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 an everlasting gift made with love.
Create memories around the kitchen table, cooking up food and celebrations, with kitchen goods and products, such as Rachel Kedinger’s metal forged spoons and plates, or by cutting Grandma’s apple pie using Ken Holiday’s cutting board. Or find these memories adorned in the tiny details of Virginia Caccavella’s jewelry that Mom will wear every day, making her think of you. Or wrapped up in upcycled quilt coats made by Paige Soto. Or even in the cherry blanket chest handcrafted by Matt Blackburn, where you’ll keep generations of blankets. Exchange cheeky gifts with your best friend, like Sharif Pendleton’s Thicc candles. Each of these products in our Gift Guide is crafted by the makers, artists, and tinkerers around you.
Shop local and handmade, and create core family and friend memories, while giving back this holiday season.
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.
Have a Holly, Jawny Holiday
Deck the halls with handmade holiday decor, straight from the NextFab North Pole to your homes.
Rustic Metal Christmas Star
Vivian Rowe of Compass Rose Spatial Design
Top your tree with hand-welded tree toppers and ornaments. Various prices at compassrose-sd.com.
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 at girlholdingapen.com.
“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.
Kin Candlesticks
Michelle Kwiecien of MDK Studio
Taking a contemporary take on the Hanukkiah are these hand-forged brass and steel candlesticks from one, three, and six-tapered candles. $35-$110 at mdk-studio.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 at mrandmrsclaus.com.
Shadow & Light Boxes
Noel Garingan of The Jaunty Octopus
Laser-cut worlds for your home, with everything from classic Christmas, Kissing Santa, to pop culture moments of the weird and wonderful. $45+ at thejauntyoctopus.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!
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.
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. $140 at tombino.shop.
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.
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.
Variety Combo Vegan Jerky
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.
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.
Spruce up your Home
These evergreen home goods and decor are perfect for your new apartment, dorm room or to turn any house into a home.
Ralston Coat Rack
Cody Hughes of Untitled_Co
Made from beefy powder-coated steel and Pennsylvania Ash and Walnut, this super simple design is meant to elevate your space while still being a super functional piece of home furniture. $77 at untitledco.design.
Node Wall Planters and Vases
David Rozek of Pandemic Design Studio
Modern and modular ceramic wall planters and vases, or the perfect wall-mounted installation for your home. $39–$816 at nodewallplanter.com.
Coasters
Monique Disu Casey of M Casey Designs
Elevate your home decor with these coasters and transform your space into an art gallery with every sip. $25 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.
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 MiniAlley
Immersive bookshelf inserts/booknooks, transport readers to whimsical worlds, right on their shelves. Different scenes include: Dreamy, Italy, CyberPunk, and Medieval MiniAlley. $199 at minialley.com.
Stocking Stuffers
Give Santa a helping hand this year by stocking your loved ones with something handmade and wonderful.
Infinity Puzzle
Joy London of Project Joy
Use washable markers to color your puzzle, then let it dry. After you have had your fun with that design, erase your image and do it all over again! Various prices at projectjoystudio.com.
Earth Candy Vegan Jerky
Ben Doar of Philly Jerk
Vegan jerky with notes of cacao, Rival Bros. coffee, and cayenne create a sweet and savory flavor profile. Comes in Togarashi 3 PACK as well. $27 at phillyjerk.com.
Shower Steamers
Ray Daly of Ray’s Reusables
Aromatic essential oils transform your shower into your own personal spa. $3 at raysreusables.com.
Project JOY Puddle Painting Party Box
Joy London of Project Joy
The newest kit to help you create the most gorgeous detailed paintings with the magic of science and the wonders of nature. Various prices at projectjoystudio.com.
MAKER PROFILE
Laura Kao of Moodio
“I’ve spent years building my career in Graphic and Interactive Design, but I always felt that I had other unexplored talents and untapped potential. I’ve enjoyed the past 12 years staring at a blue screen, but I decided it was time to get back to making with my hands again. Moodio is my big leap into the unknown where I am leading my life by first doing the things I love and asking questions later.”
