Charleston is absolutely overflowing with creativity in community. It seems that every path may lead to a studio, gallery, or crafting workshop of some kind. Local artisans are the glue that hold the city together, creating pieces that leave an impression on one for a lifetime. Jewelry, paintings, apparel – you name it – the city is bound to hold these treasures. Why shop mainstream when you could find a hidden gem while supporting a Lowcountry creator? Here’s a list of some of Charleston’s most talented individuals where you’ll find your next gift or adornment for your home!
It all started in 1985, when offshore oil rig worker Keith Hudson discovered his talent for tying knots while working in Alaska. He used this skill to pass time, and eventually, became a master in the technical art of tying knots. Soon, this hobby led to his making of intricate key fobs, zipper pulls, bell ropes, and bracelets. Now that he has relocated to the Lowcountry, Keith has been able to share his talent with thousands of Charleston residents and visitors after opening his business, Sailor Craft Knots!
Specializing in pet products, such as various dog leases, Keith also makes custom splicing knots for boaters, bell ropes, monkey’s fist, key fobs, and even home decor, such as doorstops and bookends. A great gift for any Lowcountry dad this coming father’s day season!
Keith’s talent perfectly fits the vibe of the Lowcountry and would make a unique gift, all while a supporting a small, local business. You can commonly find his shop set up at the Sunday Brunch Farmers Market on James Island. For more information about Keith’s products, knot tying history, and blogs that track his progress, visit his web page!
Grit and Grace Studio is a woman-owned small business in Charleston, SC, that is centered on sustainability and spreading the joy of Mother Earth’s natural gifts. The small, close-knit group of women and a few men have a dedication to giving back to our planet, not only by donating recycling oyster shells back to local coral reef restoration venues, but also making delicate, unique jewellery pieces for their customers to enjoy.
While selling beautiful real pearl earrings, one-of-a-kind shell necklaces, and painted shell art, the company is best known for their celebrated jewelry dishes, most of which come hand painted by members of their team. In addition to jewelry, you may find gift baskets, home decor, candles, tote bags, baby items, and so much more!
You may find Grace and Grit Products at pop-up events, the Charleston City Market, or even on the shelves of some of your favorite Charleston-based small business venues.
For those who fall in love with the company, Grace and Grit proudly boasts their very own luxury, 2-bedroom Airbnb, for loyal customers like you to go to unwind. This cozy cottage is lined with contemporary details, personal touches, and a beautiful selection of locally curated products, many of which are available for purchase during your stay!
To shop all things nautical, keep up to date on events, check out their blog, or to book your stay at the Grit and Grace Cottage, visit their website. The world is your oyster!
Pretty Lil Garden is a perfect example of some of the positives that came from the COVID outbreak of 2020. Started in Massachusetts, owner Amber originally began making “Quarantine Succs” gift baskets to send to loved ones during the pandemic. With the uncertainty of the time, Amber made the choice to relocate to the Lowcountry. With her love of succulents and passion for creativity, Pretty Lil Garden was born, another woman-owned business on this list!
Pretty Lil Garden creates custom arrangements, themed gift boxes, wedding favors, and customized centerpieces for any event! You may also buy small, home decor pieces that add a bit of succulent flare beautifully to any home! Amber can be found at various markets around Charleston, and is available to contact for any business inquiries.
One of the most unique things that Pretty Lil Garden has to offer is a DIY Succulent Bar, where visitors can choose from a selection of plants to curate into their very own plant pot, perfect for a gift or unique piece of home decor!
To learn more about Amber’s story, get in contact, or to book a plant class, visit Pretty Lil Garden’s website!
Pink House Pups began by dressing up local rescue dogs of the Lowcountry for an adoption event in 2018, and has quickly turned into a rotating line of seasonal, personalized, and absolutely adorable bandanas. After seeing the success of the adoption event, a small, animal-loving group banded together to create a local business to give other furry friends the chance to look and feel their best!
With over 15 bandana choices, you’ll be able to find the perfect fit for your dog to proudly sport on their next walk! From Charleston-based bandanas, such as the Rainbow Row, crawfish, shrimp, and oyster options, to South Carolina classics, such as the Palmetto Moon or Fishing Lure, new pup apparel from Pink House Pups will really capture to feeling of the Lowcountry the second they put it on! In addition to regional designs, you can also shop birthday, chicken nugget, butter, and even pride-themed bandana’s giving you options for every occasion the day may throw your way!
You can also find pet collars ranging in styles from palmetto moons to dinosaurs, flamingos, to pizza slices, and camo to fish prints, along with a wide variety of plain, simple choices for that everyday look.
To view their full gallery, be sure to check out their webpage! Your dog is sure to wag their tail after getting their paws on Pink House Pup apparel!
