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5 ........... Happy Handmade Holiday! Thoughts and insights from Donna Maria

6 ........... Donna Maria's Handmade Handbook Things you should know, questions you should ask

8 ........... Top 5 Ways to Actually Enjoy Your Holiday SeasonTips to help you find peace amidst the chaos

9 ........... Let's Go Shopping For -- Bath & Body Handmade bath and body products for you and your loved ones

12 .......... A Soapmaker's JourneyHow a 4-H club project led to a thriving farm and handmade soap business

18 .......... Let's Go Shopping For -- Handmade Jewelry Accessorize with color, bling, and style

19 .......... Honest ProductsA handmade beauty business grows in Brooklyn

20 ......... Let's Go Shopping For -- Herbal and Aromatherapy Skin CareFrom nature to you, with heart and TLC

22 .......... The Art of Aromatic EmpowermentHow I make it so special for you

25 .......... Let's Go Shopping For -- How-To and Do It YourselfTake a class, download a webinar, read a book

27 .......... Let's Go Shopping For - Hair Care ProductsNatural products to condition and moisturize your hair

29 .......... A Girl With Tight "Curlz"A woman's journey to love and respect her natural hair

30 .......... Buy Handmade LocallyIBN members with retail stores and studios to serve your local community

Log On www.IndieBeauty.comVisit our popular Discussion Forum for more handmade goodness in a fun, networking environment!

IBN Holiday Gift Guide | 2012 www.indiebusinessnetwork.com • pg 3

Donya Fahmy is the founder and CEO of Dropwise Essentials, a San Francisco-based green business specializing in pure aromatherapy and organic plant-based personal care products.

In her article, The Art of Aromatic Empowerment (p. 22), Donya shares a bit about how she creates custom natural scents using her intuition and a bit of scent magic.

Follow Donya on Twitter http://twitter.com/dropwise

Debbie Miller is the owner of Anna's Potions and Lotions in Brooklyn, NY. Her article, Honest Products From Nature (p. 19), shares how she marries her love for nature with her love for business and the products she makes.

Follow Debbie on Twitter http://twitter.com/annaspotions

Rachael Pontillo is a board certified holistic health practitioner, wellness coach, licensed aesthetician, and the founder of Holistically Haute, a Pennsylvania-based lifestyle, beauty and wellness resource.

Her mission to help people treat themselves with kindness and positive intention is captured in her article, 5 Ways to Actually Enjoy The Holiday Season (p. 8)

Follow Rachael on Twitter http://twitter.com/hhaute

Karen Scott is CEO and Formulating Chemist atVangaleen's Natural Potions, a premium all naturaland organic hair and skin care company.

Her article, A Girl With Tight “Curlz” (p. 29), shares a bit of her journey returning her hair to its natural state after years of using relaxers and perms.

Follow Karen on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/Vangaleen

Donna Maria Coles Johnson founded IBN in 2000

as a celebration of all things handmade.

This Handmade Holiday Gift Guide expresses her mission

to empower women and their families to maximize their

potential through small business ownership.

Follow Donna Maria on Twitter at http://twitter.com/IndieBusiness

IBN's Mission

IBN's mission is to harness the shared energy and vitalityof handmade entrepreneurs to address issues of consumer

education, regulation, marketing and public relations, freeing IBN members to focus on achieving

their business goals.

Founder, Editorial Director and Editor In ChiefDonna Maria Coles Johnson, Esq.

Assistants to Donna MariaLauren RiemerRob WhitleyVanessa JohnsonBrooks Johnson

Graphics and Video Content DirectorDarryl B. Johnson

Design DirectorJennifer Smith

Contributing EditorsDonna Maria Coles Johnson, Donya Fahmy,Debbie Miller, Rachael Pontillo, Karen Smith

General Information and Customer Service

For general information, email IndieAssist@gmail.com

Indie Business Network 2012 Handmade Holiday Gift Guide

Published by

INDIE Business Media, LLC5922 Weddington Monroe Road, A-5,#101 Wesley Chapel, NC 28104

Phone: 704-291-7280Email: indieassist@gmail.comWeb: http://www.indiebusinessnetwork.com

Contributing Editors:

Ⓒ 2012 Indie Business Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without prior written permission.A product of the USA.

