The Gift Guide 2017

In September, Cincinnati celebrated the local iconic Country and R&B label King Records with an entire month of events dedicated to honoring the influential music made here by the likes of The Stanley Brothers, Little Willie John and James Brown (among others). In the 1940s, before King founder Syd Nathan had his own studio, he sent artists to Herzog Studios on Race Street to record. That building is now home to Herzog Music (and a historical marker), a shop where you can take music lessons, find used vinyl and grab vintage gear from an outpost of Mike’s Music (like this rebuilt 1952 Fender Telecaster for $1,999), plus spend time in a musical landmark. Open from 1945 to 1955, crucial tracks recorded here include Hank Williams’ “Lovesick Blues.” 811 Race St., Downtown, facebook.com/herzogmusic.

CK_TC Ceramics is a local design studio that offers peculiarly shaped pottery, including signature pieces like patterned pots (left; $60) and gradient squiggle vessels (right; $30). Owners and ceramicists Colin Klimesh and Taylor Carter merge digital methods with traditional tools, using state-of-the-art 3D modeling programs while handcrafting clays and glazes in-house — a process Klimesh says creates unique and high-quality pieces that will stand the test of time. Clay from items that don’t meet quality standards is reclaimed and reused for future creations and all by-products are recycled. Shown with a plant ($15) from OTR’s Gia and the Blooms, which owner Yuliya Bui named after her rescue pitbull, Gia. Find CK_TC stockists or buy online at cktcceramics.com. Gia and the Blooms, 114 E. 13th St., OTR, giablooms.com.

In early November, Northside Distilling Co. released a limited 500-bottle run of its debut white label bourbon whiskey ($39.99). Already well known for its award-winning corn-based vodka, this first batch of bourbon was aged for about two years in the company’s Northside rickhouse (a 100-year-old former horse barn) in small, charred-oak barrels to produce a faster maturation of the spirit. This high-rye blend has a soft, rounded taste with a spicy, nutty finish, says master distiller Chris Courts, and is reportedly one of the first whiskeys distilled and barreled in downtown Cincinnati since Prohibition. Visit the distillery’s tasting room for drinks and tours and stay tuned for a single barrel black label bourbon release early next year. 922 Race St., Downtown or find stockists and local bars that serve Northside at northsidedistilling.com.

What started as a hobby making stuffed animals for nieces and nephews has turned into a full-time, heartfelt venture for Melissa Bracken of Happy Groundhog Studio. A sculpture graduate of the Art Academy of Cincinnati, her eco-friendly, hand-sewn and whimsical critters, from narwhals ($40) to namesake groundhogs ($30), are made with upcycled materials — repurposed sweaters, felt from recycled plastic bottles, even recycled thread — and each one comes with a special sewn-on heart as a tactile reminder that everyone deserves to be loved. Bracken puts that belief into action by donating a percentage of sales to nonprofits like the local Starfire Council, which helps people with disabilities thrive. Available at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, indigenous (1609 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills) and thehappygroundhogstudio.com.

It’s a fact backed by years of scientific research: Miniature food is irresistibly adorable. Hostesses and gift-givers can take solace knowing both the classic and innovative options at Cincinnati’s Teeny Pies will be a hit. The moniker for this sweet tooth’s haven is taken from owner Teeny Morris, who traversed the U.S. to learn about female-owned bakeries and in 2017 brought from-scratch small-scale (and full-size) pies made of in-season ingredients to the Queen City. Pictured pies are mini bourbon pecan ($6) and sweet potato ($26). Other flavors include rosemary caramel apple, pumpkin and bacon bourbon pecan. Pre-order online or visit her stand at Findlay Market on Saturdays and Sundays and the Northside Farmers Market on Wednesdays. teenypies.com.

