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Awards 2016 Header (3).png

Awards Ballot 2016

  • Member Only Ballot

  • Thanks so much for exercising your right as a member of the Academy of Handmade to honor great makers! This is a great responsibility to elevate those who represent the very best of handmade.

    More information for each nominee can be found with a link to their website when you click on their logo or name graphic. We encourage you to look at all the nominees in each category before making a decision if you are not familiar with those in the category. If you have a specific question about a nominee, please feel free to email academyofhandmade@gmail.com

    You can only vote once, which is why we ask for your name. The ballot is secret and only Academy of Handmade staff will see the form. Your name is only used to make sure voting occurs by members and only once by members.

    When voting please consider that the values of these awards are based on:

    1. Great product! Their stuff looks awesome and is high quality. This one is most important for a best artist. (60%)
    2. Business talent: They are improving their business and demonstrate professionalism. (20%)
    3. Community support/involvement: They aren't just focused on their own business, but recognize that they are part of a community. (20%)

    Some businesses may appear in multiple categories. This is because they make multiple items and were nominated for the different categories.

    What do the award recipients get?

  • Ceramics

  • A bit more information about each nominee in this category as submitted by the nominators and themselves.

    Business Name Website About Submitted Achievements
    Alyson Iwamto Ceramics http://www.alysoniwamoto.com/ Alyson Iwamoto creates ceramic origami necklaces & pendants Alyson continues to feature wearable ceramics with different materials and textures. I love the combination of patterned silk paired with her ceramic elements. It's the perfect collaboration! She also launched a new statement necklace series incorporating colorful merino wool and speckled stoneware.

    She's very active in the craft show circuit and has increased her wholesale stockists in 2015.
    Badseed Studio http://www.aftcra.com/BadseedStudio Contemporary concrete design and decor, including planters and kitchenware, made with a variety of i This artisan is interested in promoting handmade products and growing awareness to the handmade community.
    Clark Collective http://clarkecollective.co/ Beautiful geometric ceramics
    Critterosity http://shopfanalley.com/ Handmade figures of creatures from Eva's imagination Eva is well known for her store Fan Alley that supports local artists. However, that overshadows her as an incredible artist! Even tho she owns and runs her own store (all by herself) full time, she still manages to come out with amazing little statues of monsters straight from the cute part of your imagination. She is so talented as a sculptor and a painter.
    Diana Fayt http://www.dianafayt.com/ Diana Fayt is a modern day scrimshander, whose chosen medium is clay rather than whalebone. Diana Fayt is a modern day scrimshander, whose chosen medium is clay rather than whalebone. Drawing on her background as a painter, sculptor, printmaker and clayer, her surfaces are alive with strange and exotic stories, part folklore and part personal narrative Fayt’s intricate tales speak as much of her of her Hungarian lineage as they do of her fascination with the natural world around her. Through her signature process of etching in clay, the shadows of birds and rabbits come alive to play in forests of intricately rendered botanical specimens, exotic sea creatures lurk below antique sailing vessels, primitive marking allude to atomic structures and everyday objects blur the lines between form and function.

    These found treasures make up the palatte from which she creates a body of work somehow devoid of any discernible time or place, not quite modern or antiquity. Rather, each piece is a travelogue of the human spirit, carved out of the earth to be viewed through the unique lenses of each observer’s personal history.

    Fayt’s work can be found in myriad of public and private art collections both in the United States and abroad. She has been featured on the cover of Ceramics Monthly as well as in numerous Japanese, Australian and American Publications, such as Zakka, Lee, Mademoiselle (Japan), The Journal of Australian Ceramics, American Craft, Sunset Magazine, San Francisco 7x7, "Encore! The New Artisans, Part Two" (Thames and Hudson publications) and "Crafting a Meaningful Home" (STC craft publications).
    For Pete's Sake Pottery forpetessakepottery.etsy.com Hand painted personalized gifts in pottery, wood and glass Susan has grown her ceramics business from a couple of sales to individuals to 12 retail stores and a thriving etsy business. Last year she was scouted and sold to National Retailer, Von Maur for her Derby theme pottery and HGTV asked her to submit designs for a possible feature in the December issue. Even though her design was not the final selection it was an honor to be found and asked. She is know locally as an accomplished artist and social media expert. Everything is designed, painted, glazed, fired, wrapped, packed, sold and shipped by Susan in her home studio.
    Shendoe http://www.shennycruces.com/ Wearable ceramic art and pieces for the home.
    Unurth http://www.unurthhome.com Unurth is a small batch artisanal home decor company headquartered in Southern California Jenn continues to push her business both creatively and by making strategic business decisions to grow. She manages to constantly stay focused on her business but at the same time, reach into her deepest areas of creativity to push her products in design and quality.
    Whim and Vigor http://www.whimandvigor.com Whim and Vigor is a one-woman studio creating beautiful functional and decorative ceramics. This nomination is an appreciation for a job well done. I truly believe Marina is in the top of her field.

  • Edible

  • A bit more information about each nominee in this category as submitted by the nominators and themselves.

    Business Name Website About Submitted Achievements
    Matchbox Kitchen http://www.matchboxkitchen.com/ Matchbox Kitchen is a baking company focused on sustainable, organic, and zero waste practices. Matchbox Kitchen is a baking company focused on sustainable, organic, and zero waste practices.

    Founded in October 2011, owner and baker Sara Tso started out selling cookies and marshmallows at craft shows, then discovered the world of cakes. She now devotes her time creating cakes with unique flavors highlighting organic California produce in her classic, pared down style.

    In addition to cakes, Sara also offers recipe development for a variety of applications including magazine spreads and cookbooks.

