T-shirts for toddlers, and bracelets for besties. Cropped hoodie sweatshirts, and jewelry from Etsy. Custom wall hangings, and a poster that sings.
These are a few of our favorite handcrafted things.
We’ve always been proud to get our hands on anything made in Cleveland. From Pierre’s Ice Cream to Sherwin-Williams paints and American Greetings cards, our soft spot for stuff made here is Lake Erie-sized.
Thanks to the founding of maker fair Bazaar Bizarre (now Cleveland Bazaar) in 2004, and later the Cleveland Flea in 2013, it’s become easier than ever to get our hands on the amazing things local crafters come up with.
“All of these people are making cool things, and I want to show their cool things,” says Cleveland Bazaar founder Shannon Okey. “And Cleveland has always been vastly supportive of handmade [arts] because people here make stuff — we’ve got that maker heritage.”
Like a real-life Pinterest or Instagram, the Bazaar and the Flea introduced us to the likes of CLE Clothing Co., Fount and Cleveland Bagel Co., which all went on to open brick-and-mortar locations.
As more and more budding creators are inspired by the markets and the success of the vendors who sell their wares there, we reap the benefits with goodies galore.
Whether it’s Glam & Grace’s totally fab eye shadow colors, Sick Sad Soap’s ghoulish creations or Little Birdie Design Studio’s too-cozy-to-be-true rug scarf, we can’t get enough. So no matter who you’re shopping for, the 25 handcrafted items in this guide will help you find the perfect gifts for everyone on your list. And if you find a couple trinkets for yourself, that sounds like music to our ears. -Jason Brill, Illustration by Erin Guido
Editor's Note: Click on the links below to read about the 23 items in our Made In The CLE Gift Guide.
Sankora Studios’ Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Frank Lamps
Cleveland Surf Co.'s Paradise City T-Shirt
Pint-Sized Pegs' Space Peg Doll Set
Sick Sad Soap's Familiar Planchette soap
Boundary & Thorn's Coffee Punnie Print
Little Birdie Design Studio's Rug Scarf
Seville Lettering Co.'s Heart Wax Seal Kit
Glam & Grace's Simply Stacked Eye Shadow Set: ’70s Shag
Sarah Krisher Studio’s Oval Abstract Triangle Bracelet 
Tiny Cloud Ceramics' Phrase Mugs
Hand Lettered Old Shit’s Joy to the World ornament
Tori Simonds Art's Cara Custom wall hanging
Ohio Workshop’s Geometric Wall Planters
Legend Headwear's Durango Camper
Cuyahoga Collective's Homegrown Ohioan Toddler Tee
Chris Deighan Art's Cleveland Rock History Print
Revival Body Care’s Goddess Clay Mask: Renew
Oceanne Jewelry's Custom Brass Bookmark
Pierce Jewelry’s Multi-way Sterling Silver Leaf and Gemstone Necklace