IBN Holiday Gift Guide | 2012 www.indiebusinessnetwork.com • pg 4

Handmade Is Where The Heart IsWelcome to IBN's 2012 Handmade Holiday Gift Guide!

When I was a little girl, Christmas was always the best time of year. I loved it not only because of the gifts I received, but because my home was always so much more vibrant and alive when the holidays rolled around.

For me and my brothers, Christmas always started in October, when my mother began baking. Between my brothers, my dad and me, by the time December 25 arrived, most of the treat containers mom had placed in the freezer were half full. We didn't care that they were frozen solid -- we ate

them anyway. That's how good her handmade goodies were.

Fast forward a few decades, and I am still in love with all things handmade.

Buy wonderful handmade gifts!

Inspiration is everywhere in this, our 2012 Handmade Holiday Gift Guide. We invite you to grab a cup of your favorite tea, sit back and relax. Enjoy the articles authored by our members, and as you do, if you're reading the digital version, note how easy it is to click through to a website and complete your purchase quickly, easily, and securely.

Connect with our members wherever you are!

If you're reading the digital version of our publication, we've made it super easy for you to follow our members wherever you are most comfortable connecting with them. IBN members take pride in offering you a special personal touch when you shop with them. So whether it's a Twitter, Facebook, or blog, click right through and make yourself at home.

I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all of the 900+ members IBN serves. You are the pride of America, and it is my highest honor to serve you.

May your heart and your home be filled with beauty and joy this holiday season, and may your every wish come true in the New Year!

Happy Holidays from Do!a Maria!

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A  decade  ago,  handmade  products  were  not  as  available  as  they  are  now.  

Offline,  Farmer's  Markets  and  local  specialty  shops  carry  a  growing  variety  of  handmade  products.  When  buying  from  a  physical  locaAon,  you  have  the  general  assurance  that  store  and  

market  managers  have  experienced  the  products  and  are  confident  to  allow  them  to  be  sold  at  their  venue.

On  the  Internet,  however,  it's  not  

always  easy  to  tell  who  you  can  trust.  This  Handmade  Handbook  shares  

quesAons  you  should  ask  

and  

things  you  should  know  and  look  for  when  buying  handmade  products  

online.

Trust

The  first  thing  to  look  for  when  buying  online  is  a  company  you  can  trust.  Handmade  entrepreneurs  are  especially  dedicated  to  connecAng  

closely  with  their  customers,  so  it  should  be  easy  for  you  to  find  informaAon  about  the  person  who  makes  your  products.  If  it  is  not,  and  that  makes  you  feel  uncomfortable,  

trust  your  gut.

Check for a Facebook business page

Most  handmade  entrepreneurs  maintain  a  Facebook  business  page  where  they  share  everything  from  product  photos  to  inspiraAonal  quotes  

and  helpful  health,  beauty  and  lifestyle  Aps.  Look  for  quick  replies  to  customer  quesAons,  and  an  

effort  to  encourage  fun  and  community.

Look for a well maintained website

Handmade  entrepreneurs  tend  to  take  great  pride  in  

their  websites  because  they  are  major  product  showcases.  

Look  for  sites  that  are  neat  and  Ady,  and  contain  easy  to  find  ways  to  

contact  the  business  owner.  At  a  minimum,  there  should  be  an  informaAve  "About"  page,  a  full  name,  a  city  and  state,  and  an  easy  to  use  contact  form,  email  address  and/or  

phone  number.  Since  some  arAsans  work  from  home,  you  may  not  find  a  phone  number  or  a  street  address.  If  other  contact  informaAon  is  there,  and  you  receive  prompt  email  replies  and  a  

phone  number  if  you  request  it,  don't  let  this  deter  you.