    Matchbox Kitchen has been featured in publications such as Oh Joy!, Zooey Magazine, Refinery 29, Style Me Pretty, and NEET Magazine.
    Rachel's Bake Lab https://www.etsy.com/shop/RachelsBakeLab# Cookies down to a science
    Soft Peaks Confections http://www.softpeaksconfections.com/ all natural macarons and dulce de leche Limor has worked hard to expand her product line and retool her packaging, all while keeping the integrity of her product.
    Sucre Au Lait http://www.sucreaulait.com/ Artisanal hot cocoas and teas Became OC AHAS co-leader, new website, restructured pricing and sales strategies

  • Living Medium

  • A bit more information about each nominee in this category as submitted by the nominators and themselves.

    Business Name Website About Submitted Achievements
    Eden Condensed edencondesed.com terrariums with special scenes
    Eliza Rose Floral Design http://www.elizarosefloraldesign.com/ Fresh and faux floral arrangements
    Kelso Doesn't Dance http://www.kelsodoesntdance.com/ Wallets, notebooks, succulent home goods and more by a passionate maker Wholesaler at major national shows like POOL in Las Vegas
    MV Florals Mvflorals.com elevated, thoughtful, lush, respectful, unexpected, amazing color and the most humble heart! The unexpected in the most thoughtful of ways comes from each of Meagan's projects. Her kind heart and dedication has kept her connected to amazing work on noteable blogs such as @inspiredbythis & @Beijosevents Her eye for color and her relationships with vendors speaks volumes. Having Meagan in the community is a great thing.

  • Metal

  • A bit more information about each nominee in this category as submitted by the nominators and themselves.

    Business Name Website About Submitted Achievements
    AG Ambroult Elemental Design http://www.agambroult.com Handcrafted contemporary metal jewelry Amy's metalwork and handcrafted jewelry is remarkable. There is a quiet strength present within each of her designs, and having met Amy, I've seen the intentional kindness she builds into each piece, always considering the future wearer of each adornment. Her artistry and originality are evident throughout her work and is passionate about the creative process as well as the end result. She also creates custom handmade wedding rings that reflect what is important to each couple.
    BeadSoul http://www.aftcra.com/beadsoul Your place for hand stamped, personalized jewelry, guitar picks, accessories, inspirational pieces,

    Beadsoul, Lisa, is an innovator and master metal worker. She creates beautiful jewelry with amazing workmanship. Her pieces are constantly being featured by aftcra and others. Not only is she a leader in metal jewelry but she supports other makers in their journey.

    Active in the handmade community.
    Actively promotes other handmade organizations.
    Provides advice and resources to other handmade businesses.
    Encourages and supports handmade businesses.
    Drawn Metal Studios www.drawnmetalstudios.com Entirely free hand wire sculptures using one piece of wire per sculpture. After selling wire sculptures for over 15 years at art shows around the mid-atlantic region and online, Devin Mack of Drawn Metal Studios attended his first wholesale show in January of 2016. By September, Devin had left his "day job" as a lab technician at Johns Hopkins Hospital to pursue his art full time. A year later, Drawn Metal Studios is in 45 galleries and gift shops across the country while still maintaining a strong presence at art shows such as SugarLoaf, SunFest & SpringFest in Ocean City, Artscape, and other local favorites. Most of Drawn Metal Studios sculptures are made using one single strand of wire; the sculptures range from wholesale favorites to one of a kind custom pieces.
    As if the art festivals, wholesale work and custom pieces did not keep Devin busy enough, he finds time to produce and participate in various art shows including an annual show benefitting a local chapter of Moveable Feast as well as volunteering at Hopkins and his son's school (giving wire art workshops) when time allows.
    Foamy Wader http://foamywader.com/ Delicate handmade jewelry inspired by the seaside. Alexa recently opened her own brick and mortar shop in Seattle, WA while creating all of her amazing jewelry and traveling around the country to attend most every craft show ever created.
    Holly Bobisuthi http://www.hollybobisuthi.com/ Jewelry made by hand with intention. Holly pursues her craft with great passion and is constantly increasing her skills within metalsmithing.
    Like Mother, Like Daughter http://www.aftcra.com/likemotherlikedaughter We specialize in personalized hand stamped jewelry and artisan crafted gifts. This artisan is interested in promoting handmade products and growing awareness to the handmade community.
    Lux & Luca Jewelry Co Www.luxandluca.com Hand forged minimalist industrial pieces with an edge Cassie has been in business as Broken Revolt jewelry co for the last five years and has recently changed the name of her company to Lux and Luca jewelry co. Last year Cassie was selected to be part of an unscripted documentary series to premiere later this year on tlc about uocycling and being a leader in the creative, jewelry industry in Denver .In addition to being denver's 2012 accessory artist of the year, Cassie has been featured in San franciscos Indy Blush magazine, and numerous local publications. While Lux and Luca is a higher end offshoot of her already well established Broken Revolt, Cassie continues to push the envelope with her edgy " fuck it " bracelets and upcycled copper pipe pieces that keep her followers chomping at the bit for more!
    Nicole Noelle Jewelry https://www.aftcra.com/nicolenoellejewelry Boho and nature inspired jewelry handcrafted in North Carolina. Featuring fine & sterling silver, mi This artisan is interested in promoting handmade products and growing awareness to the handmade community.
    StudioJewel http://www.aftcra.com/studiojewel Each Studio Jewel original is personally conceptualized and designed by Lisa and meticulous handcraf Active in the handmade community.
    Actively promotes other handmade organizations.
    Provides advice and resources to other handmade businesses.
    Encourages and supports handmade businesses.
    The Azure Rose http://www.aftcra.com/TheAzureRose Hand stamped earrings, necklaces, and pendants made with solid sterling silver. This artisan is interested in promoting handmade products and growing awareness to the handmade community.
    The Exquisite Corpse Boutique http://theexcb.com Makes amazing watches from scratch and is a brilliant metalsmith. I've seen a lot of handmade businesses since our show started in 2004 and FAR more jewelers than I can count, but Alexander's metal work, particularly with his handmade watches, sets him apart.

  • Mixed Media/Other

  • A bit more information about each nominee in this category as submitted by the nominators and themselves.

