Handcrafted Ohio 2015

Shaving Kit
by Orange Fuzz
Upgrade your morning routine with an all-in-one grooming kit that includes a shaving brush, soap and aftershave. Amanda Poston and wife Jessi Poston make their aromatic products from vegan sources and package them in materials naturally friendly to the environment. $35, orangefuzzshop.com

Animated Lamps  
by John Hutchinson Lamps
Retired architect John Hutchinson plays with pairings, mixing unusual motion and utility in his creative lamps. His Dynamo Man Duet gives the beholder the illusion that the tiny wooden men at the crank keep the light on. $100–$300, Hutchinson sells his lamps at Serendip Gallery in Powell.

Artistic Cookware
by Don Drumm 
For more than 50 years, Ohio artist Don Drumm has brought light to homes and gardens with his decor designs. Drumm also creates functional cookware and serving pieces cast in pewter alloys and aluminum — a metal he pioneered as an artistic medium. “He started out using aluminum mainly for architectural things,” says his wife, Lisa Drumm, co-owner of Akron’s Don Drumm Studios & Gallery. “Then he began exploring what else he could do with it.” $36–$300, dondrummstudios.com

Lemon Verbena-infused Honey  
by Honeyrun Farm
Pickaway County beekeepers Jayne and Isaac Barnes grow and dry their own lemon verbena, infusing the herb into fresh honey before bottling their perfect accompaniment to tea. $8.50, honeyrunfarm.com

Ohio State T-shirt Scarves
by Re-Tee Scarves
Growing up in a family that made their own Christmas gifts instilled a sense of both thrift and craft in sisters Molly Tanner and Karen Cameron. Their lineup of scarves include ones that’ll help you show your support for the scarlet and gray this winter. $35, etsy.com/shop/reteescarves

Petite Bellfield Tote
by Fount
Jackie and Phillip Wachter of Cleveland pore over the finest Italian leather for inconsistencies before cutting the patterns for their sophisticated head wraps, satchels and bags. The smooth lines and simple designs of the pieces make the Petite Bellfield Tote a great accessory for work or play. $279, fountleather.com

Blown Glass Ornaments
by Tazza Glass
Mike Grau’s handmade Christmas ornaments range from candy cane-striped orbs to multicolored teardrop shapes. Many of the globes he makes are rolled in shards of colored glass while still hot and then reheated, causing the specks to melt into an inimitable mosaic. In the case of his Snowball Ornament, however, Grau uses the glass shards as decoration. “I don’t apply as much heat, therefore the texture remains,” explains the craftsman, who has a shop in Medina. “If I were to heat that up a few more seconds, all that white would melt smooth and lay down flatter, spread out more.” $22–$29, tazzaglass.com

Whimsical Birdhouses
by Schoolhouse Woodcrafts
Paul and Deborah Bahm craft bulb-shaped birdhouses in their Mount Vernon workshop. Each artfully made piece is created from salvaged wood, with options ranging from rustic walnut to delicate birch. $69–$129, schoolhousewoodcrafts.com

Shagbark Hickory Syrup
by Simple Gourmet Syrups
Twenty-five years in product development served Michael Jaeb well when he traded his career for farming in 2008. Using the bark from hickory trees on his 55 acres in Holmes County, Jaeb makes small batches of delicately flavored shagbark hickory syrup. Less sweet and more complex than maple, it shines as a glaze or in salad dressings. $8.50, simplegourmetsyrups.com

Creative Candles
by 1820 House Candle Co.
What began as Melissa Smith making a single candle in the kitchen of her circa 1820 home in Columbiana County is now a full-time business. The natural candles are crafted from soy- and vegetable-based wax with unique scents ranging from White Jasmine & Coconut to Bourbon & Apple. $19–$28, 1820house.com

Cute Pincushions
by Fat Cat Crafts
Kathleen Schmid’s first pincushion was a snowman inspired by the shape of her portly black cat. Since then, super-cute felines — each decked out in a costume — have become the main characters of the Cleveland artist’s adorable pincushion line. $18–$68, etsy.com/shop/fatcatcrafts

Silk Scarves
by Donna Marchetti
Donna Marchetti offers a colorful antidote to dreary winter days with her one-of-a-kind silk scarves. The Cleveland artist paints or hand-dyes each piece in brilliant hues designed to look fabulous for a night on the town or a weekend in jeans. $40–$150, donnamarchettidesign.com

Hand-turned Walnut Bowl
by Kelly Parkhurst
Kelly Parkhurst of Sylvania began working in her father’s sawmill as a teen. After art school and a stint at her uncle’s cabinet shop, she started her own, transforming Ohio wood into beautiful, food-safe pieces. $30–$100, etsy.com/shop/kellysparkles

Ohio Pride Jewelry
by Liz Franklin Arts
Wear your Buckeye State pride with one of Liz Franklin’s wrought-metal designs. Using copper and aluminum to fashion functional art, the Dublin jewelry-maker celebrates the heartland with an industrial-chic touch. $24–$46, lizfranklin.net

Handmade Posters
by Just A Jar Design Press
Looking at Bobby and Sara Rosenstock’s beautiful poster designs, it’s hard to believe that they set the lettering by hand and cut each image from a block of wood. But that attention to detail and reverence for old-school methods has helped the Marietta printers garner national attention since opening six years ago. “I really enjoy working with local businesses in Ohio,” says Bobby, who counts Marietta Brewing Co. and Stuart’s Opera House in Nelsonville among his clients. “We’re all helping promote each other and doing things that we care about.” $20–$50, justajar.com

