By Amanda Elder of Stay-at-Home Panda
A few Decembers ago, I was in a store that sold cool jewelry and clothing. I picked up a beautiful beaded bracelet and tried to talk myself out of buying it, muttering that I shouldn’t spend the money. The woman behind the counter retorted something along the lines of, “When you spend your money here, you don’t only get quality handmade items, you support a small, family-owned business during the holidays.” It changed my perspective completely, and I passed her my credit card with certainty. I was happy about my new bling, but also happy with what and who my purchase supported.
As Matt Kahn says in a Facebook post, each choice in life is a trip to a voting booth. He writes, “If you support organic farming, each trip to the grocery store is an opportunity to cast your vote. If you wish to support the environment, each opportunity to compost and recycle is a chance to cast your vote. Anything you wish to support can be highlighted through the voting of your choices.”
This season, if you wish to support the dreams and talents of others, you might want to check out the following businesses. These shops and creations belong to females, so you’d be supporting women’s entrepreneurship, too!
1. Twin Threads Boutique
Meet Danielle, the owner. She’s a wife, art teacher, soccer coach, and mom to twin boys in St. Augustine, FL. Shortly after her sons were born, she decided to teach herself to sew, and now she keeps kids stylish with her beanies, headbands, droolers, and adorable rompers that are made without cumbersome snaps, zips, or buttons. She also does custom watercolor portraits. Send a family photo to her, and she’ll return something like this in 18 x 12:
These portraits deserve a frame and a spot in the living room. They’re a one-of a kind gift, and something that will be treasured forever. Check her out and order at Twin Threads Boutique.
2. Bella Beach Jewels
Meet the owner, Brittany. She is a Florida native who lives in Destin with her family. She handcrafts jewelry in her home studio with high quality materials and precision. She says her work is inspired by a love of the ocean, travel, and the pursuit of endless summer. Even companies like Roxy acknowledge her talent, which is why you can see their models sporting her jewels in advertisements. If you have a free-spirited or salty-souled friend, she might just need a piece of Brittany’s work.
So many more treasures (and holiday deals) at Bella Beach Jewels
3. Kinder Perfect
Meet the Vota family, creators of the game Kinder Perfect. They enjoyed playing Cards Against Humanity with their friends but felt the cards didn’t speak to their experience as parents. They started making their own cards and adding them in, but eventually played with the parenting-themed ones alone. With the encouragement, support, and suggestions of their neighbors and friends, they didn’t only make this game happen, they got Kinder Perfect on Amazon, and it’s now a top 100 card game seller.
I played the game with some ladies that I’m in a mom’s group with, and it was so much fun. Although I’ve shared many moments with these women while pushing our kids on swings and watching them jump on trampolines, we got to know each other on a different level while playing this. We opened up, laughed, and shared our experiences as perfectly imperfect parents. It was very bonding.
You can order a game for your favorite parents here on Amazon.
4. Biscotti Designs
Meet Kate, the owner. She is a soon-to-be mommy who lives in Colorado with her husband. After graduating from the Studio Art Program at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 2005, she was dead set on putting her degree to good use and relocated to start her business specializing in handmade tile artwork. By 2012, Biscotti Designs had grown into a full-time business, and she began offering new products such as greeting cards, original paintings, household products and more. The purpose of her business is to provide her customers with unique, handmade ‘awesomeness,’ created to make them smile. She says, “I am definitely doing what I love and loving what I do, and I think you will be able see that in my work!”
I was going to pick one of her tile magnets to show here, but I couldn’t choose just one…
They’re seriously awesome, and while looking for the purpose of this post, I added a bunch to my shopping cart (insert emoji of monkey covering his eyes). There’s a gift for everyone.
Check Kate out at Biscotti Designs.
5. Josie B
Meet the owner, Lauren. A few years ago she was a hairdresser, living with her boyfriend of twelve years. Things were good, and she was certain she had the life she wanted, but one Christmas, she expected an engagement ring and got a break up instead. A month after moving back in with her family at 29-years-old, her grandfather was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and not long after that, she held his hand as he passed away. Life was very hard for her, but in her struggle she realized she couldn’t depend on anyone else to dictate her future. She had to take care of herself, financially and personally. She says in an Instagram post, “During my heartache I remember thinking, ‘Who is punishing me? What did I do to deserve this pain?’ But now without a doubt, I know this made me stronger and able to do what I’m doing now.” She makes the world smile with her hilarious custom door mats, and is happy and proud, herself.