    Business Name Website About Submitted Achievements
    Dot & Lil Www.dotandlil.com Handmade bath, body and home goods. They've been steadily growing over the past 8 years. Last year they moved into a new studio/showroom and have broadened their line to showcase the work of other makers.
    Earth Mother Mosaics http://www.aftcra.com/EarthMotherMosaics I find inspiration in nature. The colors of fall are my favorite to use when I mosaic with stained glass This artisan is interested in promoting handmade products and growing awareness to the handmade community.
    HEart by Cc heartbycc.com Mixed media art HEart by Cc is incredibly innovative. Candice, the owner/maker, is always creating new ideas of design that are beautiful and whimsical. 2015 has been her year for sure! She is featured by bloggers, other makers, art businesses, and asked to lead art retreats. HEart by Cc's accomplishments don't keep her from being amazingly grounded and supportive of other makers.
    LB Love Organics lbloveorganics.etsy.com handmade organic skincare LB Love Organics is a true leader in the handmade + all natural skincare world. Meredith creates a product that stems from being a mom that wants nothing but purity for her kids. She shares her passion with her customers and it can be felt in her products. She has collaborated with a lot of other makers and is always looking for new ways to cross promote.
    Linden Eller http://www.lindeneller.com Multi-media and layered collages centered on the discipline of looking back and an instinct to keep things. I first discovered the light of Lindsay Eller back in college when I came upon her senior show. I instantly resonated with her work and have followed her creative journey in artistry, collecting many of her pieces over the course of a decade. Each new piece she builds is truly remarkable and carries with it a whimsical honesty that is light-filled and quietly brave. The intentionality behind each piece is evident in the delicate details and thoughtful assembly of paint, texture and sentiment. Lindsay never ceases to amaze me with her exceptional artistry, gentle spirit and creative expression.
    Miriam Dema Miriamdema.com Art prints and handmade accessories Miriam has continued to pursue the application of her visual language into new mediums. She's explored block printing on woven textile, watercolor on paper, and the furthering of her leather craft by teaching workshops.
    It's vital for an artist to examine new materials. It allows one to view their primary craft with fresh eyes and continue to innovate. To explore these potentially distracting avenues while still running a successful business is an impressive feat.
    Naiad Soap Arts http://www.naiadsoap.com/ Delicious smelling soaps!
    Peoples Soap http://www.peoplessoap.com/ All Natural Handmade Soap & Apothecary Rachel not only makes wonderful handmade soaps and products but supports the makers around her. Not only through her work as a co-leader but along with her boyfriend she supports the maker community in Long Beach by helping to organize events and projects. From assisting in writing grants to helping to organizing local events that benefit not only the makers but the community as well. I am honored to not only work with her as a co-leader but she is someone who I work to aspire to be like in character.
    PF Candle Co http://www.pfcandleco.com/ Handmade candles
    Remy and Rose www.remyandrosesoap.com Handmade small batch soaps and body products made in a traditional cold press process. In less than a year her items have been featured in numerous publications including; Happiness and Wellbeing Magazine, Simply Gifted Co., Kiwi Magazine, Thoughtfully Magazine, and Belle Lumière Magazine. Her soaps are available in different B&M stores across the west coast and in the last half of 2015 Chatti became a chapter leader for the Academy of Handmade. Through her high quality goods, dedication to helping other handmade businesses and kindness she has more than proven herself as deserving to be honored as a leader in the handmade community.
    Sea Pony Couture http://seaponycouture.com Jewelry for badasses She has worked hard to demonstrate new offerings with her line and pushed her business aesthetic and acumen forward tremendously.
    Soap Seas Www.soapseas.com She creates artisanal soap inspired by living in Redondo Beach, CA She just started her business in early 2015 and I have been so impressed by how she has embraced it fully!! The most impressive thing to me is her community activism. She is continually plan active participant and looking for ways to make her community better. She's also a tenacious business woman. I think she's a fantastic role model for young entrepreneurs!
    SunbasilgardenSoap Sunbasilgarden.com Wonderful handmade soaps, bath bombs and body butters with amazing customer service. Lauren continues to be among the top sellers of bath and body products on Etsy. Her service is amazing and while being extremely busy she even had time to start up her own website. She always goes above and beyond and is working on new products constantly.

    I admire her and the way she does her business; handmade all the way.
    The Feline Boutique http://www.aftcra.com/thefelineboutique Come Feed Your Cat Addiction! Hand Screen printed and block printed cat themed apparel, paper goods, This artisan is interested in promoting handmade products and growing awareness to the handmade community.
    The Glitter in My Tea http://www.theglitterinmytea.com/ DIY blog that generates ideas and how-to's for DIY projects The Pulp Zine contributor: http://www.thepulpzine.com/diy-valentines-day-emoji-headband/
    Published/featured in these arenas:
    House Beautiful (http://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/g2427/pineapple-trend/?slide=9)
    Seventeen Magazine (http://www.seventeen.com/life/tips/g2398/diy-graduation-party-decorations/?slide=4)
    Brit and Co.
    Hello, Wonderful
    Dawn Nicole Designs
    Lines Across
    Throckmorton Jones http://www.throckmortonjones.com/ Accessories for men + women, designs inspired by nature, nurtured by technology. over 100 art show and markets, involvement in helping other artists sell and be seen, 2000+ followers on instagram, successful re-branded, featured designer/artist at Hot Couture 2016
    Ugly Baby showerart.net Waterproof Art to hang in the shower Featured on BuzzFeed for "Necessary Items for A Feminist Home"!
    ---
    An excited fan of Ugly Baby made and shared an inaccurate DIY tutorial of how to make shower art (Ugly Baby's original and until-then-uncopied concept).
    In response, Ugly Baby shared their step-by-step process in an interview about the unauthorized tutorial. She felt it was the best action to take in order to set the record straight and prevent other DIYers from making breakable, incorrectly made shower art. Very classy!
    Unicorn Crafts http://www.unicorncraftsart.com/ Super cute handmade jewelry This girl never cease to amaze me. Every product she comes out with is better than the last. Everyone who sees her art would want to live in her head for a day because it must be filled with magic and unicorns.
    Uplift Artisan www.upliftartisan.com Handcrafted kits

  • Needlework

  • A bit more information about each nominee in this category as submitted by the nominators and themselves.