Look for clear, crisp product photos

Look  for  clear,  crisp  product  photos  that  show  you  what  you  will  get  when  you  order.  Since  handmade  entrepreneurs  make  handmade  

products,  you  should  expect  some  variaAon  in  color  and  texture  that  do  not  affect  quality.  With  the  excepAon  of  these  types  of  variaAons,  the  product  that  arrives  in  your  mail  box  

should  look  like  what  is  represented  on  the  site.

Do!a Maria's Handmade Handb"k by Donna Maria Coles Johnson

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Why Buy Handmade?!IBN members weigh in on what's in it for you!

"The world of handmade gives everyone the opportunity to purchase a tiny bit of art, made with care every time, from someone who has put all their energy and love into their work."  - Lori Nova, The Nova Studio, Point Richmond, CA

"When you buy handmade, you know you are getting something made from the Heart! Someone poured their passion, care, compassion and expertise into every morsel of it. When you support handcrafted - you are supporting local, small business and most often...women!" - Dana Callahan, Magic Moon SoapWorks, Salem, MA

"Buying handmade gives you direct contact with your producer for custom orders and unique gift giving. You get individuality and personal style, neither of which is available to you in mass markets." - Maria Gelnett, Angelicglow Handcrafted Soaps (Soap Studio Brookside), Chenango Forks, NY

"I buy handmade goods because the variety and quality of products are generally much better than big box stores. Buying handmade also promotes the growth of small home businesses right here in the United States. To me it's a no-brainer because I like good quality products, supporting local business growth and knowing that the products I purchase are made with love." - Matt Hamilton, OnlineLabels.com, Longwood, FL 

"Handmade is made with love. Handmade supports local artists who are passionate. Handmade is unique and special." - Melissa Rivera, Naturally Good Soaps, Astoria, NY

"Most of the things in my home are handmade -- from wooden bowls to jewelry and natural body care products. They bring me pleasure and joy every time I see and use them. I am grateful to each artisan for doing what they love

and sharing it with me, making a difference in my life." - Joan Morais, Joan Morais Naturals, Fairfield, CA

"A handmade item provides an intimate glimpse into the soul of the artisan, while offering uniqueness, high quality,

and value." - Maggie Hanus, A Wild Soap Bar, Manor, TX

"Handmade items inspire creativity and allow for personalization. Shoppers free their creativity by personalizing items, rather buying something mass produced." - Lisa Kasper, Blue Moon Candles, San Jacinto, CA

Ask around

One  of  the  easiest  ways  to  obtain  reliable  informaAon  about  handmade  products  is  to  see  what  other  buyers  say.  Website  

tesAmonials  can  be  useful,  as  can  impromptu  feedback  on  TwiNer  and  Facebook.  As  you  ask  around,  remember  that  you  cannot  always  believe  everything  you  read.  Some  negaAve  comments  are  not  deserved,  and  some  glowing  

reviews  are  not  warranted.  If  your  radar  goes  up,  act  accordingly.

Ingredients and manufacturing practices

Look  for  informaAon  that  addresses  issues  of  ingredients  and  manufacturing.  How  are  the  products  made?  Where  do  the  ingredients  and  components  come  from?  What  packaging  is  used?  Are  good  and  safe  manufacturing  

pracAces  used?  This  informaAon  should  be  easy  to  find  at  the  business  owner's  website  and  you  should  not  be  shy  about  asking  for  it  if  you  don't  see  it.

Personal satisfaction and positive vibes

While  gePng  a  "good  feeling"  is  less  tangible,  it  is  sAll  important.  Handmade  entrepreneurs  have  personaliAes  that  are  as  

unique  as  the  products  they  make.  If  it  is  important  to  you  to  do  business  with  people  whose  personal  beliefs  and  lifestyle  choices  align  with  yours,  you  should  have   no  trouble  finding  them.

One of the best things about buying a handmade item is that you are buying not only a product, but also a piece of the heart of the person who made it.