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.
Desk Clock
Scott Cunningham of scrapyard aesthetics
Countdown the minutes with this desk clock made from automotive parts. Also available as a Fan Motor desk clock. $45 at scrapyardaesthetics.etsy.com.
Handmade Glass Bud Vase
Isaac Feuerman of Feuerman Design
Blown using centuries-old Venetian techniques, these are light and airy, and delicately support a single bud. $55 at feuermandesign.com.
Family Charging Station
Ken Holiday of Loma Living
Charge your entire household’s devices in one place and transform the mundane task of charging into a sleek, organized affair. $265 at lomaliving.com.
Thicc Candles
Sharif Pendleton of LaserPhilly
Thick thighs save lives…and now they can add warmth and whimsy to your space. Also makes for great bookends and shelf décor. $30 at laserphilly.com.
Desk Plates
Sharif Pendleton of LaserPhilly
Unleash your inner mogul with the sleek desk plates engraved with cheeky mantras. $25 at laserphilly.com.
Mini Cinder Blocks
Laura Kao of Moodio
Bring a bit of whimsy with these mini cinder blocks, as part of life and home design studio, Moodio. $10 at moodiostudio.com.
Luxury Lifestyle
Skip the Ikea trip and furnish your forever home with forever pieces, including handbuilt furniture, home goods, and instruments.
Contemporary Birch Bedroom Set
Matt Blackburn of M. Blackburn Furniture Maker
Contemporary birch bedroom set with floating nightstands with wall paneling above the headboard. Various prices at blackburnfurniture.com.
Family Jewels Chandeliers
Kevin Huang of Kevin B Huang Studio Art
A series of chandeliers made from reclaimed objects including mattress springs and jewelry, with new light fixtures to enhance the nature of the specific objects. Various prices at kevinbhuang.com.
White Oak Furniture
Bill Weeks of WRWeeks Custom Fabrication
Modern, rift-sawn white oak bespoke furniture completes your home. Choose from a king-sized headboard and bedframe, or vanity cabinet. Various prices at wrweeks.com.
“The Kira” Dog-Crate End Table
John Castellaneta of Castle Brothers Workshop
Create a safe space for your dog, with a fine hardwood end table for you. Various prices at castlebrothersworkshop.com/shop.
Arched Steel Candlestick Trio
Isaac Feuerman of Feuerman Design
Hand-forged modular candelabras, blackened and hot waxed to give the surface a natural and durable patina. $365 at feuermandesign.com.
Curly Cherry Blanket Chest
Matt Blackburn of M. Blackburn Furniture Maker
Curly cherry blanket chest with hand-forged strap hinges. Hand-cut dovetails complete the case, drawers, and base molding. Various prices at blackburnfurniture.com.
Soul Machine Bass Guitar
Ryan Hyde of R.Hyde Custom Guitars
Boutique electric guitars and basses of exceptional tonality and functionality, using the highest quality materials and craftsmanship possible. $2,800 at rhydeguitars.com.
Walnut Dressing Table
Matt Blackburn of M. Blackburn Furniture Maker
Specializing in built-to-order furniture, walnut dressing table with walnut burl veneer, with herringbone borders around the book-matched top. Various prices at blackburnfurniture.com.
Burnt Cherry Night Stand
Bill Russell of Bill Russell Studio
This circa 1950 nightstand has a lustrous deep red finish accented with deeper borders. $900 at billrussellstudio.com.
Live-Edge Coffee Table
Bill Weeks of WRWeeks Custom Fabrication
Live-edge black walnut coffee table with modern legs provides a natural, yet elegant feel. Various prices at wrweeks.com.
Walnut Dining Room Table
Bill Weeks of WRWeeks Custom Fabrication
A modern black walnut table with a natural penetrating oil finish will add style to any dining room. Various prices at wrweeks.com.