    Business Name Website About Submitted Achievements
    Crochet Magic https://www.etsy.com/shop/CrochetMagicGoodness Handmade crocheted goods that speak from nature I have been following Jessica's work for awhile and have been extremely impressed with her growth and development of her brand and the quality of her products.
    DeBrosse NYC Www.debrosse.com Beautiful, hand-knit scarves and hats with a portion of proceeds going to an orphanage in Haiti. Was one of the artists featured during the FEED holiday project, was featured on Etsy, was selected to be a part of West Elm Local.
    Foxy Hardware FoxyHardware.com Foxy Hardware is handmade jewelry with a focus on beadwork, leather and metals with simple lines. Foxy Hardware has become a profitable business and is moving from Lawrence, KS to Denver, CO. It was a year of busy fingers and custom orders.
    Handmade By Adwoa http://handmadebyadwoa.com Cute creations in amigurumi that make you smile. My work was linked in a featured in September 2015 during The Golden Girls 30th Anniversary on http://www.today.com/popculture/thank-you-being-fan-golden-girls-artist-debuts-30th-anniversary-t44371
    This was an honor and unbelievable since there are so many wonderful dolls available, but mine were selected to be included.

    My work was also featured on The Deadpool Movie Fanpage in 2015. Although crass, I appreciated being able to assist them with their sentiments for The Golden Girls.

    Seeing my work tweeted and shared motivated me to take my work to the next level. I have listened to numerous podcasts, attended Creative Live classes in San Francisco, and I'm currently building my own independent website that is coming soon.
    Knitting and crochet has been a passion of mine and I love how my work brings smiles and inspires others.
    My Etsy Shop connects me to the world and I had a wonderful Holiday Season creating gifts for new customers that have turned into fans.
    I'm building my tribe on social media, and I'm currently excited about using Periscope as a new platform. I won a training from #heart, soul hustle that I am completing now.
    I love making and my day just isn't complete without touching yarn.
    Sarah K. Benning http://sarahkbenning.com/ Sarah Benning is an American fiber artist specializing in embroidered illustration. Sarah K. Benning is an American fiber artist currently living in Menorca, Spain. Originally from Baltimore, she attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and received her BFA in Fiber and Material Studies. Shortly after graduating in 2013, Sarah discovered her love for embroidery, a relaxing hobby she could enjoy while working as a full-time nanny. The hobby quickly turned into a job, and now Sarah works from her sunny apartment in Menorca.

    Though Sarah's formal training and background are in the fine arts, she is self-taught in the art of embroidery. She approaches each piece as an illustration rather than a textile, often abandoning traditional stitches and techniques in favor of bold shapes, playful patterns, and contemporary subject matter. Her emphasis on drawing, composition, and color choice keeps her work fresh and vibrant.

    Sarah’s embroideries often depict potted plants and her newest works position these potted gardens in interior spaces and pairs them with other textiles. She approaches these pieces as illustrations, creating drawings in pencil directly onto the fabric before filling the image in with thread. In this way, the thread become more like ink or paint than traditional embroidery, which accentuates the bold shapes, patterns, and color in the compositions.
    Tickle and Smash https://www.etsy.com/shop/TickleAndSmash amazing hand embroidered pictures and bags! Not only is Lisa a talented artisan, she has attended and sold at many events throughout the year helping other artist and makers reach their own potential.
    Her handmade items are becoming more and more coveted!

  • Paper

  • A bit more information about each nominee in this category as submitted by the nominators and themselves.

    Business Name Website About Submitted Achievements
    Calligraphy Cult http://www.calligraphycult.com/ modern calligraphy, brush lettering and watercolor illustrations Michelle continues to engage people and show them the art of calligraphy, not just make the work itself.
    Coppertops Paper www.coppertops.us Tagline: inspired paper, shared differently. Our products are sophisticated, sincere & sustainable. Coppertops' vision is to change the way wine, beer and spirits are shared in America - using innovative, problem-solving products and sincere messaging. Our signature Bottle Wrap, now anchors a core product line of sophisticated gift packaging for wine and spirits. In 2015, we formed retail partnerships with more than 20 stores in Colorado, Texas, and Louisiana, including Whole Foods Market in Boulder, and select Specs and Central Markets in Texas. We partnered with Colorado Creative Industries to manage a Call for Artists, and selected a winning Colorado-themed design for the Coppertops Bottle Wrap. Our regional-themed coasters, designed to hang around a bottle for gifting, were incorporated into the "Keep Colorado Local" campaign. Even as we have continued to grow, we've maintained a commitment to creating sustainable products (such as our new hand-screen-printed Flour Sack Bottle Wrap), partnering with smaller, locally owned printing presses, and working with workforce re-entry programs.
    Everyday Love Art www.everydayloveart.com Nidhi Chanani is a freelance illustrator and artist, and the owner of Everyday Love Art. Nidhi has twice been the featured artist at Disney's WonderGround Gallery, has been featured multiple times on tv shows, interviewed by CNN and spoken at the Whitehouse. Her work was recently shared TWICE by George Takei's uber popular Facebook page. Her work connects humans and celebrates the little things.
    Ink + Smog http://inkandsmogeditions.blogspot.com They smash images into paper. They handcrafted a young child, and also made our wedding invitations that are flippin' sweet.
    Isabella Kung Illustrations http://www.isabellakung.com Isabella brings creatures to life through her illustrations of furry little creatures. As a featured artist throughout many sketching events around the Bay Area, I have marveled at how accurately she brings the feeling of furry friends to life.
    Isabella Kung Illustrations http://www.isabellakung.com Isabella brings creatures to life through her illustrations of furry little creatures. As a featured artist throughout many sketching events around the Bay Area, I have marveled at how accurately she brings the feeling of furry friends to life.
    Lacelit www.lacelit.com Stationery and lifestyle goods featuring watercolor, hand lettering and modern calligraphy. I've watched Kimberly's business grow enormously in 2015. Her website revamp, her social media growth, her participation in craft fairs, her increased product line, and even her teaching a watercolor patterns class this past year has been nothing short of inspiring! Her constant growth, commitment to high quality designs and products, and her hard work (despite juggling two full time jobs) really impresses me.
    Mountain vs. plains http://mountainvsplains.com hilarious tongue in check greeting cards and posters. Community leader for makers in the Denver area. Paul is welcoming, helpful, always smiling. His work is true to him, and he comes up with the best lines.
    Papa Llama http://www.papallama.com/ Hand printed greeting cards You can find her greeting cards in over 50 stores! Super creative, humors, romantic and often inappropriate paper goods.
    Paper Epiphanies http://www.paperepiphanies.com Paper with attitude. A sassy stationery line that says what you are thinking! In less than 1.5 years, Paper Epiphanies has grown from an idea to an burgeoning empire. With both a consumer and wholesale business, Paper Epiphanies has representation all over the world. Each card is letterpressed by hand and all of the taglines are written exclusively by Founder and Creative Director, Victoria Venturi. In May 2016, Paper Epiphanies is launching an office line geared specifically at empowering women. Basically - they are badass.
    Rock Scissor Paper http://www.rockscissorpaper.com/ Los Angeles based stationery and gift company - prodcts designed by sisters Heidi and Susie Bauer. Rock Scissor Paper creates fun, colorful designs with a bit of vintage flair.

