handcrafted
The Crafters Who Finish What Loved Ones Couldn't
When a crafter passes away mid-project, Loose Ends matches grieving families with volunteer finishers who complete what their loved ones couldn't.
handmade
craft for good
Rhode Island Bake Sale Combines Sweet Treats and Social Justice
In Newport, Rhode Island, a sweet form of protest is taking shape – one that smells of freshly baked cookies and pastries. On Saturday, March 7, the gift shop Matriarch will host an "ICE Cakes Not People" bake sale, with proceeds benefiting immigrant rights organizations. The event is a
Stories
How a Get-Well Gift Sparked This Entrepreneur’s Candle Business
Candlemaker Gloria Young is the spark behind Hudson Avenue Company, a New England-based business. In her interview, Gloria shares her unexpected beginnings, noting the chance events that led her from making candles as a hobby to selling them in retail shops. Continue reading Gloria’s story below. How did your
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Nourishing Sweets: Meet the Founder of Elisa’s Love Bites
Elisa Lyew was working as a pastry chef when she realized that restaurants offered few nutritious desserts, which gave her an idea. The chef began a side hustle, making pastries with wholesome ingredients and natural low-glycemic sweeteners. Today, she owns Elisa’s Love Bites, a dessert atelier in New York
Running a Creative Business
Handmade.com Pledges Authenticity and Visibility for Artisan Sellers
There’s a new online marketplace for artisans in town: Handmade.com. Although the site just launched this year, Handmade.com’s founders are industry veterans. They’re the same people who brought us the social-impact marketplace NOVICA. If you’re not familiar with the company, NOVICA helps artisans in
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Framing Success: How Lucie Voves Founded Church Hill Classics
Founder Lucie Voves’ journey into the custom framing and art world began not with a business plan but with a sentimental search. Her company, Church Hill Classics, makes bespoke diploma frames, and it all started in her basement. Let’s hear from Lucie on her highly successful foray into handcrafted
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A Crafted Destiny: Meet Jewelry Designer Sonali Dixit
Have you ever felt as if your creative path was just meant to be? That’s precisely how Sonali Dixit feels about her foray into jewelry design. Growing up in Kathmandu, Nepal, a city famed for its rich artistic traditions, she was immersed in creativity practically from birth. “It’s
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Weaving Passion and Artistry: How Nikia Londy Built Her Hair Augmentation Business
When you think of artisan goods, you probably don’t think about hair extensions or wigs, but Nikia Londy, hairstylist extraordinaire and owner of Intriguing Hair in Boston, is an artist. She and her small team sew wigs and hair extensions by hand from ethically sourced and fair-trade human hair,
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Fusing Art and Fashion to Build a Thriving Handbag Business
A Conversation with Kent Stetson This year, Kent Stetson, an artisan handbag designer, is celebrating two decades of creative entrepreneurship. His niche is handcrafted handbags that double as art. Initially, the artist explored selling his paintings, but the endeavor wasn’t for him. Here, Kent shares why he cut up
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Success, Perfectionism and Handling Highs and Lows: An Interview with Rachel Frank of Elements Studio NYC
Rachel Frank and Lori Berlinghof launched their handmade luxury jewelry brand, Elements Studio NYC, in 2015. With designs influenced by the earth’s elements, it’s no surprise that Rachel and Lori cast their pieces in recycled gold and only use ethically sourced stones. The design duo’s Bowie Collection
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See What Inspires the Co-founder of Sustainable Accessories Brand Dirty Celebrity
As teens twins Eva and Yvette Estime loved watching anime and flipping through Japanese street fashion magazines—interests that would influence their future careers. Fast-forward to 2020, when the sisters founded Dirty Celebrity, an indie fashion brand. “Our accessories line takes inspiration from Japanese streetwear, American punk and pop culture—
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From Midwife to Botanical Bath and Body Care Maven
Canadian creative entrepreneur Stefanie Henderlin founded the award-winning Mangata Apothecary, which offers a range of botanical bath and body care products. Stefanie shared how she began making her products. “My background was midwifery, and I originally created all these products for clients,” the maker said. Stefanie received plenty of positive