At NextFab, we believe the best gifts aren’t just objects–they’re the start of a lasting memory. We know that when it comes to creating something truly special, the details aren’t just details–they are the product of genuine care and skill.
This holiday season, skip the anonymous, mass-produced aisles. Instead, choose a gift with an extra special touch that tells a story and helps a small business thrive right here in your neighborhood. By shopping local and supporting our community of makers, you are giving a gift made with intention, skill, and love.
This year’s guide is a celebration of the creative energy flowing through right out of our Philadelphia makerspace. You’ll find unique pieces ready to become part of your own family tradition:
For your home, find a piece of Functional Home Decor–from an heirloom-quality cutting board by Untitled_Co to the whimsy of a ceramic Beast of Burden soap dish by Grace Choi, ready to hold a ring by the sink.
For a loved one, choose something from our Elevated Fine Jewelry collection like a sterling silver and gold jewelry for special occasions from Virginia DeNale Jewelry, or a bold statement piece from Wynonna Metals.
For the true Philadelphian, celebrate The LOVE of Philly with an ornament of a local favorite from Jawnaments, or a Fishtown Sign on your home.
From the highest-end, custom furniture and fine jewelry to cheeky, handmade accents, every product in this guide is a creation from the talented makers, artists, and tinkers who define the NextFab community.
Shop local, choose handmade, and create core memories that will last for generations this holiday season.
About NextFab
The products in this Gift Guide are all made from the NextFab makerspace in Philadelphia, by the hands of one of our members who make up our diverse community.
NextFab is a Philadelphia-based membership-based makerspace, offering shared workshops and education across disciplines like woodworking, metalworking, laser cutting, 3D printing, textiles, jewelry making, and digital manufacturing.
A membership unlocks the tools, classes, and educational resources needed to build products, transform ideas into solutions, and explore making as a professional pathway. By purchasing a gift from this guide, you directly support the creative journey of these Philadelphia-based entrepreneurs.
Featured Maker Profiles this year include the participants of NextFab’s Artisan Accelerator, a 12-week program that provides creative entrepreneurs with business education, access to resources, and community support to build viable businesses. Generously funded by the Commerce Department, this program provides access to NextFab for 12 months and shared studio space to grow their endeavors.
Elevated Fine Jewelry
Higher-end pieces using gold, sterling silver, or precious stones, often custom or heirloom quality.
1. Aimee Petkus Jewelry
prices vary
Geologist-turned-metalsmith who uses sterling silver and gold around unique mineral specimens, crystals, and gems for one-of-a-kind treasures.
2. Virginia DeNale Jewelry
$875
Handcrafted sterling silver and gold jewelry for special occasions and everyday wear, with a classic yet modern feel. Featuring an 18” sterling silver articulated collar necklace.
3. Historical Dream
$300+
Designs that revere historic ethnic leaders and promote an everyday awareness of communities that have enriched American culture.
4. Wynonna Metals
$150–$200
Handcrafted sterling silver jewelry as the perfect gift for the person who wears their edge with a dash of elegance.
Maker Profile: Zoe Marchiano of Wynonna Metals
Marchiano crafts sterling silver jewelry that strikes a balance between boldness and elegance. Her work is meticulously handcrafted, blending an edgy, modern aesthetic with superior craftsmanship to ensure enduring value. Each piece is a signature gift — a lasting testament to an uncompromising style, built to be a statement for this lifetime and beyond.
5. Hershal Wiggins Designs
$500–$1,000
Custom, handcrafted fine jewelry and watches using Argentium silver, 24k gold, and precious stones, making each piece a lasting heirloom, featuring a 22k gold pendant with an 18k gold clasp and rice pearls.
Maker Profile: Hershal Wiggins of Hershal Wiggins Designs
Wiggins is a master watchmaker and jeweler who creates intricate, high-value pieces under Hershal Wiggins Designs. His work is rooted in meticulous craft, blending technical precision with artistic design to ensure the highest quality and longevity. Every watch or jewelry submission is a true legacy investment, built to be a reliable, beautiful, and enduring heirloom.
Statement & Unique Jewelry
Pieces with a distinct style, often incorporating unconventional materials or themes.
Maker Profile: Yuli Marcela Vinces & Andrés Muñoz of ArtesinA
The Colombian couple behind ArtesinA transforms sustainable practice into wearable art. Under the brand’s mantra, “wear art, share love,” Yuli and Andrés co-create contemporary jewelry and accessories that unite macramé with original paintings and reclaimed materials. Pieces are crafted from 100% recycled cotton and sustainably harvested tagua seed (vegetable ivory), adhering to low-waste practices.
1. NOSHADE
$15–$30
A lifestyle brand offering bold, unique statement pieces like jewelry, digital art, and home decor that aim to empower confidence and self-expression.
2. no. 27 collection
$15–$30
Unique, sustainable jewelry from repurposed vintage pieces, sterling silver, and brass.
3. Niki Leist Jewelry
Prices vary
Fine jewelry in sterling silver or gold, featuring Knot Studs ($145) and Entwine Earrings ($185).