Fun fact: Rookwood Pottery was the first female-owned manufacturing company in the United States (#girlboss). And since the 1880s, it has been producing heritage ceramics, designed and crafted by world-class artisans. The heirloom-minded legacy continues this year with the Fiona ornament ($25). Designed by Rookwood Art Director Mary Guanciale, this disc features the happily swimming fat little hippo on the front and the story of her birth and struggle to survive on the back. Twenty percent of each ornament’s proceeds will be donated to the Cincinnati Zoo Conservation Fund. (And $2 from each wishbone ornament will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.) Shown with other Rookwood ornaments. For Fiona ornament purchasing details, visit the shop at 1209 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine or online at rookwood.com.

This will be the first holiday season for the Bellevue brick-and-mortar Coda Co., a home décor shop that was started as a date night hobby by husband and wife duo Tanner and Kelti Ziese. Kelti is the softer side of the business, hand weaving macramé wall hangings out of cotton rope ($12-$60) — organically attached to driftwood collected from the banks of the Ohio River — while Tanner works with reclaimed bourbon barrels to create a variety of wood furniture and accessories. As a pet lover and foster for the Stray Animal Adoption Program, Kelti also makes dog beds (and pillows) from upcycled coffee bags and hopes to expand to a full line of pet products soon. Shown with floral embroidery from local Cortnie Black ($50), available at Vitae Viride. 400 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue, Ky., shopcodaco.com. There will also be a Bellevue Christmas walk on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.

Designer Rosie Kovacs and woodworker Hayes Shanesy started the Brush Factory in 2009 as a way to create well-crafted and high-quality goods. Since then, the duo has amplified their mission to include building modern furniture and other items with care and precision using “traditional joinery and solid wood construction.” They have their own line of sustainably harvested wood furniture — bff tables and desks — and have created custom solutions for restaurants, boutiques and start-ups across the city. Their OTR storefront, opened in 2016, comes as part of a brand expansion after winning a $20,000 ArtWorks Big Pitch grant in 2015. The shop carries items from hip design houses and traditional makers, both local and not. There are vintage Kilim rugs, local CG Ceramics dishware, Redecker household brushes and non-furniture Brush Factory items like these hand-turned wooden candlesticks ($65). These one-of-a-kind pieces add interest to a tablescape. 1417 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, brushmanufactory.com.

Emily Little first launched her line of soaps and body products as “Little Organics,” with a focus on herbal medicine, informed and filtered through her Appalachian heritage. Now, almost a decade old, Little Organics is Queen City Alchemy, a high-end locally made holistic skincare line featuring soaps, serums, balms, deodorants and other botanicals crafted using non-toxic, compassionate and therapeutic ingredients. There are no dyes, no fillers, no parabens and no sulfates. The line is certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny and part of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics from the Breast Cancer Prevention Partners. Find Little’s 40-some-odd products in her new community-focused Fort Thomas storefront, Vitae Viride, which also carries a curated collection of pieces from other local makers. 118 N. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas, vitaeviride.com.

Rustic meets modern with Suzanne Applebaum Jewelry’s collection of ever-growing contemporary adornments. Inspired by Art Deco shapes and symmetry, ancient Egyptian jewelry and Western wear, she doesn’t necessarily follow trends as much as make them. She wants the wearer to feel empowered to be bold or simple, mixing and matching to create their own relationship with their accessories, much like Applebaum mixes and matches her materials. All of her jewelry is made by hand and incorporates elements ranging from metal, rope and leather to horsehair, bullet casings and vintage chains. Metal items and accents are handcut and formed from sheet, then hammered, polished, soldered and stamped accordingly — like these delicate initial rings ($18-$25) and necklace. (You can watch a behind-the-scenes process series on her social media.) Other items, like the horsehair earrings ($38-$45), are hand-wrapped so shoppers can pick different color combos. She even offers exclusive one-of-a-kind items made from antique and vintage discoveries. Shop online and order directly from Applebaum or learn about upcoming pop-ups at sapplebaumjewelry.com.

