The time to stuff stockings and light menorahs will be here before we know it. Make the season even brighter by supporting the talented artists and makers in our midst. Here are a few of our favorite things made in Arlington, Falls Church and creative studios elsewhere in the DMV.
Not Potted
Who says houseplants must live in conventional containers? Take a cue from Arlington plant whisperer Christina Foy of Plants & What Knot. Her whimsical displays include kokedama (Japanese moss balls, $25-$55) and air plants suspended from sea urchin shells to look like jellyfish ($15-$48). Boho types will also dig her retro macrame plant hangers (starting at $28) and mini holiday ornaments called “gnomie homies” ($18), available at Shop Made in VA and plantsandwhatknot.com.
In the Bag
Maximalists: We bet you can’t choose just one of Karina Gaull’s cheerful, handmade carryalls. Pattern play shines in her sizable repertoire of wallets, totes, makeup pouches, fanny packs, cross-body bags, wristlets and clutches ($25-$100), many of which are adorned with fun stitching, charms and cheeky linings. A former graphic designer, Gaull rediscovered her sewing machine making masks during the pandemic and a business was born. Find her wares at TINT Makerspace in Falls Church, or contact the artist to custom design your own creation. karinagaull.com
Posh Pets
Local dog mom Hannah Moskowitz was bored by the sartorial options on the market for her two pit-bull mix rescue pups, so she created LunaBlu, a line of functional and fashionable pet accessories including collars ($25), bandannas ($18) and leash packs ($20), with designs ranging from spring florals and food-themed prints to holiday plaid. Committed to sustainability, her venture recycles all fabric and webbing scraps, uses recyclable mailers and offers a “reFURbish” program that reuses existing buckles and hardware while replacing worn-out straps. lunablucreates.com
Got Sauce?
Condiment king Dave Forbes has rebranded a few times, but the plant-based spreads and sauces in his evolving product line, Dave’s Friggin Awesome (formerly Disturbingly Delicious Foods), are as cheeky and piquant as ever. Stop by his stand at the Falls Church Farmers Market or his Little City storefront (open Saturdays and by appointment) and build your own gift basket of gourmet goodies ($8-$20) such as eggless black truffle “schmaioli,” five-alarm hot sauces, artisanal chili crisp and all-purpose syrups with names like Cranberry Blueberry Reaper. davesfrigginawesome.com
Sew Good
Armed with his grandmother’s 1970s sewing machine, Isaac Richardson started his one-man Arlington operation, Voyager Bag Works, in 2019. Today his collection of durable, long-lasting travel and work bags includes backpacks (starting at $305), satchels and slings ($59 and up) fashioned out of water-repellent waxed canvas or Ecopak, a waterproof polyester made of recycled plastic bottles. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Richardson takes custom orders, too. A portion of every sale goes to nonprofits devoted to equity and sustainability. voyagerbagworks.com
Salve Yourself
Victoria Makinde’s bestselling lavender Pain Relief Oil ($20-$56) “was born from a place of love and care. I crafted it specifically for my mother as she dealt with the aches of arthritis,” explains the founder of Arlington brand Hello Wellness. The natural products in her therapeutic skin care line—which also includes organic body butters, scrubs, soaks and face masks—are formulated to soothe eczema, stress and chronic pain. Sample them at Mosaic’s holiday URBNmarket (Nov. 23-24) or shop hellowellness.com.
Whiskey Business
Nick Cioffi, Mark Turner and Zach Gasper are builders and architects by trade, but their spin-off business, Lost Whiskey Club, is also about quality and craftsmanship. For the spirits-lover, it’s hard to imagine a gift more ruggedly romantic than a bottle of small-batch bourbon ($33-$50) adorned with a branded leather strap and a hand-lettered “story number.” “It’s a small keepsake to remember how and with whom that bottle was shared,” says Cioffi, who oversees the boutique distillery and its tasting room in Merrifield. Watch for the release of their latest 10-year double barrel American whiskey ($70) in Virginia ABC stores around Thanksgiving. lostwhiskey.com
Zip and Sip
In her spare time, Arlington Public Schools teacher and “proud Argentinean” Ana Sicer gets creative with Ana Just Made It, a fun collection of sassy bags, water bottles and other handy accessories for girls on the go. On-trend items include puffer-style totes ($50-$60), pop-collage tumblers for Swifties ($20), zippered pouches ($20) and cross-body bags ($40-$55) featuring travel-inspired printed fabrics. She’ll be at the Washington-Liberty High School Holiday Bazaar on Dec. 7.