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Top 5 Ways to Actually Enjoy Your Holiday Season

By Rachael Pontillo, AADP CHC, BS, LE

Ahhh, yes, the holidays. Whether or not you like them, they are here. Whether you approach the season as a special time to embrace family and friends, or an opportunity to focus on increasing your business (or a combination of the two), chances are good that you'll have to resist becoming overwhelmed with everything from expanded business responsibilities to social and family obligations.

As a handmade entrepreneur, you are used to multi-tasking, and that's not always a bad thing. It's not always a good thing either, especially during the holidays when increased marketing, manufacturing, sales, fulfillment, and customer service obligations can easily turn you from a happy elf into a miserable Grinch.

As we focus on giving to others during this holiday season, we must not forget to give to ourselves. When we let tasks and other people’s wants take precedence over our own needs, we risk spreading ourselves too thin. When that happens, we cannot work as effectively or efficiently, and it becomes difficult to enjoy the season both personally and professionally.

Why not take a moment now to implement new ways to avoid the overwhelm before happens?

Here are my top five tips for actually enjoying the holiday season this year:

1. Schedule it in. As anIndie, you must train yourself to be good at managing your time and your priorities. Whatever system you use to meet deadlines and stay

on track in your business can be incorporated into your home. For example, I schedule “me time” using an iPad app, just as I schedule business meetings and professional tasks. This forces me to give at least the same amount of attention to myself as I give to other people and other things.

2. Treat yourself to a little luxury.Indies make incredible, unique, lush creations—and then sell them or give them as gifts to others. Why not enjoy some yourself? Create a ritual around your signature product and let yourself enjoy it at least once a week. Or better yet, buy something from a fellow Indie, and get a taste of what it feels like to enjoy someone else's version of decadence. Enjoy treating yourself, without lifting a finger to make it happen. Try it -- you'll like it!

3. Ask for help. The fact that youthink you can "do it all" doesn’t make it true.

The holiday season is a great time to invite high school and college students to lend a hand to your business efforts in

exchange for a bit of spending money. Get help wherever you can find it. If your children are home for holiday break, hire them temporarily. Don't be shy about putting other people to work. Help with even the smallest tasks add up quickly, and if you can delegate even a few things, you free up your mind and your body to tend to things that actually require your attention.

4. Be aware and present. There'sno magic wand to wave away the stress, but you can become more mindful of yourself. Find ways to incorporate a better sense of how and when stress affects you throughout the day. Meditation or prayer, deep breathing exercises, and yoga are great for this, and results occur in minutes -- literally.

5. Give yourself permission tosay "no." You don’t have to be everyone and everything to everyone at all times. Frequently, the best thing to do to take good care of yourself is to say "No" to extra favors and obligations. "No, I'm sorry, I don't carry that fragrance this year." "No, I cannot commit to blogging about your open house." It's hard, but it has to be done.

Do these five basic tips overwhelm you in and of themselves? Don't let that happen ... but don't wallow in the overwhelm either. Become intentional about just one of these things and you'll see big results in a short period of time.

Remember -- you don't have to change your habits all at once. One step at a time is progress.

Continue to do what you can do, and let that

be enough.

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A Soap Maker’s Journey by Starla Ledbetter

My favorite time of year is Fall. I enjoy brisk morning walks, when the sun is just beginning to illuminate our small Northern California farm with soft, warm light. As I head up to our barn, I am greeted by our herd of LaMancha dairy goats, ready to start their day with a turn in the milk room to provide an abundance of fresh goat’s milk.

My Kids Got Me Into This ...

I didn't see it coming. My life with dairy goats began as a 4-H project for my youngest child. When my daughter went to college, I found myself unable to part with the herd. I had dabbled a bit in soap making after taking a few classes in a dairy goat education program. As time went on, I discovered that making handmade soap is a valuable creative release and something I truly enjoy doing.

A s m a n y h a n d m a d e businesses begin, mine started after my products were well received by family and friends. I decided this was something I would like to develop into more, and so it began.

