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51 Local Makers, Hundreds of Great Gifts!

 

At NextFab, we believe that lasting memories start with the handmade. With an abundance of mass-produced goods stocking the shelves this holiday season, instead, choose gifts that have that extra special touch. By shopping small and local you’re not only giving back to small businesses in your neighborhood but giving a gift made with love for your loved ones.

Shop local and handmade, and create core family and friend memories, while giving back this holiday season. 

To narrow down your search, here are some keywords! Tap Ctrl+F and search:

  • Have a Holly, Jawny Holiday
  • For the LOVE of Philly
  • WFH Style
  • Spruce up your Home
  • Luxury Lifestyle
  • Seasoned Greetings from the Kitchen
  • Local Fine Art
  • Everyday Jewelry
  • Stocking Stuffers
  • Stylish & Sustainable
  • Pining for You
  • For the Nature Lover
  • Support a Black-Owned Business

Have a Holly, Jawny Holiday

Deck the halls with handmade holiday decor, straight from the NextFab North Pole to your homes. 

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  • Laser-Cut Snowflakes (Kevin Huang of Kevin B Huang Studio Art)
    • Inspired by the photography of Wilson Bently, these snowflakes are the perfect holiday decor. $8.80 each at kevinbhuang.com.
  • Christmas Ornaments (Lauren and Kevin Kelley of Girl Holding a Pen)
    • Calligraphy-based design company consisting of a wife and husband team focuses on Christmas ornaments, as well as custom wedding invitations and signage. Choose your Philly favorite: Love Pretzel Ornament, Independence Hall Ornament, or Yo Philly! Rocky Ornament. $30 on girlholdingapen.com.
  • Kin Candlesticks (Michelle Kwiecien of MDK Studio)
    • Taking a contemporary take on the menorah, are these hand-forged brass and steel candlesticks from one, three, and six-tapered candles. $35+ at mdk-studio.com.
  • Shadow & Light Boxes (Noel Garingan of The Jaunty Octopus)
    • Laser-cut worlds for your home, from everything to classic Christmas, Kissing Santa, to pop culture moments of the weird and wonderful. $45+ at thejauntyoctopus.com.
  • Handmade Holiday Ornaments and Dioramas (Brian and Jill Binovsky of Mr. and Mrs. Claus
    • Husband and wife duo celebrate the simple history of holiday crafting and cheer with their holiday homeware. Various prices at mrandmrsclaus.com.
  • Rustic Metal Christmas Star (Vivian Rowe of Compass Rose Spatial Design)
    • Top your tree with hand-welded tree toppers and ornaments. Various prices at @compassrosesd.
  • “Gravity” Oversized Home Ornament (Stephanie Daniels of Soula Arts)
    • A fusion of modern aesthetics and statement-worthy design in her home collections. Add a touch of warmth to your space with these home ornaments. Various prices at soulaarts.myshopify.com.

For the LOVE of Philly

Even Gritty would approve of these Philly-centric gifts. Perfect for those missing the city of Brotherly Love or screaming your Philly pride.

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  • JAWNS Gritty Sticker & Magnets (Hannah Litvin of Whiskey Suitcase)
    • Offbeat goods celebrating Philly and other pop culture phenomena, including keychains, ornaments, stickers, and magnets. $5+ at whiskeysuitcase.com
  • Zip Code Keychains (Sharif Pendleton of LaserPhilly
    • Forget generic souvenirs – these keychains are the ultimate love letter to your locale. Whether you’re a city slicker or a small-town heartthrob, keep your roots close and your keys closer. $8 at laserphilly.com.
  • PPA Parking Ticket Jawnament (Susan Murphy of Jawnaments
    • Adorn your tree with the only parking ticket you’ll want this year. Choose from all your Philly favorites – Gritty, Scrapple, and more. $15 at jawnaments.com.
  • Manhole Cover Wall Art (Jason Lempieri of Tombino
    • Decorate your walls with what’s beneath your feet – manhole covers from the city of Brother Love, or from one of the 375+ designs laser-cut from sustainable Baltic Birch. $25 at tombino.shop.
  • Variety Combo 3 PACK (Ben Doar of Philly Jerk
    • Vegan Jerky in three different flavors – environmentally sustainable and harm-free jerky as a pantry staple prepared in kitchens across Philly. $27 at phillyjerk.com.
  • Standard Shad Fish (Troy Musto of Fishtown Signs)
    • Local fishmonger, Troy, helps make your Fishtown house a home with his handmade fish signs, each complete with a customizable hanging number plate. Available in blue and turquoise, salt and pepper, and more. $150 at fishtownsigns.com
  • East and West of the Schuylkill Prints (Maria Schneider of Maria Schneider Arte)
    • Digital print on Hahnemuhle Photo Matt Fibre showcasing the history of the place and the spaces we inhabit. Various prices at mariarschneider.com

WFH Style

Just because you’re stuck at a desk doesn’t mean you can’t work in style. Make it over the afternoon slump with these cheery gifts. 