    Rock Scissor Paper has a full line of stationery with more than 1000 products including greeting cards, thank you cards, blank note cards, invitations, personalized stationery, gift tags, enclosure cards, journals, tote bags, posters and an extensive holiday card line.

    The Bauer sisters design, manufacture, package and ship all of Rock Scissor Paper’s products from their Los Angeles area warehouse to store locations all over the United States, as well Canada, Japan, and Europe.
    Sable & Gray www.sableandgray.com A paper goods company specializing in custom wedding invitations and hand painted watercolors Sable & Gray has been featured on the prestigious Magnolia Rouge blog and was selected to be a member of the Oh So Beautiful Paper's Designer Rolodex.
    Scotch and Cream www.scotchandcream.com Scotch and Cream is a mid-century inspired line of paper goods. Robin conquered some major trade shows this year and makes some seriously beautiful work!
    Shifting Status Kuo www.shiftingstatuskuo.com Playfully illustrated and hand-screen printed cards & gifts

  • Supporter Business

  • A bit more information about each nominee in this category as submitted by the nominators and themselves.

    Business Name Website About Submitted Achievements
    aftcra http://www.aftcra.com aftcra is an online marketplace where you can buy and sell handmade goods made by artisans in the US Provides a marketplace for true makers to sell their wares.
    Active in the handmade community.
    Actively promotes other handmade organizations.
    Provides advice and resources to other handmade businesses.
    Encourages and supports handmade businesses.
    Caitlin Bacher www.caitlinbacher.com Caitlin is a social media genuis who creates profitable strategies for makers and bloggers. Caitlin has helped hundreds of makers and shop owners over the course of the last year reach new heights by implementing her tips and tricks in the social media world. For many that means an increase in fans and followers, as well as financial gain. Plus, she's hilarious.
    Creative Hive Co. http://www.creativehiveco.com Effective marketing tips and strategies for makers, artists and designers. I've benefited from Mei Pak's e-courses, CreativeLive classes, blog posts and private FB group. Her tutorials are easy to understand, immediately applicable and bring positive results. As a successful artist and maker herself (artist and founder of Tiny Hands Jewelry), Mei has extensive experience in building a handmade business from scratch and how to acquire new skills to adjust to rapid growth. She is incredibly generous with sharing what she knows, and her attentiveness and attention to detail combined with her savvy business sense, makes for quality content and support. I appreciate her honesty and sound advice from her years of experience as a handmade business owner, and the way she extensively tests out new methods before sharing them with others to ensure they will, indeed, help fellow makers. She is also extremely interactive and quick to respond to questions via emails or her FB group.
    Cyndie Spiegel http://www.cyndiespiegel.com/ Cyndie is a huge supporter to online business owners. She helps strategize your creative business. Has cultivated a great community with "the collective of us" Spoke at ALT summit, venture pop, TXSC 15, and many others I'm sure. Launched an online course for creatives! She is doing great things for our people and embracing being yourself in these endeavors, and helping you find the courage to do it. She is truly inspiring.
    Danielle Spurge-Swavely / Merriweather Council merriweathercouncil.com Danielle teaches handmade biz owners how to kick ass. Etsy course
    Shopify training
    Tons of free content: blog posts, etc.
    Fan Alley http://shopfanalley.com/ Store in CA that sells only handmade goods and local artist prints This store started off as a dream with two friends. Eva now manages it by herself and with the success the store got a whole new makeover and reopened in the summer of 2015! The store carries only handmade products and small artist prints. Every weekend she allows one artist to showcase and sell anything they wish and get this, she doesn't even take ANY of the cut! She does this solely to support local artists.
    Leanna Lin's Wonderland http://leannalinswonderland.com/# Leanna Lin’s Wonderland is a gift shop and art gallery in Eagle Rock, CA. Leanna Lin's Wonderland is a playful gift shop and art gallery featuring independent artists + designers for the young at heart based in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles.

    Leanna Lin carefully selects brands that make you smile from art, jewelry, toys, stationery, books, decor & more. Some of her favorite brands include ban.do, Bird of Virtue, Genevieve Santos, Honey My Heart, Jetoy, Joey Chou, Momiji, Rock Scissor Paper, and tokidoki. Leanna also designs her own limited edition line of jewelry that adorns the back counter.

