing the creative inspiration, tuned into every detail - Anali is a gem and ray of shoot day sunshine. She’s also an aspiring designer and sewing enthusiast (her IG is one of my current faves!). She also has shop launching soon, follow along and keep your eyes peeled for the launch!
Until then, you can join Anali in the studio for a sewing and cooking decorating workshop in the Sausalito Studio! Anali will be teaching you how to sew an oven mitt, while Andrea will be teaching the fundamentals of cookie decorating. Join with a friend, or snag a ticket solo to DIY your gifts this year!
Photos by Anali Woodward
3 - Lucky Collective Pillows, rugs + TEXTILES
Andi has been a dear friend for nearly a decade. We met in San Francisco while working 9-5 jobs, and took the leap into entrepreneurship around the same time and were lucky to be part of the most supportive community of small business pals. I’m so grateful for her friendship and support each step of the way since!
Andi is has a multi-passionate marketer, entrepreneur, professor, writer, creative and mama, and is not only incredibly savvy and strategic, but does it all with a lot of love and intention. A few years ago after travels in Morocco, she launched the Lucky Collective Shop with Moroccan pillows, textiles and home goods — the best for gifts!
PS - Be sure to check her family’s amazing backyard greenhouse available for rent in Nashville, too.
The Shop | Lucky Collective IG | Andi’s IG | East Nash Greenhouse
Photo by Lucky Collective
4 - SHIRA GiLL’s New BOOK: ORGANIZED HOME
I’ve been lucky enough to call Shira a mentor for the last few years, and am grateful for her brilliant, thoughtful wisdom and approach to business, always stylish and with a focus on quality over quantity.
Shira is a globally recognized organizing expert, bestselling author and business mentor, and just recently launched her second book: Organized Home, which features the stories and homes of organizers around the world, paired with stunning photography by Vivian Johnson. Be sure to check out her original book, Minimalista, too.
Photo via Shira Gill
Photo via Shira Gill
5 - REIKI SESSION WITH VESSEL WELLNESS STUDIO
I met Lauren as a photo client nearly a decade ago in San Francisco, and we quickly shifted from client/contractor to close friends. And more recently, fellow California to Colorado residents too! Lauren is my go-to for all advice and recommendations, I always leave our chats feeling energized and inspired. Whether it’s brand work or energy work, she is a wise soul with a warm, thoughtful, intentional approach.
Through Vessel Wellness Studio, Lauren offers distance reiki sessions for people everywhere, plus is announcing in-person dates in Denver, Boulder and Lafayette soon. Amid the holiday chaos, a session with Lauren would be such a gift!
Photo by Vessel Wellnesss Studio
Photo by Vessel Wellnesss Studio
6 - lars ceramics
Laura and I have been BFF since 7th grade (recently returned from spending Thanksgiving with her family in Austin!), so needless to say I think she’s one of the most hilarious, loving, talented humans.
Prior to Austin, Laura was in Brooklyn where she discovered her passion for ceramics, and I’m in awe of all she’s created since through her business LARS Ceramics. Her pieces are now loved around world in Portland, LA, Malmö, SF, Vancouver, Helsinki, Brooklyn, Austin, Dublin, Denver and beyond. I’m personally a proud owner of some lovely LARS pieces, including a new set of mugs I brought home with me from Texas!
Laura’s back to the wheel now in Austin, be sure to follow along and snag a piece ASAP when you see one, or reach out to commission something special.
Photo by LARS Ceramics
Photo by LARS Ceramics
7 - terrene studio
I’ve been lucky enough to collaborate on shoots with the lovely Jenna Baucke, prop stylist and founder of Terrene studio. Jenna is a creative spirit and brings joy, compassion and a depth of artistic expertise to set.
Jenna and I are also studio neighbors in Sausalito, which is her HQ for Terrene Studio, a naturally dyed apparel line with a mission to “find an intersection of ecology and beauty, style and sustainable practices.” Take a peek at the site and you’ll notice the vibrancy and unique colors, all from locally foraged materials.
Photo by Tory Putnam
Photo by Tory Putnam
8 - cooking with claudine meal delivery
I’ve been lucky enough to collaborate with my friend Claudine on many photo shoots, events, collaborations. Claudine is the chef and founder behind Cooking with Claudine (also based in Sausalito!), and offers a small batch meal delivery service that’s organic, gluten free and dairy free — much of which made from ingredients sourced at the Marin farmer’s market.
Claudine approaches each meal delivery with something new and makes the most nourishing, beautiful and delicious meals and treats. My personal favorite: the black bean brownies!
If you have loved ones in the Bay Area, consider a gift card for meals from Claudine! With the stress and indulgences of the holiday season, it would not only save precious time, but be a nourishing treat, too!
Photo by Tory Putnam
Photo by Tory Putnam
***BONus: 3 GiFT GUIDES from woman-owned or women-led brands i’ve been lucky enough to CALL CLIENTS this year…
Truffle Gift Guide - Great for everyone on your list (bonus: fill them with some thing fun!) Not only are truffles the prettiest way to stay organized, their products are made with biodegradable clear components, recycled nylon from upcycled water bottles and recycled leather.
LifeStraw Holiday Favorites - Be sure to check out the Go Series water bottle for your favorite traveler or adventurer, and the glass pitcher for your holiday host. Bonus: for every product purchased, a school child receives safe water for a year - check out LifeStraw’s give back program.
Goldenerre Gift Guide - The most stunning way to wear your tech, Goldenerre offers jewelry-inspired Apple Watch bands, covers, jewelry and more. Perfect stylish, tech-savvy friend.