Spruce up your Home

These evergreen home goods and decor are perfect for your new apartment, or dorm room or to turn any house into a home. 

  • Earrings (Monique Disu Casey of M Casey Designs)
    • Elevate your outfit with colorful wooden jewelry pieces and transform your style. $10 at mcaseydesigns.com.
  • Manhole Cover Coasters and Trivets (Jason Lempieri of Tombino)
    • Made from sustainable Portuguese cork, coasters come in a 4-pack with reminders of your favorite city in the form of manholes. $25 – $35 at tombino.shop.
  • Magnetic Knife Holder (Cody Hughes of Untitled_Co)
    • Featured in our Yayoi design, this wall-mounted magnetic knife holder is made from ethically sourced hardwoods and is soft on your knives but beautiful all on its own for $220 at untitledco.design.
  • Damien Catchall Tray (Cody Hughes of Untitled_Co)
    • Stow your daily pocket-dwelling goods contained in this White Oak catchall tray for around the house or in the kitchen. $53 at untitledco.design.
  • Customizable Bookshelves (Andrew Brzozowski of adhdloops)
    • Customizable bookshelves for modern, natural, and utilitarian aesthetics for the perfect complement for records or bookshelves. $200 at adhdloops.com.
  • Dreamy MiniAlley (Khai Van of Mini Alley)
    • Immersive bookshelf inserts/booknook, transport readers to whimsical worlds, right on their shelves. Different scenes include  Dreamy, Italy, CyberPunk, and Medieval miniAlley. $219 at minialley.com.

Luxury Lifestyle

Skip the IKEA trip and furnish your forever home with forever pieces, including handbuilt furniture, home goods, and instruments. 

Seasoned Greetings from the Kitchen

The best memories are made around the kitchen table – while we can’t guarantee your food will taste better, your presentation will be A+.

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Local Fine Art

Look no further for local artists to adorn your home – gift fine art from around the corner. 

Everyday Jewelry

Elevate your every day with these sparkling accessories. From simple sterling silver rings to more bold pieces. 

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Stocking Stuffers

Give Santa a helping hand this year by stocking your loved ones with something handmade and wonderful.

Stylish & Sustainable

Gift something “green” by choosing products made from sustainable materials or reducing waste, and make more than one impact this holiday season.

Pining for You

If you’re pining for someone special, skip the mistletoe this year and adorn them with one-of-a-kind statement pieces handcrafted out of the NextFab jewelry studios.

For the Nature Lover

Even if you can’t find time to go outdoors, bring a bit of nature inside your home with these blossoming gifts for nature lovers.

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Support a Black-Owned Business

Support your favorite Black-owned businesses this holiday season with an assortment of fashion, jewelry, and lifestyle finds.

Give the Gift of Classes!

Explore the NextFab makerspace through these open-to-the-public three-month Maker Series and weekend workshops. Gift card options are available for the perfect present for aspiring makers. Purchase at nextfab.com.

Book, Paper, Lasers: Make Your Own Coptic Bound Leather Journal Workshop
2024

In this 4-hour workshop, learn how to laser engrave leather journal covers, cut and prep paper signatures, and hand sew your own Coptic-bound leather journals. 

All materials are included in the price.

Price: $265

Sew Your Own Jeans Workshop
2024

Sew your own jeans in this 2 ½ day workshop, where you’ll work with premium denim, professional hardware, and tools for workwear and denim, resulting in a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted pair of new blue jeans just for you! Sew on NextFab’s straight-stitch machines and sergers and have access to all the single-use machines (like the rivet press, bar tack, and buttonholer). Great for enthusiastic jeans-making newbies and accomplished jeans-sewists alike.

Price: $700

Make your Own Hoop Earrings
2024

Learn jewelry-making by crafting your own custom hoop earrings. Learn the foundational skills of jewelry making with a focus on refining your jewelry bench skills and torchwork. Fabricate using the flex shaft rotary tool, and hand tools, such as the jeweler’s saw, stamps, and files. Gain confidence using the torches to solder and anneal metal. You will then complete a pair of custom hoops to finish off the class series. 

All materials are included in the price.

Price: $999
Includes 3 months of membership and 5 classes.

Designing Leather Accessories: Tooling, Dying, Hand-stitching and Pattern Making
2024

Learn how to work with leather through these project-based classes! Through a combination of formal classes and group sessions working through design and fabrication techniques, you‘ll come away with a finished leather bag, a laser-cut acrylic template for making multiples, and the skills to continue the craft on your own! 

All materials are included in the price.

Price: $999
Includes 3 months of membership and 5 classes.

About NextFab 

The products in this Gift Guide are all made from the NextFab makerspaces in Philadelphia, from the hands of one of our members that make up our diverse community. 

NextFab is a network of membership-based makerspaces, providing shared workshops and education in the areas of woodworking, metalworking, laser cutting, 3D printing, textiles, jewelry making, and digital manufacturing tools for over 600 members.

A membership unlocks access to classes, educational resources, and tools needed to build products, transform ideas into solutions, and a chance to explore making as a professional pathway.

In Partnership with FORMATION. Media