    Leanna Lin's Wonderland is also home to awesome art exhibitions curated by Hana Kim of Supahcute throughout the year, as well as events, pop-ups, and creative workshops. You can also make your own beaded jewelry in her DIY beading studio.
    Leanna Lin's Wonderland leannalinswonderland.com Unique curated items sourced from many local and handmade artists. Leanna continues to open her store to the community and use it as a place to support the many artists that are carried in her store.
    Local Take http://www.localtakesf.com Local Take provides opportunities for independent designers and artists to gain public recognition For over 7 years Jenn Meyer has been supporting handmade artists through her pop-up shops around San Francisco. She has always been an innovator and creative thinker and a smart business person. Local Take is about to open a second location in SF and she will continue to provide a home to artists where their fans can come and shop in person.
    Lucky Break Consulting https://www.luckybreakconsulting.com A business strategist that works with makers on their wholesale, pricing +branding strategies Lela spent 2015 working makers from various industries on building their businesses to fit their dreams. She is always dispensing advice, but she also leads by example, standing firm on her mission and values. She is one of the few strategists I have seen that have truly built a million dollar business, and she is always willing to teach every single thing she knows so that others can do it, too, but without as much heartache. In 2015 she launched a new branding course that really helped makers dig deep into who they are, and not just what they look like, which felt pivotal to the maker movement. The maker world is truly better with Lela in it.
    Lula Mae www.lulamae.com Lula Mae is one of the best giftshops and supporter of local makers Voted best boutique in Pasadena, carries multiple handmade lines and supports so many local makers. In addition to her regular craft classes, Owner Marci Toombs teaches Starting Your Own Business, Concept, and Brand. She takes such pride in helping makers at all phases of their business learn how to market to shops like hers and gives such great insight into the mind of a store owner.
    This year she was also asked to be a judge for the Jackalope Spring show.
    Market Your Creativity http://www.marketyourcreativity.com Lisa Jacobs is a marketing consultant for creative entrepreneurs. Lisa Jacobs owns Energy Shop Jewelry, a spirited little spot where she sells gemstone jewelry and Feng Shui supplies. Since 2010, she's earned over six figures with her creative Etsy business. She found that she loved the business side of the Energy Shop as much as she loved making the products, so she began her consulting business which has become equally successful.
    Pep Talk Press http://karichapin.com/ Kari Chapin is the best-selling author of The Handmade Marketplace. Kari Chapin revolutionized the crafting community with her best selling book: The Handmade Marketplace. Since then, she has been a big supporter of the community with her subsequent books: Grow Your Handmade Business and Make it Happen! She recently launched a line of office products to increase your productivity including The Brilliant Ideas Launch Pad.

    I'm looking forward to seeing the effects of her new direction: Pep Talk Press in the coming year.
    Pinspiration www.PinspirationAZ.com Pinterest-Inspired DIY Maker Space: Studio and Wine Bar; Where Community Meets Creativity Our most important accomplishment is truly how much our maker clients love us. We literally get hugs daily from makers who say we've changed their life and they have an outlet for their creativity again. Pinspiration has removed barriers for makers by creating a convenient, inspiring and playful venue that appeals to young and old, male and female, experts and novices. We've developed important community partnerships with area craft businesses and opened up a Project Designer Program, whereby Makers can design and sell kits in our studio to our customers. We also have a handmade retail area where we showcase different local artists. We employ makers to teach our workshops and classes. In addition to being well received by a large community, we have enjoyed over 50 media appearances (including two national news features) and earned the "Best of the Valley" award in Phoenix,AZ (major metropolitan city) during our first year open for three categories- Best Place to Discover Your Inner Artist, Birthday Spot and Best Summer Day Camp. We are navigating the craft industry and were able to attend the CHA conference and American Made at Martha Stewart's headquarters. We have also hosted several blogger events onsite and sponsored charity fundraisers.
    Tara Swiger taraswiger.com Tara helps makers figure out a path to their best business Tara has not only mastered Periscope to help raise awareness for her biz, she uses it almost daily to help makers create their best business. Plus a hundred other things. She is awesome.
    The Merriweather Council http://www.merriweathercouncil.com Danielle helps handmade shop owners optimize, leverage, and prosper Over the past year, Danielle made big changes in her business so that she could focus on helping other handmade shop owners to improve theirs. Countless business owners have not only seen massive increases in sales, but Danielle also helps to give shop owners the confidence to truly be their own boss. Not only is Danielle sharing her experience and wisdom with the community, but she manages to do it while still producing products for her own shop.

  • Textiles: Non-Wovens

  • A bit more information about each nominee in this category as submitted by the nominators and themselves.

    Business Name Website About Submitted Achievements
    Beatrice Valenzuela http://beatricevalenzuela.com/ Based in Echo Park, CA, Beatrice Valenzuela designs shoes, accessories and jewelry. Beatrice’s eponymous line of handmade shoes for takes its inspiration from Mexican and Mediterranean styles, embracing the beauty and and simplicity found anywhere nature and culture intertwine. “I think living in so many different places definitely affected my aesthetic,” explains the former stylist. “I’ve always loved things that were made with natural fibers. I’m always looking at the craftsmanship, the way things are put together, the way they will last, and if they will age beautifully. I love to be able to see the hand that made the product.” These ideals are also forefront in Beatrice’s jewelry lines, Concha and Alcatraz, which take their beauty from natural shapes, as well as her bag developed in collaboration with her partner Ramsey.

