They say the kitchen is the heart of the home. With the handmade work of each of these seven artists, you can provide customers with kitchenware that does indeed have heart.

“Crowns Measuring Spoon Set” by Basic Spirit.

For Jonathan Simons of Jonathan’s Spoons, it all started when he forgot to pack a spoon in his lunch bag while working as an apprentice to a furniture maker. After using a piece of scrap wood to make the utensil, he realized he was on to something. “I love making wooden spoons. They are the simplest tool in the home, yet remain profound; there are unlimited designs and uses to explore, and for me, this is only the beginning,” he explains. More than 30 years after creating his studio in Kempton, Pa., Simons creates all types of kitchenware, from spaghetti forks to spatulas, all using cherry wood.

Black walnut oval bowl (15 inches) by Spencer Peterman of Peterman’s Boards & Bowls.

“Our intent is to design and create products that touch the heart and delight the spirit,” explain Bonnie Bond and John Caraberis, the husband-and-wife team behind Basic Spirit. For more than 25 years, they have been doing just that with their whimsical pewter pieces. Their studio—located Pugwash, Nova Scotia, a town known for its pewter smithing heritage—is a tribute to the versatility of metal, handcrafting everything from home essentials to giftware.

“Carved Leaf Mugs” in green and plum by Sylvia Coppola of Duck Creek Pottery.

The death of a tree provides Spencer Peterman with opportunities for new beginnings. The rustic look of Peterman’s Boards & Bowls’ functional art is no illusion. The artist is always on the lookout for trees rotting in the woods near his Turners Falls, Mass., home to create his one-of-a-kind pieces made exclusively from fallen or felled trees. Lathe turned and made from spalted oak, cherry, walnut and maple, the bowls are kiln-dried at a very high temperature to sterilize and stabilize the wood.

“A bit of my soul is in each piece I create,” says ceramic artist Sylvia Coppola. For more than 20 years, the artist and teacher has created pieces that combine functionality and beauty from her Indian Trail, N.C., studio, Duck Creek Pottery. Her work is crafted on her wheel or handbuilt and altered by adding unique textures using a variety of found objects to add depth and visual interest. Dishwasher and microwave safe, warm colors such as plums, browns, tans, blues and greens enhance the richness of each piece.

“Dragonfly Coffee Scoop” by Lisa Schallert of Animal Vegetable Mineral.

As the daughter of a natural history scientist, animals and plants have always been part of Lisa Schallert’s life. As a child, she wanted to become a koala keeper, then a dolphin trainer, but she turned to art in the early 1970s—“It was through art that my lifelong love of natural history found expression in the medium of 18kt gold and enamel jewelry.” After working with a Philadelphia jeweler for 14 years, in 1991 she started Animal Vegetable Mineral, working out of a small, renovated factory in Philadelphia, Pa. Her designs are modeled in wax, then cast in married metal such as silver and brass, brass and copper and brass and stainless steel to create fine tableware and small household items.

Morrison style peppermills by Kim Dailey of Dailey Woodworking in 6-, 8- and 10-inch versions.

Growing up in the Maine woods, Kim Dailey’s craft chose him. The truck and trailer parts salesman turned self-taught woodturner discovered his passion in 2000 while building bunk beds for his two daughters. “I had to teach myself how to use a wood lathe in order to turn the legs and spindles for the beds,” he says. “I started turning pens and pencils for practice and have been hooked ever since. Following a serious car accident in 2005, Dailey decided to work with wood full-time, opening Dailey Woodworking in 2007 in Carthage, Maine. His products are inspired by shapes and turned by eye—making each perfectly unique.

“Fusion Goblets” by Minh Martin of Romeo Glass.

“I work in blown glass, seeking both beauty and functionality,” says Minh Martin of Romeo Glass. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, and raised in Southeast Asia, he attended Yale University to obtain a degree in geophysics and environmental science. Following graduation, he moved to Santa Barbara, Calif.. There he met and apprenticed under renowned glass artist Brioni, who taught Martin to value well-wrought craftsmanship. At his studio in Staunton, Va., he specializes in elegant and functional stemware.