I love working with different combinat ions of o i ls and scents, but goat’s milk is always the core ingredient of any product I make. Handmade soap contains many wonderful s k i n l o v i n g i n g r e d i e n t s , including naturally occurring glycerin that commercially made soap often does not contain. Goat’s milk adds a wonderful dimension to my handmade products, lending t h e m s o m a n y n a t u r a l l y occurring emollients, vitamins and triglycerides that moisturize the skin.

Goat’s milk has a pH level that closely resembles that of human skin, and this helps prevent dryness. I t is so rewarding to create products that are gentle and beneficial, and so useful too. Everyone needs soap!

It Takes A Village

Launching a business is never easy, but help is always near. I have received great advice and assistance from the Indie Business Network and the Handcrafted Soap Maker ’s Guild. So many wonderful people are willing to share their advice and encouragement.

I enjoy taking my products to a variety of craft fairs, farmer’s markets and festivals; meeting new people - both customers and other Indie vendors. I also enjoy interacting with customers and other soapmakers through social media. In addition to offering my products through face to face venues, my website makes it easy for customers to order and re-order no matter where they are.

Handmade Satisfaction

Working with my hands to create a product that is useful to so many people is very satisfying.

At the end of every day, as the sun begins to set, you can find me in the barn in the milk room, where the day started. I will be with the LaMancha “girls,” filling up the milk buckets with more of my favori te soapmaking ingredient, fresh, creamy, rich goat’s milk.

This is the life -- the life I created, the life I love.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

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Honest Products From Nature by Debbie Miller

A few years ago, a fellow member of the Smoky Mountain Herbal Society shared a jar of her handmade rose cream with me. Not only was the cream handmade, but it also contained rosewater that she had distilled from rose bushes in her own back yard. I bought the jar on the spot. It was the loveliest cream I’d ever used. When the jar was empty, I wanted another, but she’d moved out of state, so I was out of luck.

At the time, I had an extensive library of  herb and gardening books, so I began learning about and experimenting with recipes of my own. After a while, I had created what I thought was a reasonable duplication of the lovely cream I had used long before. This

experience became the inspiration for my cosmetics line. Rose cream made with organic Bulgarian rose oil, rose hydrosol, rose hip seed oil, rose petals, and rose hips is now our signature product.

A Perfect Marriage Between Nature and Business

What a blessing to be able to combine my love of gardening and plants with the personal satisfaction that results from owning my own business. It feels like the perfect marriage.

I’ve been a gardener most of my adult life, and an herb gardener for more than 20 years. Since 1997, when I left

the Tennessee house and garden I’d owned for nine years to move to New York City, gardening has been a challenge. In the absence of outdoor garden space, I’ve grown houseplants in my Brooklyn apartment, herbs on my windowsill, and perennials in pots in the air conditioner “cage” outside my living room window. 

This year, I was fortunate to join two community gardens within walking distance of my home. One of them, located behind a local public library, was created by two gardeners with a small community grant. I now have a 4 x 8 foot plot of my very own to tend. This year, I planted peppers, parsley, lavender, calendula, and tomatoes.

The second garden is larger and coincidentally, also behind a public library. I’m on a wait list for a plot there, but in the meantime, I grow herbs and fresh vegetables in two containers in a space reserved for people on the waiting list.

My love of plants and organic gardening has informed my business. I

learn so much, and I pass this information along to my customers in the form of the products I lovingly create for them.

I love making products that hearken back to a simpler time when honest products were handcrafted in small batches, and customers were confident that what they put on their bodies was pure and wholesome. That's what handmade delivers.

This perfect marriage between nature and business sets handmade products apart. It's about "honest products from nature," my company slogan. It's about things that are made with honest intention and purity of heart.

Anonymous computer-controlled machines cannot deliver that. Handmade can, and handmade does.

Handmade Can, Handmade

Does.

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The Art of Aromatic Empowerment

BY DONYA FAHMY

People often ask me how I create a new aromatherapy blend. It's an interesting but tricky question to answer. The best response I have come up with is, "The nose knows best." From the time I first started blending aromatic oils, it was clear that I had a knack for it. It's an art, and I just trust my nose.

