7 Locally Made Ornaments From SLO County

Ornament Gift Guide 2018

How many times have you found a special ornament that makes you super happy and puts a grin on your face? It amazes me how something so small can elicit a whirlwind of feelings. So in the spirit of the holiday season, I wanted to share that whimsical feeling with you all. I went out in search of the best locally handmade ornaments I could find. I also have a bunch to giveaway to all our followers! Make sure you scroll to the end of the post to learn more about these amazing artists and get a sneak peek at this week’s giveaway.

1. Cathy Stapleton aka NannyBird | ATASCADERO

“Adorable handmade “sheepie” ornaments made from real wool!”
Cost: $5

Inspiration: “’Sheepies’ are made from the wool of orphan lambs, raised in Atascadero. Tomasina, Lucy, Olive, Pepper and Cheryl are all “bottle babies” raised by NannyBird. Their fleece is shorn once a year, cleaned, carded, and handmade into Sheepies, as well as other wool items. Form a flock of Sheepies; put them on your desk; set them in plants or trees; hang them as ornamentsm attach to a gift, or just cuddle them in our hand. With some dusting and fluffing a Sheepie can last for years.”

Where to buy: You can contact Cathy via email for custom orders: cathystapleton [at] yahoo.com or you can call her at 805-461-0177. All the money she earns from her “Sheepies” goes straight back to a great cause. Cathy uses the funds to care for her farm animals or to purchase yarn to make clothing and hats for the homeless in Atascadero.

2. Nicki Lenore | PASO ROBLES

“Hand painted ornaments filled with detail and love”
Cost: $30

Inspiration: “I’ve always loved to draw and paint, but didn’t realize this passion would turn into a purpose. I have two children who have Lyme disease and co-infections and our family has been deeply affected. Life sucks sometimes, but it’s all about how you choose to handle it, and I had to change my mindset. I turned to art as a form of self-therapy. Turned my passion into a purpose which is now a business. So many things inspire me. I see something that sparks something and then my wheels start turning in my head. I am sure it was a combo of things though. The girls at Ambiance have inspired me so much with their awesome ideas. I do remember walking through Michael’s and seeing the clear ornaments and saying to myself, “I know I can make something beautiful with those.”

Where to buy: You can purchase her handmade ornaments at Ambiance in downtown Paso Robles or you can contact her for a custom piece by emailing nickilenore [at] gmail.com

3. Kayla King | ARROYO GRANDE

“A beautiful work of art in the palm of your hand.”
Cost $24-$30

Inspiration: “This holiday, I created small works of art that allow people to purchase something completely unique at an accessible price. Inspired by places where land and sea intersect, this limited collection of hand-painted holiday ornaments combines natural elements of brass, wood, and leather with abstract art for a new and completely unique spin on an old holiday tradition. Deck your tree during the holidays and then keep the ornaments up around the house year-round as a piece of art that transitions seamlessly from holiday to home decor.”

Where to buy: Ornaments are available to purchase on her website: www.kaylakingdesign.com and at Len Collective in downtown SLO. ***Kayla is almost sold out on her website but we checked Len Collective and they have 7 pieces still available. Kayla will be donating 10% of all sales through the end of the year to the American Red Cross in order to aid families who have been affected by the California wildfires.

4. Twisselman Trading Co | SANTA MARGARITA

“Representing your hometown”
Cost: $12-$15

Inspiration: “We were inspired to make the ornament because we love the Central Coast community we are a part of and we wanted to celebrate and share with others who feel the same. As a small family business, we live on our family’s 7th generation cattle ranch in rural SLO County. We started the business in 2015 to pursue our creative passions and spend more time together as a family. We have found a true passion for helping our customers express and display their personality, values, and brands through our metalwork. ”

Where to buy: We’ll have these ornaments, among other items, at our booth at the Tin City Sunday Market on 12/9 in Paso Robles. They can also be found on our website www.twisselmantradingco.com.

5. If You Give A Girl A Saw | SAN LUIS OBISPO

“One cut later…and she changed her life”
Cost: $4 – $30 – available individually or in sets

Inspiration: “Each ornament is custom and independently handmade in San Luis Obispo, CA. Small variations occur from piece to piece as wood, by nature, has unique characteristics that make each product truly one of a kind!”

Where to buy: You can buy these ornaments on Janine’s website: www.ifyougiveagirlasaw.com. All orders placed on or before Dec. 10th will arrive before Christmas!

6. Jenny & Melissa aka The Junk Girls | SAN LUIS OBISPO

“Antique, Unique & Custom For You!”
Cost: $8-12

Inspiration: “The Junk Girls was born out of Art Therapy for Jenny, and Melissa’s love for all things handmade. We focus on creating Art, Lighting, Furniture, Jewelry and Home Décor and we strive to create everything using recycled, repurposed, vintage, antique and found items from the USA. We have a passion for giving found, vintage & forgotten objects a new life & purpose.”

Where to buy: Purchase items custom made on their Etsy Shop or visit their retail store in downtown San Luis Obispo: 870 Monterey Street in San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

7. Standhardt Studios | SAN LUIS OBISPO

“Unique in every way”
Cost: $35

Inspiration: “Created in a limited edition and ONLY available the last three months of the year. No two are ever identical, just like snow flakes! Each comes gift boxed ready to give to those who are near or far. Perfect for slipping into your suitcase. ”

Where to buy: Standhardt Studios ETSY

Psst….We’re gonna do a GIVEAWAY!

Do you love your HOMETOWN and these ornaments? Well, we have a very special and interesting giveaway this week! We decided to make it a little fun! On Thursday we will be releasing a list of shops that will be carrying a few of these babies to give away as prizes. All you have do is be one of the first ones to visit and mention this giveaway before they run out. It’s that easy! It’s also random so you don’t know which ornaments will be at what stores. Get there fast, while the ornaments last! Just a little gift from us to you 🎁

Check out the following locations:
🔬 @symbiosis_wines – Paso Robles
🍷 @aronhillvineyards – Templeton
✂️ @scissorclothing – Atascadero
🦖 @fossilwinebar – Atascadero ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✋ @handsgalleryslo – SLO
🍋 @lincolnmarketdeli – SLO
🐝 @thehive_arroyogrande – AG

If you get an ornament, make sure you post a pic and tag the shop, artist and #EnjoySLO. We all want to see these ornaments new homes 🙂 Have fun and sending you all holiday cheer!