Capture the bounty and artistry of Southwest Florida with gifts crafted by local artisans.
Photography by Anna Nguyen
Python Wildman's Snakeskin Clutches
Collier County resident, python hunter and conservationist Dusty Crum, of Python Wildman (pythonwildman.com), showcases his creative side with a stunning line of serpentine accessories. His Everglades Collection’s Top Frame Clutch and Full Frame Clutch, like most of his goods, are made from the skins of invasive Burmese pythons. Dusty—featured on History Channel’s Swamp People: Serpent Invasion—humanely captures the pests and sends their hides to a Florida-based tannery, transforming an ecological challenge into fashionable material. The skin is sewn onto a base of coveted Italian Vachetta leather (famously used by Louis Vuitton) and finished with metal clasps. Each handbag is singular, following the snake’s unique skin pattern, making for a wearable work of art that doubles as a defender of nature’s balance. Consider this a stylish badge of honor for your conservationist-minded friend. —Visvajit Sriramrajan
Photography by Anna Nguyen
JordanBCeramics’ Black Matte Coffee and Tea Set
As the thesis for her master’s degree in fine arts at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Estero-based potter Jordan Blankenship (jordanbceramics.com) created this Stacking Ceramics Black Matte Tea and Coffee Set blending contemporary design with space saving convenience. Streamlined brewing enthusiasts can build their ideal set from the series’ mix of cups, lidded jars, pots and pourovers. Jordan masterfully throws all the pieces on her potting wheel, where she uses a caliper tool to create consistent rims allowing for secure stacking. Coated with a charcoal-black, food-safe glaze, the set is beautiful and functional—no more rummaging through a cabinet to find matching mugs. —Jasmine Heckerman
Photography by Anna Nguyen
Mi Vida Collective’s Outside The Lines Mirror
To design the perfect mirror, Mi Vida Collective (mividacollective.com) founder Alexandra Andersen chose to reflect the organic lines found in nature. Her Outside The Lines Mirror conveys a sense of warmth and whimsy with its earthy, maple wood frame and fluid form, reminiscent of flowing water. Available in natural or espresso finishes, the statement piece is produced in collaboration with woodworkers Tom and Dave Staber, who also craft one-of-one musical instruments at their Bonita Springs-based Fatherwood Guitar &Co. The father-son duo shapes the mirrors’ hardwood and meticulously refines each corner with precision tools and hand sanding. The result is a piece with a rustic allure that elevates the ambiance of any abode. —J.H.
Photography by Anna Nguyen
Conrad Williams’ Rifugio Collection Vases
Naples glassblower Conrad Williams (conradwilliamsglass.com) has mastered his medium. The artist, who began his career with an apprenticeship under celebrated glass sculptor Dale Chihuly, has more than 30 years of experience manipulating glass through extreme heat, blown air and careful attention to timing. For his dual Rifugio vases, Conrad created an opaque mirror gradient that shifts from dark amethyst to pearl white, signifying life’s transformative state. Each piece can stand on its own as a functional container for flowers. But together, the organically shaped vases—one tall, one stout—seem to meld together, their curvatures nearly interlocked, capturing Conrad’s exacting technique and use of color. —Alexandra Igoe
Photography by Anna Nguyen
Cocoon Gallery’s Infinity Wall Hanging
Cocoon Gallery owner Mitchell Siegel works with Southeast Asian and local makers to create one-of-a-kind furniture and artworks that honor the essence of the piece’s organic material. To craft the Infinity wall hangings, Cocoon (cocoongallery.com) has its Naples artisans shape sustainably sourced rattan from the Philippines into mesmerizing spirals, preserved through an extensive process of steaming, drying and sanding. The final product—available in 36- and 52-inch sizes—is infinitely customizable: It can be kept raw, dyed or decked out in gold leaf. All that’s left is for the wall hanging to be delivered—like Santa, but better—by Cocoon’s complimentary, white-glove installation service. —Emily Flournoy