In the early days, there was a lot of experimentation and not all of it was pretty! But after studying the various properties of essential oils and blending them for several years, I developed a strong intuition about what kinds of oils work well together -–both synergistically and in terms of their odor profiles.

An Artist of Scent

An artist friend of mine once introduced me to some of her friends as “an artist of scent.” I guess I had never thought about it that way, but it makes perfect sense to me now.

If the shoe fits ...

Unlike many artists, I can’t say I have a specific ritual or process that I use to create a product using my intuition. Sometimes ideas just come to me out of the blue. That’s when I consult my personal collection of essential oils. I open two or three bottles and allow my nose to speak to me. I smell them in unison and note what my init ial reaction to the combination is.

Sometimes it works, other times not. As I build a new blend, often times, I sense that I'm at a good starting point, but I can tell that the blend needs another oil or oils to complete the idea. I follow a similar pattern to identify what to add to round out the blend.

Putting the "Hand" In Handmade

I make everything by hand. To create a new product to add to my own line, I start by looking at what’s missing in the current line, and then mull over various ideas (many of them from customers) before creating a new product prototype.

For example, a couple of years ago I began to sense that our aromatherapy blend collection was missing something. It needed more sensuosity and earthiness; additional grounding to round out the lighter and more airy notes. I got to work by visually arranging our “earthy” and “sensuous” oils into groupings of 3 or 4 that I felt might work well together.

This is the fun part about what I do. The experimenting began.

The end result? A blend called Enchant, which combines lemongrass, lemon and tangerine (citrus top notes) with ylang ylang, vetiver and patchouli -- those more earthy notes I was

looking for. It's a very personal process, and each new product builds on the ones that came before.

When I started my business, I was excited about making products that not only help people feel better, but also create "experiences" for them. I continue to love doing this. I am constantly aiming to use my gifts to create products that empower people a n d d e l i v e r a n u n f o r g e t t a b l e experience every time.

I now continue that journey with the addition of information products designed to empower people to become their own "scent artist." By showing people how to harness the power of essential oils for health and wellness during all stages of their lives, I can touch their lives for years to come.

It's a privilege to help people create a personal toolbox of alternative p roduc ts and in fo rmat ion tha t empowers them to take care of themselves naturally, instead of depending solely on more traditional methods.

I love my work! Being involved in every aspect of production of the products I make not only pleases me, but it also uplifts others and helps give them the confidence they need to use simple methods and ingredients to live a healthier life -- and have more fun too!

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A Girl With Tight "Curlz" - by Karen Scott

I’m a natural girl with tight "curlz," and styling my hair hasn’t always been easy. When my journey from relaxed to natural hair began, I had no idea what to expect. I knew that while my hair looked okay, it was beginning to thin, and the salon process was long, grueling, costly and full of toxins.

I made the decision to go natural and informed my beautician. She was horrified, “Why!?," she responded. Without hesitation, I let her know that for me, it was time show my natural hair some love by setting it free from all of the abuse.

From Perms To Tight Curlz

The transition to natural was similar to starting a new relationship. It took some time to get to know and understand my hair in its natural state. It had been so long since I had seen it that way!

I had   so many questions and wasn’t sure of where to go to get the answers. What products and tools do I need? Should I cut my hair down to the new growth? How do I style my hair? It was obvious that I needed to do some research.

I went to the root of it all, by looking into herbs, flowers and oils, and found some very interesting information. The chemist in me was intrigued, I began to formulate, incorporated my family roots. I connected with a cosmetologist, and my own handmade ha i r care products line was eventually born.

The girl with the tight curlz (or "tiny coils" as some describe them) has found her way home. With time, I have become more familiar with my hair as I pay close attention to its likes and dislikes.

I feed my hair vitamins and nutrients through a good diet of natural ingredients and herbs. I hydrate it with water and moisturize it with organic butters and oils.

I protect my hair from excessive heat. I no longer use dryers and, for the most part, wear styles that guard my hair from environmental pollutants. I smooth, sooth and love my hair. I keep it natural.

