A Guide to American Makers-According to LiLu

A Guide to American Makers

According to LiLu

A Celebration of Creativity
All across the United States there are people dedicated to creating beauty, these are American makers. On this 4^th of July weekend, I want to celebrate the people running small companies and creating beauty for others to enjoy with this guide to American makers.
They are out there every day, employing others and contributing to the economy while making the world a more beautiful place. If you include handmade, artisan-inspired objects in your home you can keep these people going and make your world a little better at the same time.
If you want to explore more makers suggest you take a look at some posts dedicated to
Dunes and Duchess
Fifth and Malcom
Ann Woods
Erik Wyckoff

Interior Design and Maker Elle Gibson
I recently discovered Elle Gibson online. She is an interior designer in Atlanta with her own small textile line. She creates globally-inspired patterns that are made locally. I find her aesthetic charming.  One advantage of working with a small line is that you aren’t likely to find the same textiles in your neighbors home. She is also able to custom color her patterns for a minimum.  See more of her collection at Elle Gibson

Jomo Tariku
Jomo Furniture is a brilliant line of furniture from Ethiopian American artist Jomo Tariku. His line reflects his diverse experiences and cultural reference. I think most of his designs look modern while evoking tradition at the same time. His entire line can be seen at Jomo Furniture.

New American Heirlooms
With a fresh take on American traditional furniture O & G Studio is one of my go-to sources for an heirloom piece of furniture. They hand build their furniture in Warren Rhode Island and are essential to any Guide to American Makers.

When Cousins Are Two of a Kind
Kin and Company works with metal in a modern retro way that I find particularly appealing. This shelf or etagere is a simple but fun design. Kin and Company, from Brooklyn, NY is run by two cousins with a mutual interest in design.

Natural Creations
Another Brooklyn maker we couldn’t resist including in our Guide to American Makers, is Fernando Mastrangelo, an artist who works in natural and reused material is in the collections of the Cooper Hewitt and the Brooklyn Museum. You can own a piece of his art in the form of furniture made with the same methods and materials used in his large-scale projects.

Old World Technique-Modern Design
One of my favorite makers is just down the street from our studio. Hennepin Made uses 7 artisans to make it’s hand-blown glass lighting fixtures that have a modern urbane edge. Right here in Minneapolis, MN.

I'm a Maker  Too

And in case you didn’t know, I too am a maker. I have a small textile line, Sylvie and Mira, named for my daughters. I hand paint the patterns here in Minneapolis and my fabrics are printed in North Carolina.
I enjoy being part of a group of people who have a mission to add beauty and joy to the world. Especially now when we can all use a home that brings us happiness.