Fullerton & Bahr

“Aqua Cuff”
Metalsmith Lynda Bahr of San Gregorio, Calif., refers to the unique aesthetic of her pieces as “post-apocalyptic.” Evoking the imagery of archaeological relics, she uses the ancient Japanese technique known as mokume gane—layering a billet of colored metals, firing it in a kiln and then adding silver, diamonds and pearls. Bahr spends time constantly learning new techniques, noting, “The more I learn, the more the work takes on a life of its own.”

Jason Dow

“90 Degree Bracelet” Credit: Jason Dow
Honolulu artist Jason Dow’s show-stopping pieces combine Asian influences with modern Western designs. Mandala, his newest collection, is inspired by the motifs of Buddhist monks and cast in 18kt gold. The addition of various sized diamonds placed in the open spaces of his latticework take advantage of negative space while allowing the piece to remain open.

Erik Stewart

“Fluted”
Erik Stewart’s creations display strong geometrical lines, soft flowing surfaces and highlights of the ethereal beauty of choice gemstones. With 17 years experience in the jewelry industry, his creative ideas stem from his love of music, fine art and architectural expression. Working out of his Tucson, Ariz., studio, his newest design references the signature Elizabethan collar.

Pamela Froman Fine Jewelry

“Scroll Crush Mommy” Credit: Jay Lawrence Goldman Photography
Made exclusively from 22kt and 18kt colored gold, platinum and gemstones, Pamela Froman’s work is sure to turn heads. A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, she spent time in Paris—easily noted in the classic European design elements in her pieces. Says the Los Angeles-based Froman: “Each piece of my jewelry is an expression from my soul.”

Pierre-Yves Paquette

Interchangeable Neckpiece Collection Credit: Anthony McClean
Strong lines, colored gold and precious stones are signature elements in each of Pierre-Yves Paquette’s beautiful pieces. A graduate of the Montreal Jewellery School in Quebec where he now teaches, Paquette opened his own studio in 2009. His recent interchangeable neckpiece collection includes a stainless steel cable with alternating pendants featuring diamonds and other precious gems.

Genevieve Yang

“Blackened Lunar Cycle Cuff” Credit: Hap Sakwa
Genevieve Yang’s current creations were inspired by a recent wilderness expedition in Wyoming, “Every night I was captivated by the moon,” she says. Her philosophy is to forge pieces with meaning, marrying timeless techniques with a uniquely modern aesthetic. Working from her Santa Rosa, Calif., studio, she uses the highest quality precious stones in various carats and colors of gold.

Jill Hurant

“Pink Tourmaline Rouch Slab” necklace Credit: Hap Sakwa
“Of all the creative paths I’ve taken, working with metal has given me the feeling that I’ve found my way home,” says Jill Hurant. Using ancient Greek and Roman techniques of fusing and granulation, 22kt gold, silver and diamonds are staples in her magnificent pieces. Her designs are exclusively hand fabricated in her studio in Morganville, N.J.

Lisa Jenks Jewelry

“Totem” bracelet Credit: Chris Callis
Fusing the influence of various exotic cultures with 20th century design, Lisa Jenks’ sterling silver works are a must-have accessory. It is the Brooklyn-based artist’s love of pattern that sets her apart. “The world for me visually breaks down into patterns and they all become launching points for my design process,” she says. After a stint creating home accessories, she has returned to jewelry making full-time.

Tia Kramer Designs

Fluttering Series: Necklace and Earring Demi-Parure Credit: Hank Drew
Looking at Tia Kramer’s designs, it is difficult to believe they are made from paper. “My adornments are architecture for the body,” says the Seattle, Wash., artist. Using plant fibers that she transforms into handmade paper, she uses cold form fabrication to create wire structures wrapped in vibrant paper. Her current line combines necklaces and earrings or bracelets in one detachable piece.