The third-wave Felix coffee company is a pop-up with the stated goal of getting rid of the “barrier between the customer and the barista.” Helmed by Logan Peele and Jessica Ufkes, this intentional approach hopes to shed light on the process of coffee making as well as the importance of actually caring about the origin of the coffee you’re drinking. The roaster’s approachable and ethically sourced craft coffee is made by friendly baristas who want to answer any and all of your questions. A 12 oz. bag of direct-trade Nicaraguan Café Diego (roasted in collaboration with local Yield Coffee Roasters) is $14 and purchaseable online. Shown with upcycled burlap coffee bag pillows ($20-$25) and a floor cushion/dog bed ($40) from Coda Co. Book Felix online to cater coffee for your next event or find upcoming location dates at felixcoffeeco.com.

University of Cincinnati environmental studies student Lindsey Zinno founded The Northern Market when she was just 17. Now, at 20 years old, she juggles her rapidly expanding minimalist and modern fiber art and homegoods business with her college courses and her forthcoming brick-and-mortar — a collaboration with The Native One clothing shop — taking over the former Indigo Hippo space on Main Street in early December. Zinno’s curated line of simple, structural and functional pieces made from natural cotton rope — everything from trivets, baskets and cat beds to yoga bags and backpacks — has caught the attention of stockists across the U.S. and in Europe, including locals like Deerhaus Decor and Brush Factory. Pieces are machine sewn from a single, continuous piece of rope and manipulated into different shapes and forms. For example, her sustainably and naturally dyed yellow backpack ($250) features a single-rope body with two adjustable straps and handles to create a durable carry-all. An influencer in the reemergence of the rope sewing trend, Zinno recently filmed a two-part series called Rope Sewing Reinvented for PBS’ Sewing with Nancy. Find stockists and shop online at thenorthernmarket.com.

Designer Andi Ploehs’ line of hand-lettered greeting cards — a.p. loves design — offers up cute and creative messaging. There are birthday cards with “aged to perfection” cheese, Valentine’s Day cards with “stuck with me” cacti and plenty of fanciful season’s greetings, like “Fruit cake is not a gift” ($4.50), plus a poignant line of cards dedicated to women struggling with infertility. Ploehs (and her cards) can also frequently be seen behind the counter at OTR boutique MiCA 12/v, where you can find plenty more prints, paper goods and paintings from local artists, like this new pen-and-ink Music Hall rendering by urbanist K Scott Enns. MiCA 12/v, 1201 Vine St., OTR, shopmica.com or visit aplovesdesign.com.

The modern #selfcare movement is one of the more worthwhile millennial trends — taking guilt-free time away from work and social responsibilities to refresh and recharge. And self-care is the motivating concept behind H+B, a candle and body product line created by Gabrielle Lauren, a former full-time nurse who stepped away from the fast-paced hospital floor to focus on reclaiming her own personal health. Her almost year-old brand is dedicated to the simple practice of making sure people take even just a short amount of time out of their day to relax and unwind, and her hand-poured, vegan soy wax candles are part of that. Fir Forest smells like evergreen, Winter Wonderland plays off of peppermint and Noir blends vanilla and amber for a warm scent ($16 each). Find H+B at EMC and Deerhaus Décor in Findlay Market, Rhigno boutique in Over-the-Rhine and Coda Co. in Bellevue, Ky., as well as shophnb.etsy.com.

Cincinnati has a ton of local screenprinters and T-shirt makers to keep things local. Rivertown Inkery offers a plethora of cool and super soft Cincy shirts from sweatshirts (Cincy hoodie, $50; tiger crewneck, $35) to licensed FC Cincinnati gear ($24) and vintage-inspired duds, while creative agency We Have Become Vikings supplements their multi-discipline design work (recently seen at Blink) with printed goods, like mens and womens “Cursed from Birth” tiger shirts ($30). And Handzy, a stationery and design shop helmed by two BFFs, recently expanded their offerings into super cute and positive shirts ($28). therivertowninkery.com; wehavebecomevikings.com; handzyshopstudio.com.