"Home for the holidays” takes on a whole new meaning when you choose gifts created by Ohio artisans, crafters, and makers. You’re supporting small businesses throughout the state, and you’ll impress everyone on your list with items that are unique, innovative, and homegrown.
Brewhaus Dog Bones, Cincinnati (Photo by Holly Hildreth Photography/ courtesy of Brewhaus Dog Bones)
Brewhaus Dog Bones, Cincinnati
A nonprofit organization founded by Lisa Graham, Brewhaus Bakery provides vocational training and employment for young adults with disabilities. Its handcrafted, small-batch dog bones are a healthy treat with ingredients including protein-rich spent grains sourced from local microbreweries and fresh eggs delivered by a Brown County farm. 513-551-7144. http://brewhausdogbones.com
Country Manor Mixes, Leesburg
Country Manor owners Cindy Smith and Mary Beth Hodson produce mixes that are perfect for quick-and-easy holiday appetizers and desserts. Using their own recipes, they hand-blend herbs, spices, and other ingredients. Their repertoire of sweet and savory flavors includes Splendid Spinach dip mix, Vegetable Medley spread mix, Snickerdoodle cheesecake mix, and Parmesan Garlic dipping oil mix. 513-759-6582. www.countrymanormixes.com
Elderberry Marsh Farm Biscuit Cutters and Sugar Bowls, Middlefield
In his wood shop on Elderberry Marsh Farm, John Hart makes heirloom-quality biscuit cutters and sugar bowls from wood he finds on the farmstead. Hand-turned on a lathe and finished with food-safe wood wax, Hart’s display-worthy pieces are as beautiful as they are practical. To complement the biscuits you bake, try the farm’s Elderberry Wine Jelly and Elderberry Tea. 440-829-3644. www.elderberrymarsh.com
Flores Leather Works Customized Items, Middletown
What better gift for someone special than a personalized leather wallet, tote bag, or accessory? Using materials sourced in the U.S., Eber and Rebekah Flores design and handcraft leather goods embossed with initials, logos, names, and phrases. Besides their top-selling leather coasters and golf club headcovers, they make leather jewelry, keychains, belts, and holsters. 513-305-8694. www.floresleatherworks.com
HandHeld & Co. Greeting Cards, Sunbury
Isabella Cartolano Eastwood not only paints the artwork for her simply delightful greeting cards but also prints them on made-in-the-USA cardstock. While her bestselling card — “Ohio Native Plants” — features her watercolor and gouache paintings of assorted flora, her whimsical holiday card designs include “Cabin on Christmas Morning,” “Evergreen and Cardinal,” and “Dashing Through the Snow.” handheldandco@gmail.com; www.handheldandco.com
La Crema Coffee, Hamilton
Obtaining green coffee beans from around the world, La Crema Coffee owner Victor Kidd roasts, packs, and ships premium-quality coffees at the company’s facilities in Hamilton. La Crema’s Columbian, Peruvian, and Highlander Grogg (a beguiling blend of butterscotch, caramel, and vanilla) coffees are popular year-round, and for the holidays, the company sells eggnog, gingerbread, and other specialty coffee flavors in merry and bright seasonal bags. 513-779-6278. www.lacremacoffeecompany.com
Lees Bees Bath, Beauty, and Skin Care Products, North Canton
Concern for the declining honeybee population plus a desire to create healthy skin care products prompted Melinda J. Lee to start Lees Bees. Her lotions, scrubs, and lip balms have no dyes, parabens, or phthalates; their ingredients come from Lee’s own bees and local suppliers, and they’re available in scrumptious scents and flavors such as pumpkin pie, sugared fig, and cinnamon roll. 330-714-1083. https://lees-bees.square.site
Metropolis Popcorn, Cuyahoga Falls and Hudson
Customers love the freshness and variety of popcorns — including gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free, and vegan — that owner Brent VanFossen offers at Metropolis Popcorn. Though flavors range from Apple Pie to White Cheddar and Vanilla, tasty Midnight Caramel (caramel popcorn with chocolate and sea salt) is a perennial favorite. Christmas-themed tins are available, and online orders of $30 or more ship for free. www.metropolisohio.com
Mini Miscellaneous Magnets, Maumee
Using bottlecaps, paper, and other recycled materials, Kelly Brown makes small wonders — cute, clever, and incredibly tiny magnets — that look good enough to eat. The mixed-media magnets mimic everything from tacos and burritos to ice cream bars and Christmas cookies, and her mini donut bracelets are a fun, and very sweet, little gift. www.minimiscellaneous.com
Neumeister’s Candy Shoppe, Upper Sandusky
The Neumeister family began making candy in downtown Upper Sandusky in 1877. Current owner Debbie Frey still uses their original recipes, and she and her staff hand roll, dip, wrap, and package every piece of candy. Choose tried-and-true Neumeister’s confections like fudge and caramels or try Frey’s own Buckeye Sandwiches and Giant S’Mores. 419-294-3647. https://neumeistercandy.com/
Ohio State Park Posters, Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Channel the natural beauty and incomparable variety of Ohio’s state parks with the collectible series of posters commissioned by ODNR. Artist Jonathan Scheele created the vintage-style posters, and their iconic images include the Upper Falls at Hocking Hills State Park and the Big House at Malabar Farm State Park. Click here to shop.
The Ramp Hatchery Animal Puzzles, Cincinnati
Lauren Hellerman began using a scroll saw at age 13, and after college, she got into the business of making wooden animal puzzles by working with her saw in a bedroom closet. Her exclusive patterns include dogs, dragons, a flying pig, and a top-selling T. Rex, and she also takes orders for custom puzzles. ramphatchery@gmail.com. www.theramphatchery.etsy.com
Riverlane Studios Ornaments, Columbus
Michelle Dranschak designs and handcrafts clay ornaments using a 3D printer to make her own shape cutters. Although customers love to hang her personalized baby and pet ornaments on their Christmas trees, Dranschak’s sentimental “long distance” ornament is a favorite for loved ones in separate cities. It’s shaped like a map of the continental United States, and based on the cities or states that customers select, she places hearts on the map and connects them with a lovely, hand-drawn line. www.riverlanestudios.com
Rock Camp Candle Co., Johnstown
Third-generation candlemaker Mary Mongold and her family produce soy candles hand-poured into jars with handsomely designed labels that can be completely customized. Their clean-burning candles feature long-lasting seasonal scents — dogwood in spring, mint in summer, apples in fall — inspired by Mongold’s childhood home in Athens County. Their signature holiday candle, Rock Camp Christmas, evokes the nostalgic smells of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. 614-307-0387. www.rockcampcandles.com
Thankful Thimble Wearables, Batavia
With help from her daughters Anna and Sarah, Sharon Francis transforms unwanted wool sweaters into felted mittens and fingerless gloves at Thankful Thimble sewing studio. Each mitten contains pieces of four different sweaters. Because the ladies of Thankful Thimble carefully mix and match colors, their creations — which also include cashmere scarves and ultrasoft baby hats — are always warm, cozy, and eye-catching. 513-332-4897; ThankfulThimble@gmail.com. www.thankfulthimble.com
Beach Glass Shop Jewelry, Rocky River
Beth Lampe Martin specializes in making jewelry from beach glass that she finds and hand-picks on the shores of Lake Erie. Her signature beach glass angels are about an inch long and come in a little box that’s ideal for gifting. During the holidays, she uses rare red beach glass to create Christmas necklaces featuring a sterling silver chain and snowflake charm. BethLMartin10@gmail.com. www.beachglassshop.etsy.com