Classy Chassis” Side Table
Bill Russell of Bill Russell Studio
A sweet small stand with a simple and dignified harkening back to the Federal period. Layered with subtle warm tones and double linear detail. $850 at billrussellstudio.com.
Rest in Repose Zero Gravity Rocker
Nnennia Mazagwu of N’u.lo. Adaeze
A unique and comfortable seating experience that will distribute body weight evenly and reduce pressure on the spine. $2,000 at nnennia.wixsite.com/nuloadaeze.
Dyed-Wood Team Logos and Slogans
John Castellaneta of Castle Brothers Workshop
Perfect décor for a home bar or sports cave – these framed signs will display a custom team logo or slogan in vividly dyed wood. $99 at castlebrothersworkshop.com/shop.
Custom Race Medal Framing
John Castellaneta of Castle Brothers Workshop Show off your PR from that special marathon, 5k, or ultra with a professional hardwood framing for your or your loved one’s most prized race medals. $99 at castlebrothersworkshop.com/shop.
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+.
Foliage Wares Collection
Michelle Kwiecien of MDK Studio
An assortment of spoons, spatulas, and pie servers with etched brass and forged steel handles. $65+ at mdk-studio.com.
Eco-Friendly Cutting Board
Ken Holiday of Loma Living
Eco-friendly cutting board made from Richlite paper — durable enough for everyday slicing and attractive enough for serving. $64 at lomaliving.com.
Enameled Plate Sets
Rachel Kedinger of Rachel Kedinger Design
Using a technique to press sheet steel and apply enamel to the surface, adds a durable and nostalgic quality of the design. This set comes with four 10” plates. $320 at rachelkedinger.com.
“Aunt Margaret” Buffet
Bill Russell of Bill Russell Studio
A late Victorian piece that was made to hold a pitcher and water bowl for washing up, now the burnt sienna-mottled finish pulls it all together. $800 at billrussellstudio.com.
Enameled Lunch Tray
Rachel Kedinger of Rachel Kedinger Design
Steel and enameled tray – comes in a wide range of colors, perfect for breakfast in bed or having a fun display for snacks while entertaining. $250 at rachelkedinger.com.
8 Bottle Wine Rack
Michelle Kwiecien of MDK Studio
Blackened steel is paired with red oak dowels in this industrial yet contemporary take on a countertop wine rack. $275+ at mdk-studio.com.
Yayoi Cutting Board
Cody Hughes of Untitled_Co
Great for serving, and the daily grind – just flip the board over to chop on. When not in use, hang this masterpiece on the wall and enjoy the view. $210 at untitledco.design.
Brass Spoons
Rachel Kedinger of Rachel Kedinger Design
Hand-forged brass spoons are perfect for scooping a mouthful of ice cream out of your favorite bowl or serving a dollop of jam on a piece of toast. $95 at rachelkedinger.com.
Local Fine Art
Look no further for local artists to adorn your home — gift fine art from around the corner.
Kimono Series
Kevin Huang of Kevin B Huang Studio Art
Fused glass inspired by a 1950s-era pre-dyed woven silk kimono in the pop art style, mounted on a wall. $800 to $3,000 at kevinbhuang.com.
Handmade Paper with Embedded Photographs
Lia Huntington of Brick & Wire
Handmade paper sheets in various colors, formed from older paper. Photographs of the urban landscape are split into strips and embedded into the paper. @brick.and.wire on Instagram.
Winterthur Oak Laser Engraved Wall Art
Eric Zippe of Eric Zippe Fine Art
Laser engraved relief silhouette of the Browns meadow white oak tree at Winterthur Museum and Gardens. $575 at ezippe.art.
The Rite of Spring
Garden of Cherry Blossoms and Walking One City Wall Art
Maria Schneider of Maria Schneider Arte
The history of places and the spaces juxtaposed using layers of laser-etched plexiglass and LEDs. $600-700+ at mariarschneider.com.
