We love shopping local, and we know you do too. So we scoured the Triangle to find artists, chefs and entrepreneurs who make one-of-a-kind giftables right in our own backyards.
Whether you prefer an original painting for an art lover, or a basket of local goodies for your foodie friends, these local creations are sure to find a special place under your tree.
For the Kid at Heart
Golden Retriever Rocking Dog, $499 Rocking Frog owner Andy Steude expertly crafts unique rocking toys out of bamboo and finishes them with an eco-friendly all natural oil wax.
ROCKING FROG, Cary
rockingfrog.com
For the Home & Hostess
1 – Log Candles, $35 (for set of three)
5 – Tobacco Lath Star, $15
Using salvaged wood from deconstructed tobacco barns, husband and wife duo Scott and Angeline McInerny construct home décor and custom furniture steeped in North Carolina history.
THE WEATHERED BARN, Cary
the-weathered-barn.com
2 – Stingray Dinner Plate, $50
3 – Angelfish Bubble Mug, $36
One of a kind aquatic ceramics, made with custom glazes and nautical decals by Tanya Casteel, are food, microwave and dishwasher safe.
CEPHALOPOD INK CERAMICS, Fuquay-Varina
cephalopodink.com
4 – Red Maple Hollow Form, $480
Wood turner Jason Van Duyn transformed a fallen tree found near Prestonwood golf course into this lacquered, sculptural vessel.
Van Duyn Woodwork, Raleigh
vanduynwoodwork.com
6 – Mason Jar Lanterns, $24 each
Classically Southern Mason jars become global and sophisticated with Moroccan-inspired designs, hand-painted by Vanessa Cline.
LITdecor, Cary
litdecor.etsy.com
For the Art Collector
1 – Daisies and Tulips Digital Painting, $65
A tablet and stylus provide Christine MacLellan with various methods, brush strokes and textures from which she crafts original art digitally.
RUSHINGWATER STUDIOS BY CHRISTINE MACLELLAN, Cary
rushingwaterstudios.com
2 – Custom Pet Portrait, $90
Immortalize man’s best friend with a vibrant custom portrait by artist Amy Yeager. The modest 6 inch square size looks great in a gallery wall or propped on a bookshelf.
AMY’S CREATIVE CORNER, Cary
amyscreativecorner.etsy.com
3 – Crashing Waves II, $40
Artist Laura Azzi brushes on multiple layers of pen, ink and watercolor to create depth and movement in her seascapes.
LAURA AZZI FINE ARTS, Raleigh
lauraazzifi nearts.com
4 – Raleigh Skyline Print, $150
Arlie Harris uses a bright palette of acrylic paints on canvas to create a range of landscapes and other cheery pieces. She also creates commissioned work and teaches classes.
Krafty Evolution Studio, Durham
kraftyevolutionstudio.com
5 – Hamlet, $75
The wide-eyed fish is among Ken Vrana’s diverse portfolio of original paintings on wood boards.
F 4 Studios, Cary
etsy.com/shop/F4Studios
6 – Two Oriental Lilies, $400
Inspired by her love of gardening, Marilyn Bass creates botanical paper sculpture, an art form she pioneered, with hand-cut paper and colored pencils.
Marilyn Bass, Cary
(919) 462-0910
For the Foodie
1 – Artisan Chocolate Collection, $30
Artfully handmade piece by piece by Kirstin and Robert Neira, using fresh ingredients and natural flavorings. To die-for flavors include Almond Pistachio, Coffee Caramel, Starrlight Blackberry and Hazelnut Crunchy.
RED LIGHT CHOCOLATES, Fuquay-Varina
redlightchocolates.com
2 – Fair Trade Organic Papua New Guinea, $14/lb
Sip this single origin Indonesian coffee, carefully roasted in small batches by Kevin and Ali Littlewood, and notice the flavor notes of molasses, grapefruit and hazelnut.
BOOGIE BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS, Holly Springs
boogiebeancoffee.com
3 – Hot Vesta Fiery Gourmet Topping, $7
Spicy food fanatic Ben Tuorto grows hundreds of chile pepper plants in a Cary garden for this textural, flavorful topping. Vesta contains a range of chilies, such as red and chocolate habanero, Scotch bonnet, Congo red, aji dulce, fatalii, bhut jolokia and more.
VESTA FIERY GOURMET TOPPINGS, Cary
vestatoppings.com
4 – Jim’s Own Mild Sauce, $6
This tangy, slightly sweet tomato-based barbecue sauce is made from a 50-year-old family recipe. Also available in Hot, Mustard and Smokey flavors.
Jim’s Own Sauce, Cary
jimsownsauce.com
5 – Assorted Cheeses, from $4
Cindy West transforms cow milk from Maple View Farm in Hillsborough and goat milk from Wilderness Trail Dairy in Trinity into a variety of flavorful cheeses. Pictured are Bloomin’
Decadence, Bloomin’ Sweet Ash, Herbed Chevre, and Chicken Bridge.
Hillsborough Cheese Co., Hillsborough
hillsboroughcheese.wordpress.com
6 – Gentlewoods Smokey All Purpose Rub, $5
Add flavors of caramelized sugar and smoked peppers — plus a little zippy bite — to your favorite meats, with no artificial flavors or highfructose corn syrup.
Gentlewoods Naturals, Cary
gentlewoodsfood.com
7 – Cackalacky Spice Sauce, $4.50
Page Skelton has one rule for his sweet potato-based sauce: “Whatever you do with Cackalacky Sauce, it has to be fun.”
Cackalacky, Chapel Hill
cackalacky.com
8 – Local Basics Gift Box, $15
Herbs are sourced from Durham, Efland and Greensboro and packaged into handy glass-top containers by Lynne Berla. The set includes basil, tarragon, savory, oregano, chives, fennel seed, mint and thyme.
olifant+castelo, Durham
olifantcastelo.com