4. Virginia DeNale Jewelry
$150–$200
Handcrafted sterling silver and gold jewelry for special occasions and everyday wear, with a classic yet modern feel.
5. ArtesinA
$20–$300
Contemporary jewelry and accessories unite macramé with original artwork, crafted using sustainable materials like recycled cotton and tagua seeds.
Maker Profile: Shelisha Harper of NOSHADE
Harper, the designer behind the forward-thinking lifestyle brand NOSHADE, is on a mission to empower confidence through bold, unique statement pieces. Her collection, ranging across jewelry, digital art, and home décor, is designed to ignite self-expression in every aspect of life. Her pieces carry both a striking aesthetic and a powerful message of empowerment.
Functional Home Decor
Gifts that bring style and smarts to a space, helping you organize, elevate, and get things done.
1. Scrapyard Aesthetics
$80–$100
One-of-a-kind home or office decor, scrap metal artwork, including clocks, lamps, and sculptures.
etsy.com/shop/scrapyardaesthetics
2. Compass Rose Spatial Design
$80–$100
Design practice that creates
site-specific metalwork and public art, such as the “Night Vines” metal trellis, a piece of whimsy designed to interact with your garden.
3. True Love Carpentry
Prices vary
Specializes in custom-built-in solutions for old homes and decorative/functional home objects like reconfigurable “Tool Boards” for the kitchen and the Puzzle Table, perfect for the gamer in your life ($800).
Maker Profile: Laura Smarrito of True Love Carpentry
Smarrito’s work across True Love Carpentry emphasizes quality, custom creation, and lasting value. Whether crafting bespoke millwork for historic homes or designing durable, customizable furniture, her expertise lies in using traditional carpentry to build objects intended to endure and inspire for years to come.
4. Tombino
$35–$50
Functional art featuring manhole covers from around the world, permanently etched into coasters, trivets, magnets, and wall art.
5. Loma Living
$58
Home goods that solve real problems, perfect for tech enthusiasts, like their sleek, minimalist MagSafe Charging Stand.
6. Grace Choi
$65–$110
Elevate the everyday with the enchanting Beast of Burden Soap Dish, designed to be a durable, playful friend that will hold your soap (or other small treasures).
7. Untitled_Co
$150–$200
Small batch design studio creating heirloom quality objects for the home, including home and kitchen wares, focusing on sustainable design and ethical practices.
Artful Lighting & Wall Decor
Pieces focused on illumination, display, or large-scale decoration.
1. HAYATO
$80–$100
Timeless gifts for history and art enthusiasts, symbolic artworks inspired by Philadelphia and American ideals, such as the Golden Ratio American flag, and historic map prints.
2. Chachi Studios
$350
Sustainable, high-craft furniture-making company specializing in lighting and custom home goods, featuring the customizable Chachi Lamp.
Maker Profile: Andrew Moreau of Chachi Studios
Moreau creates distinguished, functional art for the home, focusing on sustainable materials. His lighting and furniture are significant contributions to the world of modern design, blending unique forms with industrial materials. Andrew’s pieces are signature gifts, carefully crafted to serve as bold, sculptural statement pieces that define a space and become cherished components of a home’s lasting heritage.
3. Maria Schneider Arte
$500–$1,000
Unique, illuminated art installations, a ‘garden in an illuminated box,’ created using LEDs and laser-engraved plexiglass to challenge perception.
4. Ly & Lines
Prices vary
Concept-driven visual artist creating sculptures, paintings, and murals, informed by her Vietnamese roots, exploring themes of cultural identity and contemporary life.
5. Brick & Wire
$55+
Inspired by Philadelphia’s cityscapes, pieces include enameled jewelry, unique light switch plates, and photography embedded in handmade paper.
6. nothing unwanted
$35–$50
Lightplates inspired by Black culture and Afrofuturism that are durable, simple to install, and a thoughtful way to bring beauty to the smallest corner of your home.
Philly Holiday Jawns
Capture the heart, humor, and iconic sights of Philly, perfect for decking your halls or gifting a piece of home.
1. Girl Holding a Pen
$15–$30
Calligraphy-based design studio specializing in elegant and local Christmas ornaments and wedding products, commemorating life milestones or a significant place.
2. Jawnaments
$15 – $30
Unique, hometown ornaments depicting iconic favorites from across Philadelphia and neighboring communities, recalling special, local memories.
3. G + RIZZ
$5–$30
Art and lifestyle brand creating paper goods, art decor, and dope apparel with a focus on Philly pride, humor, and authenticity, creating “art for humans.” Featuring the “Jawn” stickers and pins.
4. Fishtown Signs
$200–$300
One-of-a-kind fish-shaped address signs for your home, office, or beach house, or as the perfect housewarming gift.
Personalized & Keepsake Gifts
Gifts that can be customized or are meant to be cherished for years.
1. m.a.b.e.l
$90–$180
Reimagined vintage quilts transformed into contemporary, one-of-a-kind items like quilt garments and waxed canvas quilt tote bags, pairing rugged durability with unique charm.
2. Niki Leist Jewelry
$215
Fine jewelry in sterling silver or gold, specializing in custom pieces, including the unique fingerprint pendants to capture a moment in time.