    Beatrice’s designs can be found at General Store, Mohawk, ClareV, Shop Mille, Mohawk General Store and more.
    Because of Zoe, LLC www.becauseofzoe.com An awesome and inspiring business focused on crafting pretty stylish handmade accessories Goods sold in several retail locations, vendor at a child and baby expo in Atlanta, featured in two magazine publications. BOZ has been featured in two magazine publications, established retail relationships with three stores (and counting!), was a vendor at the Atlanta Child & Baby Expo, and has participated in numerous local events in Greenville, South Carolina. Shunta implemented a program entitled "Share the Love of BOZ" in 2015. For every headband purchased at Because of Zoe, one is donated to Greenville's Children's Hospital.
    EastRidge SoapWorks www.etsy.com/shop/eastridgesoapworks handmade unique luxury soaps and bath products Andrea is a driven entrepreneur in her field. In her free time she is in her kitchen making soaps and experimenting with new products. All the botanicals she uses are homegrown and organic and come from her very own garden. She is an excellent female remodel in her community. She is an outstanding example that you can do whatever you put your mind to. She is constantly trying to grow her business. She sells her soaps on Etsy and also manages a Facebook and Instagram account for her business. She attends craft shows and her soaps are sold in serveral small businesses in the Northern Virginia area.
    Forgotten Cotton http://www.aftcra.com/forgottencotton ForgottenCotton is a 100% handmade scarves, wraps, and accessories Active in the handmade community.
    Actively promotes other handmade organizations.
    Provides advice and resources to other handmade businesses.
    Encourages and supports handmade businesses. Lizzi has made it her priority to go above and beyond when it comes to supporting the efforts of other makers. For every one post she makes for her business, she's made 10 for other makers. She is a true patron of makers and artists everywhere.
    Loopty Loo Designs http://www.aftcra.com/looptyloodesigns We specialize in modern handmade props and wearable designs for babies. This artisan is interested in promoting handmade products and growing awareness to the handmade community.
    Lu and Ed http://luanded.com/ Handmade plush monsters and monster storage animals call mon-stors Cody has been making her monsters since 2009. Lu & Ed products are totally eco-friendly, handmade in Kansas City with textile discards. Each Mon-stor is made from up-cycled fabrics either purchased from thrift stores or salvaged from donated clothing and fabrics. Scraps from large Mon-stors are used to make smaller Mon-stors, and scraps from those are used to make stuffed monsters, Gadget Mon-stors and totes. And the itty bitty scraps left over from those is diced up and blended with poly-fil - meaning there is absolutely no landfill waste from the production of Lu & Ed products.
    Married + Bright marriedandbright.com Handmade lingerie Annika is rounding out her first year in business as M+B! She has experienced gradual, honest and true growth! She is an inspiration to so many! I also admire her bravery - it's not an easy industry and open to a lot of criticism. She represents many things including courage, perseverance and moxie.
    Miriam Dema www.miriamdema.com Miriam makes beautiful printed and stamped leather goods. I am always so impressed with Miriam and how she is not afraid to try out new products and techniques. Plus she takes beautiful photographs. Miriam has pushed herself to expand her line and her craft, including fulfilling larger wholesale orders.
    Mon Petit Shoes www.monpetitshoes.com Excellent made children's shoes. Wonderful businesswoman, excellent friend of mothers. She is a very hardworking woman who deserves to be recognized.
    Throckmorton Jones http://throckmortonjones.com Handmade Leather Couture Accessories for Men and Women After seeing an amazing runway of her work at the Bay Area's The Crucible #‎HotCouture2016‬, where she debuted her Ancient Alchemy collection, I have been completely inspired by Lisa Jones . I know she will continue to surprise and push leather craft and accessories in new amazing ways. She is both innovative, creative and focused on creating a successful couture line for both men and women. She embraces both new and old techniques in her work using some extraordinary and unique materials. She is also very inspired by technology giving her an edge not seen very much in leather work. Her lush and high quality materials lend themselves to her genius with her leather craft. She is an amazing maker and undoubtedly will make this world both well accessorized and beautiful!

  • Textiles: Wovens

  • A bit more information about each nominee in this category as submitted by the nominators and themselves.

    Business Name Website About Submitted Achievements
    Christine Haynes www.christinehaynes.com Vintage sewing patterns, and stellar teaching services! Christine has released four new patterns this year, done an online course with CreativeLive, and continues to share her skills and love for garment sewing through teaching in-person classes. She IS the leader in this field, in my opinion!
    Daisy Faye Designs daisyfayedesigns.com Beautiful geometric ceramics
    DevonRose Kids http://www.devonrosekids.com Edgy and modern clothes for kids. Emily's children's clothing line, DevonRose has had a cult following on Etsy since the launch because of her unique sense of design and modern silhouettes.
    Emily was a contestant on Season 13 of Project Runway, where she showed off her unique taste.
    I love how she constantly pushes the boundaries of modern kid's clothing and doesn't allow trends to drive her creative design.
    Dulce Diego http://www.dulcediego.com aprons, tea towels, napkins, and other hand-sewn linens, with a new storefront location. Gina of Dulce Diego is of the new San Diego Academy of Handmade Artists and Supporters chapter leaders, and she is doing an amazing job! She currently just had the grand opening of her new store location in Barrio Logan, San Diego, which supports handmade by showcasing handmade Mexican theme paper goods, house wares, part supplies and textiles, some of which Gini makes herself.
    Fussy Hussey http://www.fussyhussey.com/ hand-dyed home goods
    GoldyBelle Www.goldybelle.bigcartel.com Meticulously handmade, updated classic children's apparel and accessories. GoldyBelle has successfully designed and created an in demand handmade children's brand that melds both vintage and new materials.
    Karole Kurnow Creations http://karolekurnow.com Karole Kurnow is a brilliant and creative artist, who works with a wide variety of textiles. I reached out to Karole when I was starting my business. I saw a way to combine her talent with textiles and my entrepreneurial business concept. Together, we designed and brought to market a revolutionary new product that has made a huge impact on the funeral industry. The product is called BioUrn, a biodegradable cremation urn that holds the ashes of a loved one, along with soil and a seed. Once prepared and planted BioUrn grows a memorial tree. Karole helped to create the prototype for BioUrn, and provided a quality handmade product that touches the hearts of every one of my customers. Karole's creativity and drive for perfection has helped BioUrn win numerous awards for creative concept and unique design. BioUrn won the 2014 Editors Choice Award named "Best New Pet Product" by Dog Fancy magazine, and was a finalist in Martha Stewart's 2014 American Made Award, just to name a few. I attribute much of the success of my business to Karole's artistic creativity, and would be delighted to see her receive this meaningful award.
    Mimi Kirchner http://mimikirchner.com/blog/ Mimi Kirchner is a Boston based fiber artist specializing in handmade dolls. Mimi Kirchner has been a working artist for more then 30 years. She started making original cloth dolls in 2000 working from her Boston area home. In the fall of 2005, she cleaned out her parents' house and had to deal with the remains of 50+ years of her mother’s fashion sewing. She loved beautiful fabrics. There was clothing and yardage, scraps and bolts. Mimi was inspired by handling the materials and so her line of recycled wool dolls was born.