Her first one was this, and it was a huge hit:
Here are some of my other favorites:
I so feel this one, because if you’re knocking on my door (especially during nap time) to tell me about an internet promotion, I will cut you.
There’s something for everyone, and they all provoke smiles. Check her out at Shop Josie B.
6. Like a Queen
Meet Constance Hall, mother of four, wife of Bill, blogger at Queen of Constance, and author of Like a Queen. Her writing is bluntly honest, insightful, encouraging, and funny. She is feminist without man hating, and promotes kindness and acceptance while flipping the bird where it’s needed. She holds nothing back and talks about sex, depression, relationship problems, and the ups and downs and in-betweens of parenting. I haven’t actually read her book yet because she is based out of Australia, and shipping world wide has just been made available. However, another Queen said in a review, “I have just finished reading this book, and I feel like I can change the world. It makes me want to do a million things; like sponsor a less fortunate family, give a compliment to a passing female, hug my kids more tightly, reach out to fellow mums who might need some help – but most of all, to just be more accepting in general and be the change I want to see in the world.”
Order a copy here, unless colorful language offends you.
7. Momraderie
Meet Emily, the owner. She lives with her husband and son in New Jersey. She is a self-proclaimed serial DIYer that loves to design and to get creative. She started her boutique, Momraderie, to bring style and practicality to everyday parenting affordably. She carries an assortment of on trend mom-friendly apparel, nursing bras and tanks, pre and postnatal herbs, along with baby gifts and apparel. Her products are hand selected by a mom and toddler duo to create a unique and custom shopping experience for both gift givers and parents alike. She even offers bra conversions, making your favorite pre-pregnancy bra into your favorite nursing bra!
Browse Emily’s shop, Momraderie.
8. BiBi Styles
Meet Vivian, the owner. Jewelry making started off as her hobby, but she got so many inquires that she decided to make it into a small business, and donate to charity. She volunteers with the elderly and uses some of the profits to help create social programs for them. In fact, she’s giving them a holiday party on December 14th, and they are very excited about the big event. She offers unique, handmade jewelry at reasonable prices. Some pieces are made from shells and stones unique to areas she travels. She currently has one-of-a-kind pieces made from materials she gathered in New Zealand and Australia.
Order at Bibi Styles or her Etsy Shop. Since you are a beloved reader of mine, use the code FREESHIP to get free shipping within the US.
9. Star Tangled Arts
Meet the owner, Lori. She’s a single mom in Colorado that could no longer balance being a marketing manager for the world’s largest manufacturer of mining explosives with her community and global responsibility and values. She left the corporate world in 2015 determined never to go back, and made her first Etsy sale in October of that year. She makes personalized gifts and home decor, and does a lot of custom work for groups, wedding parties, and the medical field. She says she tries to give people what she likes to receive; good value, quality products, clear communication, and fast service. It seems to be working for her!
Moms know cups like these are best for drinking out of. You can take them for walks around the neighborhood or to the beach. You can sip from them in the living room with minimal risk of spill or break. While this cup is discreet, it’s honest, thus commendable.
I just ordered two at Star Tangled Arts.
10. Sierra Metal Design
Meet the owner, Alicia. She is based out of Senora, CA and lives with her husband, two children, and two dogs. She has fun running her Etsy business, selling personalized metal products. She enjoys seeing how people want to customize and change her products because it makes things more interesting and exciting.
I love these key chains because I have a 4-year-old who loves to write, and preserving his penmanship is such a cute idea. These make sweet and thoughtful presents for just about anyone. I might just get him to write, “I love you Mommy”, send it to Alicia, and wrap it for myself. Check out Sierra Metal Design for more gifts like these.
This holiday season think not only about where your gifts go, but where they come from.
This post was originally published on Stay-at-Home Panda.
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About the Author
Amanda is a teacher turned stay-at-home mom to two boys, and wife of a resident doctor in Orlando, FL. When she isn’t playing with trains, doing dishes, or having sword fights, she is writing. Her work has been published by Scary Mommy, Blunt Moms, In the Powder Room, and Mamalode. Learn more about her at stayathomepanda.com and follow Amanda on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.