Less stress and more rest is also part of my routine, especially now that I no longer take those long and expensive treks to the salon.

I have worn my hair natural for five years now. I continue to give my hair love and attention, and my hair loves me back. Our relationship has never been so healthy, and the new hair growth is out of this world -- all because I know my hair and treat it right.

I Love My Hair!

Today I am proud to say that I am in

love with my natural hair!I’m a natural girl with tight curlz

and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

IBN Holiday Gift Guide | 2012 www.indiebusinessnetwork.com • pg 29

Buy Handmade Locally find handmade products in your town

CALIFORNIA Ancient Stones Nurturing Naturals440 W. Julian Street, Suite 210, San Jose510-796-8991

Sunsara Skincare8055 W. Manchester Avenue, Suite 100, Playa Del Rey310-821-2143

The Grapeseed Company201 W. Carillo Street, Santa Barbara805-456-3655

The Nova Studio24 W. Richmond Avenue, Point Richmond510-234-5700

COLORADO

Tilvee Eco-Ethical Skincare600 Corporate Circle Unit A, Golden800-479-0758

GEORGIA

Mama Bath + Body743D East College Avenue, Decatur404-808-6900

ILLINOIS

Abbey Brown4113 West Newport, Chicago312-738-2390

Ashley Lauren1102 Davis Street, Evanston847-733-9470

Blue Beaker721 La Salle Street, Ottawa815-434-1000

INDIANA

Lather and Lotions613 Brackenridge, Ft. Wayne260-498-2382 KENTUCKY

Woodford Wicks Candle Co. Outlet & Gift Shoppe260 Crossfield Drive, Suite D, Versailles859-684-9152 MARYLAND

Monave Mineral Cosmetics914 S. Wolfe Street, Baltimore410-534-1058

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Fields of Ambrosia9 Norcross Place, North Conway603-356-3532

janegee10 Ladd Street, Portsmouth603-431-0335

NEW JERSEY

Pooka Boutique15 South Essex Avenue, Orange973-954-2471 NORTH CAROLINA

The Bath Place105 Focus Ct, Rocky Mount252-266-9705 PENNSYLVANIA

Emma’s Friends Soaps & Lotions32 West Broad Street, West Hazleton570-956-9334 SOUTH CAROLINA

Simple to Sublime120 Central Avenue, Summerville843-879-9792 

TEXAS

Jones Handmade Soap Co.5660 El Paso Drive, Upstairs, El Paso915-208-4222

Shambhala415 N. Bishop Avenue, Dallas214-943-7627

WASHINGTON

Bramble Berry (Otion)301 W. Holly Street, Bellingham360-676-1030

Siren Soapworks204 Yelm Avenue E., Yelm253-238-0882

VIRGINIA

Soapalooza! Soap Arts Studio320 Hull Street, Studio 142, Richmond804- 291-1400

One of my favorite things to do on weekends is visit local farmer's markets. From the man preparing fresh-to-order omelettes with eggs and herbs from his farm, to the woman selling handmade soap and herbal salves, I love the smells and the community I experience when I am in their midst.

If I can't get to a market, I enjoy discovering local stores that specialize in handmade items. There are a few of themin my adopted hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. When I travel, if I have time, I try to make it to at least one shop that sells handmade items.

Recently, I have noticed a significant increase in the number of IBN members opening retail stores and studios in their areas. This is good news not only for IBN members, but also for local communities and the American economy.

On this page, you'll find listings from some of our members with retails stores carrying fine handmade items and/or offering classes to teach you to create your own handmade things for fun and gifts, or to support a business of your own.

I hope you find your town here, but if not, stay tuned for updates in the future.

(Store names, locations and phone numbers are included here. Check with each location for store hours, some of which are by appointment, and can vary during the holidays.

IBN Holiday Gift Guide | 2012 www.indiebusinessnetwork.com • pg 30

IBN Holiday Gift Guide | 2012 www.indiebusinessnetwork.com • pg 31

IBN Holiday Gift Guide | 2012 www.indiebusinessnetwork.com • pg 32