In these days of online shopping and free shipping, it’s important to remember the people in our own communities who create great products, provide services, and employ our neighbors.
Artists | Authors | Experiences | Shops | Services
This holiday season we’re highlighting local artists, crafters, makers, and authors, as well as mom-and-pop shops where you can buy awesome local goods and have great experiences while supporting small business owners. Happy (local) Shopping!
Local Artists
These jewelers, crafters, and makers have created great gifts to give this holiday season!
Erin Pelicano
Handcrafted fine and sentimental jewelry gifts including personalized jewelry created to celebrate your story—Favorite Mom necklaces, mother/daughter necklaces and lockets to celebrate birthdays, holidays, weddings, anniversaries and special occasions.
Airy’s Jewels
Airyana is a young entrepreneur, just 8 years old! After discovering that she did not see a lot of jewelry for kids, her mother mentioned that she could make my own jewelry. “I was able to master certain techniques of making jewelry pretty well,” she says. She now makes customized bracelets and earrings for kids and adults. $10—$20.
Hickory Point Farm
Locally-inspired pillows, flour sack towels, personalized aprons, and home décor.
![hickory](https://wordpress-938214-4066445.cloudwaysapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/hickory.jpg)
Julie Ellyn Designs
Since 2009, Julie Ellyn Designs has been creating handcrafted gemstone designs and received celebrity recognition on TV shows such as “The Vampire Diaries,” “Jane The Virgin,” “Cedar Cove,” and “The Hart of Dixie.” Now Julie has opened a retail shop in her hometown of Bel Air, Md.
Laura Moore Designs
Specializing in handcrafted, coastal-themed pieces primarily featuring freshwater pearls, natural gemstones, Swarovski crystal, shells and sterling silver.
Find Laura Moore at: Local by Design Annapolis
Marvelous Rustic Décor
Baseball Cap Hangers and other rustic décor made from reclaimed wood.
Minxes’ Trinkets
Handmade, eclectic copper electroformed art jewelry inspired by nature. Electroform art fuses vintage objects with gemstones, seaglass, and organics such as leaves, acorns, and insects—fully encasing them in copper. $15–$225; average $50.
![minx](https://wordpress-938214-4066445.cloudwaysapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/minx.jpg)
The Vino Chateau
Handcrafted wooden boxes designed to hold and carry your favorite 3 liter box of wine. “We Make Your Box Look Good!” $55–$75.
Find Vino Chateau at: First Sunday Annapolis
Local Authors
Give the gift of reading this year with these books by local authors!
![](https://wordpress-938214-4066445.cloudwaysapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/ThePurpleBird-Book.png)
The Purple Bird
by Dylan Roche, author and CFL Contributor
This YA novel features a group of human kids who teams up with a purple-feathered creature called Archit to face off against the forces of evil in the world of Nalgordia. Available on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble for $21.95. Author visit scheduled for Saturday, December 7, at Barnes & Noble in the Annapolis Harbor Center, 1–3 p.m. Available at Amazon, $9.99.
![eastern shore shorts](https://wordpress-938214-4066445.cloudwaysapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/eastern_shore_shorts.jpg)
Eastern Shore Shorts: Stories set in Berlin, Cambridge, Chestertown, Chincoteague, Easton, Rock Hall, Salisbury, St. Michaels, and Tilghman Island
by Gail Priest
Whether you’re in the heart of the Eastern Shore or the Eastern Shore is in your heart… Characters visit familiar local restaurants, inns, shops, parks, and museums as they cross paths through the charming towns and waterways of the Eastern Shore. Available on Amazon, $14.95.
![drip drop drizzle](https://wordpress-938214-4066445.cloudwaysapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/drip_drop_drizzle.jpeg)
Drip, Drop and Drizzle: A Journal for Growing Your Child’s Creativity
by Mary Ostrowski, local author and owner Weems Creek Nursery School
Jumpstart your children’s creative side with this journal (aimed for 8- to 12-year olds) that inspires kids to imagine, draw and write! Available on Amazon, $15.95
![Cover image](https://wordpress-938214-4066445.cloudwaysapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Cover_image.jpg)
Charlie Steps Up to Lacrosse
By Lauren Burke Meyer
Charlie hates ballet, but her mother wants her to be more ladylike. Imagine her delight when she stumbles upon her first lacrosse practice with girls her age with varying heights and builds—all with something unique and special to contribute to the team’s success. A portion of proceeds from each book goes to the STEP UP Lacrosse charity, which gives access to lacrosse to disadvantaged youth. Available on Amazon, $24.99.
Local Experiences
If you’d rather give the gift of an experience, here are a few ideas of fun things to give to kids or adults to give them a little break from their day-to-day.
Paradise Float Spa
Annapolis | Float Therapy is an awesome tool for stress, anxiety, depression, pain, inflammation, fibromyalgia, muscle recovery, mental clarity and focus, etc! $75 for one-hour float.
Pongos Learning Lab
Crofton | Pongos covers topics such as animation, robotics, and the very popular YouTube Stars program. Give the kids the gift of a fun learning experience, from classes to camps with Pongos.
Systems by Susie
Organization for homes and businesses, including School Memory Boxes. Give the gift of organization as Systems by Susie lightens the load for busy families and businesses through systems and organization.
The Melting Pot
Annapolis | Give a delicious gift that can be enjoyed with friends or family as you enjoy hot and delicious cheeses, chocolates and more at this fun fondue restaurant.
Mission Escape Rooms
Annapolis | Grab some friends and work together to solve the mystery in one of Mission Escape Annapolis’s four themed rooms that range from beginner to advanced.
Where to Buy Local
These shops have the best roundup of local designers for a one-stop-shopping experience.
Park Home
Severna Park | Home furnishings, lighting, rugs, artwork, and seasonal decor. Average $20–$50.
Mango & Main
Annapolis | Fair trade, artisan-made apparel, accessories, home decor and gifts from 23 different countries.
Local by Design
Annapolis | Art, jewelry, home decor, painted furniture, gifts, apparel, accessories and so much more all created and sold by local artisans.
Here. A Pop-up Shop Holiday Shop
Annapolis | Here features apparel, jewelry, accessories, art (originals & prints), photography, gift items, home goods, furniture and more—concentrating on local artists and designers. Here pops-up four times a year, in and around Annapolis, always in a new location and each time with a new inspired theme.
See more places to shop…
Local Services
When you’re ready for a break these services are here to help!
Problem Solved—Errands and Organizing
An errands and organizing business that provides holiday packages for people who need personal shopping, holiday decorating and gift wrapping, as well as decluttering, organizing, virtual assistant duties and errands.
Koru Energy Healing
Once all that shopping and wrapping is done, treat yourself with Koru Energy Healing. Energy therapy uses hands on (or over) the body to help promote physical and mental relaxation, and reduction of stress, tension and anxiety.
Shop this page by clicking on the product links or pictures. Chesapeake Family Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.