MAKER PROFILE
Bill Russell of Bill Russell Studio
“Starting in high school I began working for antique dealers learning the processes of furniture refinishing and restoration. As I gained exposure to early furniture I found myself attracted to painted furniture in all its iterations, and earned my MFA in painting in 1973. As I gained expertise in decorative finishing techniques I realized that I could use them to revivify certain styles of cast-off 20th century furniture. Not only am I artistically engaged by the process and excited by the results but I may also be saving objects of intrinsic value from the landfill.”
Stylish & Sustainable
Gift something “green” by choosing products made from sustainable materials or reducing waste, and make more than one impact this holiday season.
Paperless Towels
Ray Daly of Ray’s Reusables
Stylish and durable 100% cotton flannel cloths that will last you through years as napkins at meal time, cleaning cloths, and spill clean up. $35 at raysreusables.com.
Quilt Baby Bibs
Paige Sato of m.a.b.e.l
Bibs fashioned from a vintage quilt are perfect for catching spills. 100% cotton and lined in cotton muslin. $25 at mabelstyle.com.
Quilt Coats
Paige Sato of m.a.b.e.l
One-of-a-kind coats and popovers are created from upcycled quilts to keep you cozy and warm while making an impact. $225-$300 at mabelstyle.com.
Ocean Jasper Cuff
Shelly Rabuse of no. 27 collection
Set in oxidized sterling silver, this piece sits atop repurposed vintage belt leather. $128 at no27collection.com.
MAKER PROFILE
Paige Soto of m.a.b.e.l
“I made that first coat because I wanted that lovely quilt to see the light of day. I thought it was such a shame that an item, handsewn and meant to be utilitarian, was so often relegated to a decorative pile on a chair, or worse, hidden away in the back of a closet. There’s so much to be appreciated about a quilt — the time and effort that went into it, but also, the creativity — from color choices to manipulating the fabric pieces into patterns to decisions about the stitching lines. Sometimes we don’t see the forest for the trees, and by taking a large quilt and cutting it into smaller pieces that are handled and used regularly, all that work is more obvious, more tangible.”
Everyday Jewelry
Elevate your every day with these sparkling accessories. From simple sterling silver rings to more bold pieces.
Arm Candy Earrings and Bracelets
Soroya Cunningham of SONAO
Earrings and bracelets filled with colorful beaded gemstone goodness and more. $65+ at soroyanaomi.co.
Jewelry Display
Laura Kao of Moodio
Show off your entire jewelry collection by turning your pieces into wall art. $35 at moodiostudio.com.
Kinetic Necklaces
Lia Huntington of Brick & Wire
Colorful glass enamel coats a pair of copper beads. These can be positioned to sit anywhere along the stainless steel cable–giving you a playful way to adjust your adornments as you move through the day. $40 at liahuntington.com.
Heart Earrings
Shelly Rabuse of no. 27 collection
These sweet little hearts were carved from wax and then cast in sterling using the lost wax process. $42 at no27collection.com.
Garnet Bib Necklace
Shelly Rabuse of no. 27 collection
Tiny cascading garnets make this necklace a showstopper. $88 at no27collection.com.
Manipura Solar Plexus
Elizabeth Karasek of Livetodream
A representation of the solar plexus lotus symbolizes willpower, determination, self-confidence, and sun energy, this piece includes personally-cut gemstones. $100 at etsy.com/shop/ekarasek.
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.
Cast Hinge Bracelet with Tanzanites
Virginia Caccavella of Virginia DeNale Jewelry
Carved with an intricate pattern, this sterling silver hinged bracelet has 28 flush-set Tanzanites. $598 at virginiadenalejewelry.com.
Single-leaf earrings with Enamel Inlay
Barbara Schumer Enamel Jewelry
Single leaf with enamel inlay. Also available as Double-Leaf Earrings. @barbaraschumer on Instagram.
Slider Bracelets
Deanna McLaughlin of Cartrageous
Capture the rhapsody of your friends and strangers’ admiration and envy while wearing this sterling silver slider bracelet. Optional black diamond or black onyx wheels are available. $425 Also comes as a slider ring ($425) or necklace ($150.00) at cartrageous.com.