Catch Some Rays
Bring a little sparkle to someone’s window with a vivid suncatcher or plant propagator ($55 and up) by Arlington glass artist Maria Milton of MarzDM Studio. Many of her geometric designs are inspired by elements in nature. marzdmstudio.com
Yay for Clay
Seeking something special for your favorite cook or gardener? Spring for a speckled egg plate ($40), nesting tapas dishes ($29) or a set of herb garden markers ($28) by Persimmon Street Ceramics. Arlington artist Heather Lezla says her objects are “designed for utility,” but they also have a homespun quality that is undeniably precious. Find select pieces at The Urban Farmhouse, Botanologica and online at etsy.com/shop/persimmonstreet.
Like a Charm
Del Ray artisan Meg Talley is the talent behind Meg By Hand, a collection of hand-hewn earrings and stacking rings ($30 and up) made with reclaimed precious metals. Her delicate motifs include tiny leaves, Virginia dogwoods and cherry blossoms. Scope out her wares at Port City Brewing (Nov. 30), the Clarendon Holiday Market (Dec. 7-8) and at Shop Made in VA. megbyhand.com
Breathe Deep
Athletes with sore muscles and stuffy noses will appreciate the magnesium bath soaks ($12) and sinus-clearing shower steamers ($10) in Anusha Moodley’s Thulisa Naturals trove of aromatherapy bath products. Body butters, oils and scrubs ($16-$28) round out the offerings in scents such as pink grapefruit and lavender-mint. Discover select scents at Covet in Arlington and Vivid Chill in the Mosaic District, or shop thulisanaturals.com.
Candy Man
Chocolatier Rob Kingsbury closed his Alexandria storefront one year ago, but he’s still bringing sweet temptations such as fleur-de-sel caramel truffles, cashew-porter toffee and pine-cone-shaped hot cocoa bombs to pop-ups all over town. Peruse his confections at One More Page Books (Nov. 16 and Dec. 8) and Clarendon Courthouse Plaza (Nov. 21 and Dec. 18).
Small Stuff
Amiga Hormiga Studio (the name means “ant friend” in Spanish) specializes in bilingual paper goods “inspired by all the little things that make life feel big,” explains owner Virginia Strobach, whose fanciful greeting cards and affordable art prints ($5-$30) are a celebration of plants, nature, food and friendship. Her limited-edition “I Know a Spot” series features portraits of beloved local eateries such as The Broiler, El Pollo Rico, Bob & Edith’s Diner and Kabob Palace. Find her at Shop Made in VA and amigahormiga.com.
Fly Guy
The light bulb moment for this ingenious travel accessory occurred to Arlington entrepreneur Seth LaPierre shortly after he boarded a plane in 2017. “My wife crushed her coffee in my seat-back pocket before I even buckled my seat belt,” he says. “I stared at that cup thinking there must be a better way. There wasn’t, so I invented one.” His patented, 3D-printed FLYGA ($13)—the name is Swedish for “fly”—comes in multiple colors. It can be hooked onto an airplane seat back and used as a cup holder, or flipped over to serve as a smartphone stand for watching inflight movies.
Paper Party
Want a festive holiday table without any fuss? Skip the dirty dishes and throw a bash with paper goods from Lucy Grymes. Style maven Lucy Dean’s mix-and-match bundles ($50-$78) include coordinated place mats, paper plates and napkin ties, as well as hand-folded paper vase wraps that can turn any old pickle jar and grocery store bouquet into a work of art. As party season hits full swing, keep a stash of her wine and gift bags (6 for $18) on hand for gifting pretty. lucygrymes.com
Heaven Scent
For the gift recipient who has everything, you can’t go wrong with consumables. Arlingtonian Heather O’Hara’s Lemon & Whim line of vegan and cruelty-free aromatherapy products includes seasonal candles ($28) with names like Sweater Weather (think pumpkin spice), and pretty soaps ($10) in fragrances such as the earthy-evergreen Fir Sure, and an invigorating blend of citrus and mint called Slay Today.
Bird Is the Word
Owls, cardinals, hawks, goldfinches and other feathered creatures are the stars of Jess Michetti’s studied portraits, but here’s a fun fact: Her Falls Church studio, Good Goose Graphics, is actually named after her first dog. A graphic designer, Michetti also does murals, stationery and tattoo design. “Most of it comes back to a deep love of nature,” says the artist, who sells cards ($6.50), art prints ($45) and hand-painted ornaments at Botanologica and online at etsy.com/shop/goodgoosegraphics.
Make a Statement
Khadeejah Honesty’s Soultry brand polymer clay jewelry is ideal for wearers who aren’t afraid to go big. In addition to her growing collection of showstopping earrings, the Arlington entrepreneur has recently branched out with a skin care line, apparel and DIY jewelry-making kits. Keep your eyes peeled for polymer clay workshops and pop-up sales around town, and browse her latest wares at Shop Made in VA or online at soultrybrand.com.