3. Letterportrait by HAYATO
$80
Deeply personal, custom artwork that transforms a person’s name into a modern geometric monogram, making it a unique keepsake for newborns, weddings, and special occasions.
Apparel & Wearable Expression
Clothing and accessories that make a statement.
1. Livetodream
$275
Exquisite handbags crafted from a combination of leather and wood.
2. YemiArt
$55–$75
Textile works, including hand-dyed fabrics (indigo, batik) and wearable art like scarves and wraps infused with cultural storytelling.
3. I’m Good
$55–$75
Unique clothing and accessories to show someone you think they’re cool, that explores mental and emotional struggles, blending cynicism, humor, and hope.
Maker Profile: Trebor Adams of I’m Good
Trebor Adams, the creative force behind I’m Good, transcends traditional retail by blending craftsmanship with deep emotional complexity. His brand is dedicated to exploring mental and emotional struggles, offering a variety of lasting, high-quality apparel and accessories that mix cynicism, humor, and hope. Trebor’s pieces serve as a stylish, authentic way to show the recipient that you recognize their complexities and think they’re cool.
4. TrYBe Designs
$400–$500
Custom lifestyle apparel, artistically charged, wearable art. All items are bespoke to the client and can be specialized or personalized accordingly.
Maker Profile: Tyshawn Brooks of TrYBe Designs
Tyshawn Brooks, the creative force behind TrYBe Designs, crafts high-concept, contemporary apparel that stands out in the world of modern fashion. Focusing on innovative cuts and unique design, Tyshawn creates investment-grade wardrobe pieces intended to be statement items. His pieces promise exclusivity, high quality, and a lasting place in any collector’s wardrobe.
Maker Profile: Amber Bowie of Mackenzie Madison of Philadelphia
Amber Bowie, founder of Mackenzie Madison of Philadelphia, specializes in crafting handmade apparel focused on lasting connections. Her pieces, particularly her premium Mommy and Me collection, are designed with attention to quality fabrics and bespoke detail, transforming clothing into enduring family treasures. These are significant gifts that invest in shared memories and exceptional, generational style.
5. Mackenzie Madison of Philadelphia
$35–$50
Mom-owned brand creating handmade, family-inspired apparel and accessories that celebrate motherhood, childhood milestones, and local Philly pride, including matching mommy-and-me outfits.
Heirloom Furniture & Design
Destined to become cherished family heirlooms and definitive signature pieces or experiences.
1. M. Blackburn Furniture Maker
$1,000+
Fine furniture and custom millwork, these custom, heirloom pieces are built to be cherished and passed down through generations.
2. Yrcinc
$100–$150
Abstract, figurative sculptures that explore the human form in motion (ballet, yoga, tango, etc.), creating a unique and intriguing art piece.
3. Kevin B. Huang Studio Art
$200–$300
Sculptural accessories for the home using discarded and fractured materials, designed to incite a sense of fun.
Crafted for Adventure & Experience
Unique gifts that facilitate an activity or experience.
1. Ben Banjos
$500–$1,000
One-of-a-kind gourd banjos, ukuleles, and other folk instruments made entirely from raw, natural materials.
2. NextFab
$149+
Dive into the world of making with a NextFab membership, providing access to tools, equipment, classes, and a community of makers.
3. Vino Glassworks
$200–$300
Handblown glass studio specializing in stemware, barware, and hands-on glassblowing experiences.
Maker Profile: Ben Hart of Ben Banjos
The luthier behind Ben Banjos, Ben Hart, translates generations of woodworking tradition into instruments of lasting beauty and sound. Each banjo is a meticulous, handcrafted piece designed to be played, celebrated, and passed down. Ben’s work embodies the ultimate legacy investment: an enduring treasure that creates its own history through music.
4. Blind Mice Tailors
Prices vary
Unique, nerdy embroidery files for at-home work and commission services for embroidered garments and costume work, inspired by gaming and convention culture. Featuring the downloadable “D20 of Thorns” ($12) or jacket ($175).
Maker Profile: Sara Winters of Blind Mice Tailors
Winters translates her passion for cosplay, gaming, and nerd culture into textile creations. With an innate dedication to tactile creation and rich texture, Sara crafts exquisite, high-impact embroidery files and custom garments. Her work—from sharp, customizable jackets to intricate costume commissions—is a significant, investment-grade piece of wearable art. It is a signature gift for the gamer or otaku in your life, ensuring the ultimate level of craftsmanship and detail for their next jaw-dropping look.
Maker Profile: Mark Lee of marklee boats
Mark Lee doesn’t just build boats; he crafts the foundation for unforgettable expeditions. As the maker behind marklee boats, he specializes in traditional skin-on-frame canoes—unique, high-quality vessels designed to facilitate a deeper connection with the water and the craft of paddling. These are investment-grade adventure tools that turn the simple act of rowing into an enduring, personalized experience.
5. marklee_boats
$1,000+
Custom, ultra-lightweight skin-on-frame canoes and kayaks that are ideal for the adventurer who values portability and handcrafted quality.
