Feel-Good Shopping from Small Businesses

Earrings, keychains, wall art, or poetry. You name, it, there’s a small business that makes it. In recent months, small business shopping has become a hobby of mine! It feels much more rewarding than shopping from corporations and department stores since one can support an individual who works by hand! Rather than shopping a big business that uses machines for everything, and probably leaves a huge carbon footprint, there is the chance to shop from an individual who creates one-of-a-kind pieces and shares a much more personal connection with their work. This all sounds wonderful, but sometimes, it can be hard to find these small businesses. To get the ball rolling, here are a few small businesses and artists to shop from! These businesses fit into a range of budgets and sell a range of products, so hopefully, everyone can find something here that appeals to them!

Lilblueberries

For the first business, let’s look at Lilblueberries! Lilbluberries is owned by a Canadian artist named Court, and she sells jewelry, keychains, barrettes, as well as some other artwork. Below are photos of earrings that I’ve bought! These photos are only a small part of her work, and all her products are on her website here. Her artwork gives playful vibes, because she’s not afraid to use color, yet it feels very sophisticated and mature.

There is a new item in her shop on a weekly basis, so there’s always something to enjoy. Her artwork is made from resin, and she uses pressed flowers, plants, and gemstones in her art, which are also bought from local small businesses! Her earrings are always very lightweight, and they’re hypoallergenic, which is great for sensitive ears. Court is a full-time artist who turned to art during a low time in her life, so it feels very rewarding to buy anything from her! Take a peek at her Twitter at @lilbluberries!

Crafted By Ari

Crafted By Ari was an introduction to this artful world of small businesses for me. Sadly, I’ve yet to buy anything from her since her products are so in-demand that they sell out in a matter of minutes! Arielle is the woman behind this shop, and she’s a 25-year old woman based outside of NYC. She handcrafts jewelry from polymer clay themed around nature, and flowers. Arielle started working with clay a year ago when she lost her job due to the pandemic, and since then, her business has flourished.

My favorite products of hers are her burlap bouquets, pictured right (photos taken by Arielle herself)! The craftsmanship, effort, and creativity that goes into making these little earrings absolutely astonishes me. All of her jewelry can be found on her website here! Her jewelry makes a wonderful statement piece, and is so realistic that one almost wants to pick up the bouquet and sniff the flowers! Make sure to check out her Instagram at @craftedbyarielle and her Twitter at @craftedbyari!

Holly’s TW Poetry

Now to switch the topic a bit, this business focuses on more of a vintage vibe. Holly’s TW Poetry is a business run by a young woman who writes poetry on vintage paper while using a 1960’s typewriter! To make them even more delightful, Holly then takes these poems and puts them into a colorful wax-sealed envelope. Her writing on its own is absolutely beautiful, but the artful presentation of her poetry is the absolute cherry on top!

Holly writes poems about a variety of subjects and even does custom poems. Her poems are full of beautiful imagery, and often send me into a completely different world while reading them. Having one of Holly’s poems with you or in your room brings a touch of color and some beautiful words into your life. Here are a few of her poems pictured below (photos taken by Holly herself!), and you can see all of her work on her website here! For shop updates and a peek at her life, check out her Twitter at @hollysTWpoetry!

Bragg about it Artistry

Last, but certainly not least, for a business that sells unique wall centerpieces, but also little things to spice up your room, check out Bragg about it Artistry! This small business is based in Texas and run by Kelly Bragg, also known as Kelso. She works with resin, acrylics, and wood to create her art, which is inspired by nature and her own life experiences.

After all, her slogan is “art aligned with emotion!” Kelly sells all sorts of artwork, including coasters, acrylic paintings, and trays, but my personal favorite out of all her artwork is her geode-inspired art! It really captivates me as it is very three-dimensional, with her use of resin, crystals, and bright paints making it pop! I’ve bought a couple of her pieces for my home, both of which are pictured below (both photos are taken by Kelly herself!). To see all of her gorgeous art, check out her website here! Check out her Twitter at @kelsotheartist and her Instagram at @braggaboutitartistry to see her custom pieces and her art process!

Each and every one of these small businesses has its own unique touch, and they work for a variety of different budgets and personalities. Hopefully, everyone can find someone they love in this article, and can use these 4 businesses as a jump-off point to look for more that suit your preferences! Small business shopping is always the best shopping!