Sterling Silver Ring
Niki Leist
This handcrafted sterling silver ring is topped with an amethyst stone. Various prices at nikileist.com.
14-karat Gold Wedding Band with Engraved Starbursts
Niki Leist
Capture keepsake moments with the unique and bespoke jewelry of Niki Leist. Every piece is carefully created to capture individual stories and emotions. Various prices at nikileist.com.
Mars Cufflinks
Machele Nettles of Idol Light
Sterling silver and the reddest red your eyes can see. $212 at idol-light.com.
Twinkle Necklace
Machele Nettles of Idol Light
Made from repurposed scientific glass, this wearable art jewelry comes with magical color-changing glass charms. Choose from Twinkle Necklaces ($131), or tiny, but mighty, Twinkle Threaders ($101) at idol-light.com.
3-Stone Ring with Citrine and Garnets
Virginia Caccavella of Virginia DeNale Jewelry
3-stone ring featuring an emerald cut citrine with emerald cut rhodolite garnets flanking the central stone and fabricated in sterling silver. $535 at virginiadenalejewelry.com.
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.
Plant Stands
Laura Kao of Moodio
Acrylic laser-cut plant stands of various shapes, sizes, and colors. $20 at moodiostudio.com.
Laser-Engraved Flower Patterned Earrings
Linda Celestian
Laser engraved flower patterned earrings. $30 at lindacelestian.com.
Amphi Fins
Ginger Kuczowicz of Amphi Americas
A new way of enjoying the ocean, this bionic fin comes with a propeller that you strap on your feet. When you flex the fin, it starts the motor, and it pushes you as you swim freely, like an ocean creature. $2,600 at amphiamericas.com/shop.
Node Wall Planter
David Rozek of Pandemic Design Studio
Pandemic Design Studio creates modern and modular ceramic wall planters and vases for your walls, desks, and home. $39-$816 at nodewallplanter.com.
Screen-Printed Enamel Pins
Lia Huntington of Brick & Wire
Miniature scenes from Philadelphia’s built and natural environments adorn these copper pins. $35 at liahuntington.com.
Flower Power Cross-Body Handbag
Elizabeth Karasek of Livetodream
Fine craftsmanship embedding flower petals into epoxy perfectly sewn Italian pink and gray flowered leather and pink suede. $300 at etsy.com/shop/ekarasek.
Support a Black-Owned Business
Support your favorite Black-owned businesses this holiday season with an assortment of fashion, jewelry, and lifestyle finds.
Harper Hoop Earrings
Cherne Jean-Louis of Cherne Altovise
Stainless hoops and wire in signature wire work. Adds just the right amount of edge to any look, while still being lightweight. $42+ at chernealtovise.com.
Harriet Tubman Rose Gold Ring
Nina Grier of Historical Dream
Wearing this ring instills sisterly solidarity and the richness of a woman who knew right and did “right” when she could. $1,550 at historicaldream.com.
Wall Art
Monique Disu Casey of M Casey Designs
Perfect for any occasion – add something new to your collection or for the perfect gift for that special someone. $75–$175 at mcaseydesigns.com.
Silk Knotted Necklaces
Soroya Cunningham of SONAO
An everlasting favorite known for its classy look and its unlikeliness to break. Various prices at soroyanaomi.co.
The Zodiac Collection Wall Art
Sharif Pendleton of LaserPhilly
A celestial statement that’s both edgy and elegant. $52 at laserphilly.com.
Crown Me Serena Clutch
Cherne Jean-Louis of Cherne Altovise
Made of acrylic with removable chain strap and crown logo. $64+ at chernealtovise.com.
Batik Clothing
Yemisi Ajayi of Yemisi Art
Producing hand-printed fabric art, wearable art clothing, and women’s accessories such as silk and cotton scarves. @yemisi_art on Instagram.
