Southern Appalachia Gift Guide

Support Mountain Artisans and Businesses Impacted by Helene

Photo by Monika Stawowy on Unsplash

I want to thank all of you once again for the many ways you have supported Southern Appalachia as we recover from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene. As we shift from emergency needs (like food, water, and shelter) and think about long term recovery, small businesses and local artisans are heavy on my heart.

Not only did many businesses lose inventory and product in flooding, every artisan in the area lost their “fall season” - the time of the year typically filled with festivals, art shows, and a deluge of tourists. Most Western North Carolinian businesses depend on sales from the month of October to survive the rest of the year, and October was nearly a complete loss.

Want to help us catch up?? Below are a list of Southern Appalachian artisans and businesses that have online products to sell. There is such a rich history of craftmanship and folk art in our region, and I’m thrilled to share it with you! Remember to get your orders in soon so they can be fulfilled by Christmas!

Like this list? Please feel free to share on Substack or go to my Instagram Post and share there!

ART

• Liz Wiesel - Hendersonville - quirky, fun, animal inspired art

• Casi Fordham - Asheville - beautiful watercolor and prints

• Sally Nooney - Banner Elk - landscape, still life, and some glass art

• Walt Barker - Burnsville - figurative and landscape art

COFFEE

• Cooperative Coffee Roasters - Asheville - Be sure to check out their tasting box!

• Hatchet Coffee - Boone & West Jefferson - Any purchase will help Hachet’s business, but 50% of all proceeds from their Resilient Roast will go directly to additional Hurricane Relief efforts for local families. I wrote so many pages of my books in this coffee shop so I’m partial to it!

• Bald Guy Coffee - Boone - I’ve loved getting to know Don a bit over the last year and his coffee may be the best in town!

WEAVING and FIBER ART

• Ashton Zager - Asheville - DIY Kits and Original Art

• The Mountain Thread Company - Blowing Rock - This little shop is one of my favorite spots in Blowing Rock. They specialize in coiled rope basketry and work hard to keep mountain craftsmanship alive!

POTTERY

• Lune Pottery - Banner Elk - Handmade clay pieces by Andrea Hardin

• Bolick Pottery - Blowing Rock - The Bolicks made the mugs and plates I use every day. I have a real soft spot in my heart for these artisans who have been making traditional mountain pottery for five generations!

• East Fork Pottery - Asheville - Blue Ridge made, durable, functional ceramics

HOMEGOODS and FURNITURE

• The Artful Chair - Asheville - transforming old and forgotten chairs into works of art

• There There Shop - Asheville - Consciously made home goods from Asheville makers

• Firelight Candles and Books - Blowing Rock - this little shop is near and dear to me. Their soy candles smell amazing, and they do so much to celebrate local authors! They also provided so many candles to local households without power in the week after the storm.

• Hearth and Glass - Burnsville - keeping the art of glass blowing alive in Western NC!

JEWELRY and ACCESSORIES

• Ollie and Gwin - Boone - This is my favorite local jewelry maker. Holly’s work is whimsical and inspired by the nature of our surrounding mountains.

• Ellison Studios - Boone - Named after the creek that runs through Cole’s family land…3 years ago Tim gave me a wallet Cole made and it’s one of my most prized possessions.

• Upcycled Everything - Boone - beautiful jewelry made from upcycled materials

FOOD

• Beth Westfall Chocolates - Boone - Beth is such a lovely human and her handcrafted chocolates are amazing.

• Whole Hive Honey - Boone - Wonderful team of beekeepers based in the Blue Ridge

• Spice Walla - Asheville - Chef-driven, carefully sourced spice store

One more idea! If you live in the southeast and want to support Western North Carolina, consider buying a real tree this year. Most tree lots in the southeast source their trees from our mountains and keeping that industry strong is vital to our local economies.

Thank you all again for loving our region so well these past two months!

Photo by Amanda Opelt