Vintage Book Cover Journals
by Goathill Productions
Michelle Geissbuhler has a tradition of making her Christmas cards by hand, often incorporating pages from vintage books into her designs. Rather than throw away the unused covers, she turns them into journals by adding a notebook, pen holder and pockets. $12–$18, goathillproductions.com

Acoustic Speaker Horn-A-Phone 
by Old Time Computer
Kirk Duquette has a passion for making new products look old. The craftsman’s Horn-A-Phone, which is designed to be used with an iPhone or iPod, combines a modern speaker with a vintage look. $150–$185, oldtimecomputer.com

Zoarville Wine Trough   
by Ohio Wood and Iron Works
Handmade by Sam Krantz using antique woodworking tools, the Zoarville Wine Trough is decorative but also functional. The rustic trough can be lined with galvanized steel or copper to keep beverages cold or serve as a display for seasonal decorations. $145–$225, etsy.com/shop/ohiowoodandironworks

Glass Branch Bowls 
by Hunky Dory Studio 
It takes Cincinnati artist Amy Flesher 35 hours to create just one of her glass bowls, which she patterns after birds nests, branches and other objects found in nature. To make each free-form piece, Flesher hand-cuts at least 50 strips of glass, then fuses them in a kiln. Exuding a retro, mid-century-modern vibe, the decorative works are available in palettes ranging from neon to neutral. “My customers pick the color and size of bowl they’d like, then leave the rest to me,” Flesher says. “No two bowls will ever be the same, and that’s pretty cool.” $39–$89, hunkydorystudio.com

Adorable Aprons
by Made by Amy D
Offering a fun and colorful alternative to the classic white aprons of yesteryear,  Amy Dalrymple Murphy crafts each of her creations by hand using either salvaged or recycled materials. Options range from cute, vintage-inspired versions to a guy-friendly “griller” apron (complete with beer pocket). Each can also be customized for an added personal touch. $34 (extra $5 for customization), madebyamyd.com

Handmade Vanilla Extract
by Chef JC
Choose from one of these three vanilla extracts handmade by Joshua Cox, or indulge in a trio of flavors from around the globe. The varieties include vanilla bean extract from Madagascar, Mexico and Hawaii. $5.99, chefjcs.com

Alpaca Scarves & Wraps
By Root Down Acres
Wes and Missy Kroninger and their menagerie in Springfield make it easy to warm up to winter with hand-knitted scarves and wraps. Available in natural colors of white, black, gray and brown, each accessory comes with a photo of the alpaca the fiber came from. $45–$90, rootdownacres.com

Handmade Ceramic Bowls by Sally Watson
When she’s not manning her Tipp City gallery, Sally Watson can be found up to her elbows in clay, making many of the items she sells. Her earth-toned, functional stoneware is food-safe, making her serving bowls a great addition to any kitchen. $8.95–$120, hotelgallerytippcity.com

Bourbon Barrel Sunglasses
by Columbus Barrel Co.
Curt and C.J. Shaver use authentic Kentucky bourbon barrels to craft tables, barstools and, yes, even sunglasses. Each pair features polarized lenses and arrives in a wooden case. $125, columbusbarrelco.com

Baby-safe Necklaces 
by The Jones Market
Candis Jones is a firm believer that fashion and motherhood can coexist. When the Columbus mother of two started making necklaces as a hobby, she soon discovered that babies were drawn to the smooth wooden beads and jersey knit fabric she used in her designs. So, Jones started making necklaces with baby-safe wood finishes and durable fabrics that pair well with neutral and pastel colors. “I didn’t want anybody to feel like they had a toy around their neck,” Jones says. “The whole idea is that you’re not sacrificing beauty for function.” $28–$34, thejonesmarket.com

Baby Gift Box  
by Pure Enchantment
Baby the newborn in your life with a mix of soothing potions from this Rocky River shop. Owners Debbie and Bill Brink fill each gift box with the natural soaps, lotions and diaper creams developed in-store. They’re available in fragrance-free or lavender-oatmeal varieties. $30, pureenchantment.com

Pet Portrait Mugs
by Susan Altenau Pottery
Toast your favorite four-legged pal in a mug made by Cincinnati potter Susan Altenau. Customers can send photos of their pet — be it dog, cat or squirrel — and the artist will paint their likeness onto one of her vessels, which are microwaveable and dishwasher safe. $35–$75, susanaltenaupottery.com

Trilateral Vases   
by Nick Delmatto
Hocking Hills artist Nick Delmatto is captivated by asymmetric forms of nature, especially plants that resemble ballet dancers reaching toward the sky. His blown glass, three-sided vases (available in green, royal blue and copper red) replicate that vision in sizes ranging from 9 inches high to 2 feet tall. $90–$350, delmattoglass.com

Hand-carved Toys   
by Cambridge Wooden Toy Co.
Brian Gray’s toys are made to last for generations. Gray, 70, has been carving wood since high school, and he makes everything from rocking horses to alphabet trains. Each piece is crafted with safety in mind, featuring rounded edges for a child-safe finish. $1.50–$250, cambridgewoodentoyco.com