County Made Gifts: Part I
What better way to give than to give County made gifts? From hot sauces to honey, pottery to photography, woodwork to glass works, lavender to lemonade… The County’s artisans and makers have been busy getting ready for a different kind of holiday market season.
In the first of our two-part series on local makers, we’ll help you find where to shop County made gifts. We’ll cover online and in-person, and how to shop direct from the makers at their studios and shops.
Let’s find out what The County’s makers have been making!
Where to Shop – Online Markets:
The Local Store – Online 24/7
Shopping for County made gifts has never been easier. If they didn’t offer it before, many of The County’s artisans have set up online shops during the pandemic. For those who can’t visit The County right now, online shopping ensures you can enjoy a piece of this special place from the safety of your home. Here’s where you can get that market feeling online:
The Local Store is available for all of your County-made gifting needs, with their online store open 24/7/365. They ship worldwide and can arrange for curbside pick up, too. With 120 vendors you can get your local fix. Check out the full series of County Posters by Marc Keelan-Bishop, Nyman Farms Maple Syrup for holiday pancakes, marinade from Caribbean Gourmet Delicacies, or sustainably giftable Meg’s Beeswax Wraps. Their online shop is organized by gift type and maker so you can easily find what you’re looking for whether it’s folk art, local food or skin care products!
Busy Hands Artisan Sale – Order Period until Nov 21st
Busy Hands is arguably The County’s busiest artisan sale, enjoyed in person by 1000+ shoppers each December for twenty years. They’ve taken it digital this year to keep us safe. The one-stop-online-shop showcases a wide variety of County makers, growers, and artists. Shop the online site before November 21st, then collect your goodies on Saturday November 28th at The Crystal Palace in Picton.
Expect a dizzying selection of County made gifts including tourtieres from Moonlight Kitchen, decorative County map pillows from Vintage Map Co, grow-your-own mushroom kits from Cloven Farm, cotton candy and other sweet treats to support Heal with Horses, and functional wood pieces like boot jacks and guitar mounts from Mattlin Woodcraft. Dozens of County food products are available, too. Honey, hot sauce, jams, jellies and more!
Festival of Trees – Order Period until Nov 28th
A beloved fundraiser for the Picton Memorial Hospital Foundation with a goal to raise $35,000. Shop nearly 30 trees and dozens of auction items from local donors, businesses and organizations. Many trees are decorated with items from local makers like the “12 Uses for Beeswax” tree from Picton’s Berwick Apiaries, or the Old Fashioned Christmas featuring Andy’s Original sauces.
Where to Shop: In-Person Markets and Sales
In-person markets with physical-distancing, mask-wearing, hand-washing and multi-vendor local shopping! Check in with these events if you prefer to shop for County made gifts in person. (We’ll update this space as new markets are announced!)
- 4th Annual Midtown Christmas Market at Midtown Brewing Company – Saturday November 28th 12:00 – 4:00pm
- PEC Studio Tour Pre-Holiday Show and Sale – November 28th and 29th at The Waring House
- Bloomfield Outdoor Winter Market– Nov. 28-29 & Dec. 5-6 – Noon – 6 p.m. — Main St., Bloomfield
- CANCELLED: Wellington Farmers’ Market Holly Jolly Market – Saturday December 5th 10-4pm at the Wellington United Church
- Farmers’ Tan Winter Market at Parsons Brewing Company – Saturday December 5th 2:00 – 6:00 pm
- CANCELLED: Holiday Pop-Up Market at The CAPE in Picton – December 4th, 5th and 6th 10:00- 4:00 pm
- Picton Town Hall Farmers’ Holiday Market – December 12th, 10:00-200 pm at the corner of Ross and King Streets.
- The Harvest Shed is a multi-vendor shop featuring hand-made goods on Fish Lake Road
- A little bird told us that Carbon Art & Design‘s Winter Market will return in 2020, stay tuned for details on this multi-vendor pop up on Main Street Picton.
Where to Shop: Straight from the Maker
Many of The County’s makers have their own farm shops and retail outlets open for in-person shopping this holiday season. We’ve rounded up the locations where you can find artisans in their studios and shops this holiday season. Many artisans are offering online sales, so if you don’t see your favourite here, check their website or socials for e-shopping options!
Map It Out!
Artisans, makers and farm shops can be found all around The County. Peek at our Google Map to find the shops listed below and more!
Visit the Artisans
The County’s visual artists have one-of-a-kind pieces, big and small, to help you with your art-loving loved ones. Many artists have studios and galleries that you can visit: The Arts Trail is great resource to help you find places to view and purchase inspired pieces. Many Arts Trail their members have online galleries and shops, too.
Millefleurs just outside of Wellington is a lavender farm and meadery with all manner of lavender-infused stocking stuffers, honey and mead available at the farm shop or online.
Head down to Point Petre and pick up honey, candles, salves, teas, hand-dyed wools and mead (honey wine) produced on site at Honey Pie Hives and Herbals.
Vicki’s Veggies roadside farm stand in Black Creek is open and still offering fresh greenhouse produce, but the real giftables include her heirloom tomato seeds, locally made Lemonade Dave drinks and the 2021 edition of Vicki’s Sexy Carrots Calendar (coming to the stand soon!)
On Closson Road in Hillier, stop into SHED Chetwyn Farms to peep the cute alpacas playing in the paddock, and take home the socks, blankets and other oh-so-soft alpaca wool products they make. Online or in person shopping available.
Down the road at the PEC Lavender Farm, the pretty and fragrant flower inspires their line of lotions, oils, culinary products, soaps and more. Available online or at their farm store.
Also on Closson you’ll find Bark Woodshop featuring Mike McGuire’s end grain cutting boards and charcuterie boards.
Potter Dawn Stafrace of The Ye11ow set up shop on Main Street Picton, offering hand-made dinnerware, mugs, vases, and other functional pieces. The vibe in the shop is oh so natural and airy.
Across the street, you’ll find Lustre & Tarnish, Beverly Dunnington’s showcase of bespoke jewellery made with reclaimed and new materials like antique chains, clock faces, keys and more.
Also in Picton, look for Field Made Goods maker collective with wood by Bethanie Kaye, candles by East City Candles, apothecary by Sunday’s Company & ceramics by Cylinder Studio
Do you have a suggestion or correction? Email the Visit The County team.