7 Fine Arts welcomes you to an art experience like no other, where mistakes are celebrated, creativity flows, and masterpieces come to life. Sheri Alimonda began painting at age 12 at the Art School of Oil Painting in New York City, where students learned by reproducing old master paintings. She is the founder and owner of 7 Fine Arts, where she showcases her work and teaches the unique method she has been painting for over 45 years.
At 7 Fine Arts, whether in the studio or at a pop-up event, you expect to find both fine and contemporary art pieces, mosaic lamps and kits, or even a place to sign up for art classes! The studio focuses on lamps as one of their most prized products sold, selling ornate lamps in unique styles such as genie, moon, swan, and minaret styles.
If you decide to challenge yourself with an art class, you have the option to choose from painting, sketching, glasswork, and jewelry crafting, giving fun choices that will suit everyone’s creative tastes. You may find her shop set up in various markets and vendor areas around Charleston. To contact Sheri, sign up for classes, or to find your very own unique piece, visit the 7 Fine arts webpage today!
Apparel becomes reimagined once you step into the mesmerizing world of Black Sheep Goods! Known best for their clothing with assorted vibrant tye-dyes, anyone can find the perfect piece to bring some color in their life. From jumpsuits to jackets, hoodies, shirts, dresses, pants and even tapestries, Black Sheep Goods really knows how to create unique, eye-catching apparel.
In addition to apparel, Black Sheep also sells candles, home decor, stickers and even DIY kits so you can bring the magic right into the comfort of your own home! With the purchase of a DIY kit, you’ll have the opportunity to become a beginner weaver, so you can create your own pieces, tailored perfectly to your own interests and personal style.
But the fun doesn’t end at clothing, accessories,and gifts. Black Sheep Goods also offers astrology reading sessions for those interested in the fate held beyond! Consider a 30 or 60 minute breakdown of your birth chart. Not comfortable meeting in person? They also offer meetings via Zoom, or sent in via email to make these sessions more accessible.
To shop vibrant apparel, tye-dye accessories, pastel tapestries, book an astrology reading, and more, visit their webpage today! You may also find them with camp set up at a local Charleston market on your next city excursion.
Are you a lover of all things nautical, or just love unique, individual pieces to fill your home? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then you absolutely need to check out Fish Print Girl! She takes creative art to a whole new level, painting real fish in beautiful colors to create otherworldly pieces, such as paintings, greeting cards, tote bags, and more!
Beyond traditional fish, she uses octopus, eel, and more to make eccentric works that will suit any Lowcountry lover! She welcomes design suggestions and special requests to make sure she can provide customized, personal art to suit every customer!
Fish Print Girl can commonly be seen at local Charleston Markets, mainly the Historic Charleston City Market, selling paintings, totes, and cards to share with your friends and loved ones. To contact Fish Print girl, visit her personal website. To stay up to date on pop-up events, or to check out her gallery, her Instagram page is a place to find those!
Daytoday Creations was founded through an artist named Megan’s love for travel, desire to create, and adoration of collecting pieces from our Earth. Megan uses her business as a way to both create paintings, which she hopes immerses others in the feeling of being in nature, and to make jewelry, where she honors Mother Nature’s natural gifts by reimagining them in a fashionable way.
Primarily creating earrings, you’ll find shark teeth studs, gemstone studs, and seashell studs,all collected by Megan and birthed anew. Additionally, you can find sea glass earrings and even earrings made from butterfly wings, allowing you to truly wear the nature you see around you. With all these same styles, she also creates eye catching necklaces.
As far as her painting skills go, Daytoday Creations can paint lettered signs for any event, murals, and original art pieces. Specializing in original pieces, her style is often whimsical and reflective of her love for nature.
Though she sets up camp commonly in Sunday Brunch Farmer’s Market on James Island, she makes it to a variety of different markets in and around the city, so be on the lookout for her artistic niche! To visit her catalogue, view her work, or to learn a little more about the artist, be sure to check out her web page!
Tate Nation, one of Charleston’s most celebrated artists, may be last on this list, but is certainly not least. Specializing in portraiture, Tate can bring any piece to life! His out of the box paintings are best known for festive themes, bold compositions, and a vivid color palette, inspired by Caribbean art. His works have been commissioned by the U.S. Postal Service, Coca-Cola, Delta and United Airlines, Canon USA, Time-Life, and Radisson Hotels Worldwide, among many others, proving he has some serious chops in the world of painting.
Tate can create house portraits, floral pieces, landscape scenes, and so much more! You can purchase his work in an elegant frame to adorn your home, grab a poster, or consider a puzzle. He also sells note cards and art books.
He is a beloved member of the Charleston City Market artisans and has been featured on their website. Shop Tate Nation today and bring a little color into your life!
Shop Local and Support Small Businesses
Charleston’s artisans aren’t just creators. They’re storytellers, walking us through what makes the city so magical! By supporting these talented artisans, not only are you investing in unique and handcrafted treasures, but sustaining the artistic community that brings the city to life. Next time you’re shopping in Charleston, don’t overlook the small businesses! You might walk away with the perfect piece!
