My Hand-Made Holiday Gift Guide!

I love hand-made gifts, both giving them and receiving them. There is something special in a gift that has come to you directly from the person who created it. I know there are a ton of gift guides out there, but I’ve got so many incredibly talented crafty friends, that I thought I’d add one more to the mix. The ladies I have included are either women I know in real life, or women I’ve become friends with online. Either way, each is talented in her craft, and I’m excited to share them with you through this gift guide!

Clothing & Accessories
Deborah Buentello-Carriles can help your little one look even more adorable! Deborah is crafty with appliqued tee-shirts, hair bows, dolls, quilts, and pillowcase dresses, just to name a few. If you’d like to check out the tee-shirts she and her friend Tami Zuniga create, visit 2 Mamas Tees. If you’d like to check out all her other products, visit her at Gigi Belle Designs. Let me just say that if I had a daughter, she’d have lots of Deborah’s sweet creations!

Christine De Stefano-Vuksanaj is a lawyer through education, but an textile artist through passion. Although she creates gorgeous custom-made wooden bangles and gift boxes, she and a friend have decided to create beautiful wearable art with yarn. At Fiber Love Designs, you’ll find funky, fun and gorgeous hats, scarves and cowls. Every time I look at her work, I wish I lived in a colder climate!

Cady Jones is a crafter who has been creating since she was a child. She’s got a great little shop on Etsy where she is selling fun items like purses, hats and tins that she has created using found and upcycled items. I especially like the purses made from old Reader’s Digest books! You can visit her at Artsy Upcycle to see more!

Jewelry
Lisa J. Lehmann is a metalsmith. Isn’t that such a cool description? Lisa works with metal and precious stones to create gorgeous jewelry that is both dainty looking and strong. Half of her catalog at Studio Jewel is on my wish list for future gifts. Lisa’s designs are unique, and a lot of them are cause related. Another of her unique designs is a very pretty medic alert bracelet, which I would love if i needed to wear a piece of jewelry every single day!

Vicki Scanlon is a friend who makes the sweetest jewelry with with wire and beads. I have her “Mommy Bracelet” (although I need to add Tobin’s name!). The jewelry is lovely and sturdy; and because it is custom, Vicki can make the perfect size for you. If you’re a curvy girl, you know how frustrating it can be to want a bracelet that won’t fit! You can reach Vicki through her Etsy site.

Photography
Rachel Matthews is a multi-talented friend of mine; but, the talent I want to showcase here is her photography. Rachel is located in Corpus Christi, and you can contact her for photography information at Rachel Matthews Photography. I love Rachel’s approach to photography, especially with children. She’s a mom, and a patient one at that, and it shows in her interaction with kids. She’s completely relaxed and it makes for sweet and honest photos.

I hope, if you still have some shopping to do, and appreciate hand-made gifts like I do, you’ll have some fun shopping with the ladies I’ve talked about here. Do you have some artists or crafters you’d like to share?