    The dolls are her original designs and patterns. They are made in series in which she often creates several dolls at a time from the same pattern, but each is unique in its' fabrics and details. She considers each doll to be one of a kind. Mimi works mostly with natural fibers, especially all kinds of wool- woven, knit, yarns, recycled sweaters and new 100% wool felt - also recycled cashmere, mohair, angora and linen and incorporating new, vintage and antique trims, buttons, lace and sewing notions. The dolls are stuffed with high quality polyester and/or wool.

    This past year she collaborated with West Elm to create a series of felt ornaments in her iconic style.
    Salty Oat http://saltyoat.blogspot.com Modern quilts and fabric shop Caitlin's quilts have a delightfully clean and peaceful aesthetic. I love seeing her minimalist eye at work in the way she combines modern geometrics with thoughtful color palettes to achieve a cohesive visual experience. With each quilt, she is able to achieve such depth and texture without the design becoming heavy or cluttered. Her work has a delicate gentleness to it that blends with her modern geometrics beautifully.
    Stewart Fiber Arts www.stewartfiberarts.com/shop Classic, elegant, and stylish hand woven accessories and home decor After learning to weave and perfecting her technique over a couple years, Angelique quit her day job to weave full time and fight our addiction to fast fashion and disposable fabrics. She focuses on classic, textural weaves inspired by vintage clothing.
    Wrap & Scraps www.wrapandscraps.com Wrap & Scraps repurposes used woven baby wraps into forever keepsakes for the babywearing adventurer Wrap & Scraps has gone from a woman sewing on the floor of her daughters room in 2014, to a full fledged business in 2015, with a 6 month waitlist.
    The success of 2015 has not only allowed Camrin; owner, mom, military spouse to stay at home with her daughter but also provided for her family who was barely paying the bills. Now nestled in her workspace are 4 sewing machines, with an industrial helping her expand into quality vegetarian and eco friendly cork leather bags complimented with a moms most precious memory, carrying her baby close. She takes handwoven or machine wraps that were used to hold infants to toddlers, and repurposes them into items the parent can use in everyday life to remember this time in their childs life. In 2015 she mailed custom items all the way to places such as Singapore, Phillipines, Canada, United Kingdom and more! She also expanded her wallet, bag, and wristlets to include more designs made by herself. Wrap & Scraps will also be present at International Babywearing Con! She was and still is commissioned by woven wrap companies themselves to make items from their fabric to stock in their company stores; Cari Slings, Bijou Wear... to name a few. In 2015 she also donated her time to help lending libraries (basically babywearing chapters which spread education and allow people to rent carriers in your local area) she donated items to be auctioned for their fundraisers, even helping The Carrying On Project creating items for them to sell at vending events to raise funds for their charity.
    Camrin is constantly trying to create a perfect sewn item, not only because she is passionate about her creations, but also because she knows how precious these items are. She sees the times she carried her daughter, wrapped in a beauitful piece of fabric art, to the beach, to the park, or simply to sew a item with a happy baby chewing on her hair.

  • Upcycling

  • A bit more information about each nominee in this category as submitted by the nominators and themselves.

    Business Name Website About Submitted Achievements
    CRAVE by Carli Rae Vergamini www.cravebycrv.com Limited edition leather goods & accessories handmade one at a time
    HaloMiner www.halominer.com HaloMiner is a women-owned, environmentally friendly lifestyle brand that uses repurposed materials Selected to be a part of prostegiuos craft art shows in the mid west, Hyde Park Square Art Show, Crafty Supermarket. HaloMiner
    saves 100's of pounds of fabric from going into landfills. And we have outreach to classrooms to teach art though recycling.
    REWILDER www.rewilder.com Rewilder builds modern bags that don't destroy the planet. They are beautiful, functional, salvaged.
    Wear Love Now http://wearlovenow.com/ eco chic altered clothing

  • Wood

  • A bit more information about each nominee in this category as submitted by the nominators and themselves.

    B Mayorca, Art & Design Studio bmayorca.com Art & design studio dedicated to create modern and artistic home accents. She has been developing for the past years a furniture and lighting fixtures collection named “The Lines.” This is made up of modern and contemporary designs achieved by the use of wood as a mainly material combined with metal and concrete.

    This past 2015 the artist has been invited to exhibit her functional art in some of the most important art galleries of Central Oklahoma. She opened the year with an invitational show named Art-NOW at the Oklahoma Contemporary where she exhibited some of her lighting and furniture. Visually pleasing designs and handcrafted works defined by the use of clean lines and sleek shapes accomplished by the use of lamination technique made with plywood.

    After this show, she focused in go deep into the lamination method and pairs it with wood bending technique to achieve a more artistic edge in her creations, but always maintaining her modern taste. These new furniture and lighting were used to close the year with a very impressive exhibition at MAINSITE Contemporary Art Gallery, another very important gallery in Oklahoma located in the city of Norman.

    It is important take into consideration that the hands of the artists are the only things in charge of bringing her designs to life. From preliminary sketches to CAD drawing, from woodwork to welding or pouring concrete, Beatriz Mayorca has handcrafted each of her works.

  • Community Superstar sponsored by Aftcra

  • We would like to thank Aftcra for supporting those who support our community! Please tell us of a business that you've seen going out of their way to build up the handmade community. They are someone who is always willing to help other businesses, share knowledge and just generally be supportive. Decision will be made by the founder based on responses, including details of why the business is deserving.

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