Local Buys: Winter 2021

A Bernie moment

Sophia Zamaria started Mono-based Hockley Valley Crafting Co. in June 2020 to donate pandemic masks and her business has grown from there. We love the mitts inspired by the chunky pair Bernie Sanders wore to the 2021 presidential inauguration (youth and adult sizes available). And Sophia’s wool-acrylic toques in on-trend colours make great melon toppers this winter. Toddlers and children’s versions are available by custom order. (Bernie mitts, $75 to $85. Toques, $25 to $35, Hockley Valley Crafting Co. and Holiday Treasures)

Soap suds

Scent & Spirit soap bars are handmade by Tabitha Falconi in Caledon with vegan ingredients including shea butter, botanicals and essential oils. Tabitha’s four blends are named for the mood their scent conveys. Ground coffee adds a touch of shower-friendly perky exfoliation to Good Morning. Refresh, with a hit of lemon, and Lovely Day, which leans on hibiscus, offer a cheerful pick-me-up anytime. And Sweet Dreams includes lavender, which has us thinking of a relaxing bedtime bath. (Soap, $7, Scent and Spirit)

The right cords

Orangeville mother-daughter duo Betsey Brake and Montanna Bruce keep their Wild Knots Macramé on the functional side of life with macramé coasters for hot drink lovers, bookmarks for bibliophiles, and plant hangers for the greenery obsessed. Elevated neutral colours support any decor colour scheme and smaller pieces make the prettiest present toppers. (Set of two coasters, $25. Bookmarks, $8 to $14. Plant hangers, $23 to $55, Wild Knots Macramé)

Reclaimed style

Erin’s Tracy Ladouceur of Stump & Stone Handcrafted makes cedar soap decks, as well as essential oil holders, from upcycled off-cuts and reclaimed wood. They’re a great gift for the zero-waste environmentalist on your list who appreciates good design. At a time when shampoo, conditioner and kitchen soap bars are proliferating, replacing the plastic bottles required for liquid products, we need multiple perches for them in our bathrooms and kitchens. Also available at Element Inspired in Erin, The Birch Shoppe in Palgrave and Noodle Gallery in Alton. (Soap deck, $12 to $15. Essential oil holder, $15 to $21, Stump & Stone Handcrafted)

Exotic pets

We’re certain the little ones will cherish the handcrafted wooden children’s toys and puzzles from Hillsburgh’s The Sharpe Shoppe Co. Owner Mandi Sharpe’s focus is on rustic farmhouse-style signs and decorative items, so it’s no wonder her pieces are so artful, they can double as nursery decor when not in use by the kids. We’re especially enamoured of the penguin and elephant families. (Elephant family, $25. Penguins, $15, The Sharpe Shoppe Co. and Holiday Treasures)

Good on paper

Lisa and James Antinozzi’s Amaranth-based Verdant Paper Co. conveys their respect for nature. Their hand-drawn greeting cards and plantable bookmarks are made from premium recycled paper and feature an array of flowers, plants and wildlife. The 8-by-10-inch map of Caledon and area, bearing illustrations marking towns and favourite local attractions, makes a thoughtful gift for any proud resident. A Wellington County version is also available. (Greeting card, $8. Bookmark, $4. Map art print, $13, Verdant Paper Co.)

Sources

• The Birch Shoppe, 17090 Highway 50, Palgrave. 705-717-1228. The Birch Shoppe on Facebook
• Element Inspired, 2-88 Main St., Erin. 519-288-6004. elementinspired.ca
• Hockley Valley Crafting Co., Hockley Valley. hockleycrafting.com
• Noodle Gallery, 1402 Queen St. W., Alton. 647-505-8995. noodlegallery.com
• Scent & Spirit, Caledon. scent-and-spirit.square.site
• Stump & Stone Handcrafted, Erin. @stumpandstonehandcrafted on Instagram
• The Sharpe Shoppe Co., Hillsburgh. @thesharpeshoppeco on Instagram
• Verdant Paper Co., Amaranth. verdantpaper.com
• Wild Knots Macramé, Orangeville. Wild Knots Macramé on Etsy