Photography by Anna Nguyen
Brooklyn Buffalo Woodworks’ Whiskey Smokers
Brooklyn Buffalo Woodworks (brooklynbuffalowoodworks.com) has the ideal gift for brown water connoisseurs: a handcrafted whiskey smoker perfectly proportioned to sit atop a rocks glass. Made from rich walnut and white oak, the two-piece topper traps wisps of smoke from torched wood chips inside the glass, imbuing whiskey with woody and earthy notes that complement the spirit’s flavor. Each smoker is individually crafted at the brand’s Port Charlotte studio by owner Marcus Tobolski, who has more than two decades of experience transforming hardwoods into objets d’art, from intricately inlaid serving boards to beautiful mahogany deck chairs. For the smokers, he uses a computer numerical control (CNC) machine to cut blocks of walnut with exact precision, then sands each piece by hand until it’s perfectly smooth. The gift set also includes a custom blend of oak and cherry wood chips and a butane torch—perfect for getting the holidays fired up. —Sydney Sakalosky
Photography by Anna Nguyen
Woodland Treasures’ Cutting Boards
Sarah Ruganis shaves and sands raw hardwood planks into stunning yet functional kitchenware, from serving and cooking spoons to cutting boards destined to become family heirlooms. Each Woodland Treasures (woodlandtreasures.us) board is unique, made from American maple, cherry and/or walnut. Sarah hand-selects woods based on grain, color and weight, then cuts them to size and sand the surface at least 10 times before applying a food-safe coating of Florida-harvested beeswax to seal and enhance the wood’s natural luster. With a variety of sizes to choose from, there are plenty of ways to incorporate Sarah’s boards into your kitchen routine. Pick up a compact 5-by-7-inch, perfect for a holiday cheese ball, or opt for the 12-by-18-inch workhorse—large enough for carving a holiday ham.—V.S.
Photography by Anna Nguyen
LoKey Hat Co.’s Hats
Neighbors-turned-certified hat masters Candace “Candy” Nanke and Amanda Boge started LoKey Hat Co.(lokeyhatco.com) in Candy’s garage before growing their bespoke hat-making experience into a maximalist storefront just off Old 41 Road in Bonita Springs. Bring in the millinery lover in your life for a custom fitting, or book a hat party for up to 12 people, and Candy and Amanda will whisk you away to select a beaver blend, wool, straw or palm base. Then, you’ll pop over to the accessory counter to choose from an array of accessories—peacock feathers, porcupine quills, faux pearls, playing cards, antique matches, tropical flamingo pins—that can be sewn in or swapped out for festively themed events. “Once they have everything chosen, we help them piece it together,” Amanda says. Specialized measurements of the crown, head size and head shape ensure that your gift fits like a glove. —E.F.
Photography by Anna Nguyen
Assemble a Local Gift Basket
Fill a basket with our top picks for the perfect Southwest Florida gourmet gift. Pair some gluten-free, European-inspired treats from Angelic Desserts (angelicdesserts.com) with a bag of roasted-to-order Costa Rica Guanacaste beans from Naples’ Kunjani Craft Coffee (kunjaninaples.com) and any of Estero Bay Olive Oil & Tea‘s (esterobayoliveoil.com) 160 loose-leaf blends for a cozy treat. A warm sourdough loaf from Crusty Cravings by Hannah (hotplate.com/crustycravings) is the perfect vessel for a dollop of smoked Gulf mullet dip from The Fisherman’s Daughter (thefishermansdaughterfl.com) or a squeeze of Walker Farms‘ (walkerfarmshoney.com) black mangrove honey, harvested within a 60-mile radius of the farm from Pine Island mangroves. Polish off the one-gift feast with a bottle of Wicked Dolphin‘s (wickeddolphin.com) award-winning spiced rum, or opt for the zero-proof, bourbon barrel-aged Unthinkable Smoked Oak Botanical Elixir from Fort Myers-based Gather Beverage Company (gatherbeverages.com). No matter how you mix and match, this selection of local bites and sips is sure to satisfy your giftee’s cravings. —Nikki Miller-Ka