Loretta Lam

“Asian Symmetry”
If there is one thing that Loretta Lam loves, it’s color. “There’s nothing like mixing up batches of lovely colors and watching how they interact with each other,” says the Carmel, N.Y.-based artist. Organic and sculptural, her polymer clay pieces are dramatic fashion statements. Beginning with base beads made from ultra-light materials, Lam adds a veneer sheet of color blends or patterns, then accessorizes them to create one-of-a-kind works of art.

Cassavoy & Company

“Pope Flower” Credit: Cole Rodger Photography
Using botanicals as a base for all her designs, Jamie Cassavoy mixes clean lines, organic forms and texture with sterling silver, 18kt gold and precious gems. A graduate of RIT School for American Craft, she created Cassavoy & Company in 1998 and now works from her studio in Atlanta, Ga., to produce beautiful jewelry that is both a “pleasure to wear and makes the wearer feel beautiful.”

Red Circle Metals

“3 Leaf Pin” Credit: Hap Sawka
To Suzanne Linquist, every piece of jewelry is a “small sculpture.” In a quest for a material that was very black, she came across a box of old piano keys. Compared to metal, the ebony ones were lightweight. She bought the entire box and never looked back. In her studio, Red Circle Metals in Junction City, Ore., Linquist pares the dark wood with metals including silver, cooper and brass to create beautiful forms.

Melissa Borrell

“Leaves Pendant”
Self-taught jewelry artist Melissa Borrell of Austin, Texas, first gained attention in the design world with her Pop Out collection—pendants and earrings that come as metal shapes still attached to the metal from which they are cut, making it necessary for the wearer to “pop out” the pieces. Constantly coming up with new and interactive pieces, her newest line, 2D3D, allows the wearer to create their own piece of 3D art.

Gus Reyes

“La Pearla”
A deep appreciation for nature is evident in each piece crafted by Gustav Reyes. In consideration of the complexities of the life cycle, he repurposes salvaged wood into beautiful jewelry, with a goal of representing past, present and future. His work is hand formed using a cold bend process and finished with all-natural beeswax. “Rather than working against the grain,” says the Chicago-based artist, “I work with it.”

Frucci Design

“Soldio” bracelets Credit: Francesca Vitali
Francesca Vitali has two loves: jewelry making and science. Taking a cue from ancient alchemists, she strives to transform ordinary paper into precious objects of original and modern design. “Paper crosses our everyday life continuously and in multiple forms,” she says. “I enjoy the idea that fragments of our lives will remain trapped in my paper jewelry.” In 2008, she started her line of paper jewelry under the name of Frucci Design in Rochester, N.Y.

Lauren Pollaro Jewelry

Untitled brooch/pendant Credit: Dean Powell & Robert Diamante
Lauren Pollaro’s whimsical one-of-a-kind works of art are inspired by color and unexpected materials, including precious metals, wax, plaster and found objects. “I find it satisfying to harmonize the chaos of so many disparate materials in my jewelry,” explains the York, Maine artist. Beginning with a single element, she builds, layers and experiments with each piece until she creates the perfect visual journey.

Mother’s Day is big business. We have assembled ideas from eight studios allowing you to guide your customers to unique and affordable gifts that will be sure to send a message about how much they care.

“Color Me Happy Pitcher” and “Color Me Happy Ice Tea Glass” by Beth Keenan of Funktini.

Eloise Cotton has done it all. With jobs ranging from bartender to church organist, the only thing that’s remained constant is her love of glass. After a stint demonstrating furnace glass blowing at Magic Mountain theme park in Los Angeles, she turned to the profession full-time, opening First Glass in Martinez, Calif. Scent bottles became a specialty after she realized that no one else had them available at retail for under $100. “Several years ago I noticed there was a niche for perfume bottles, and after all this time my scent bottle designs still fit that niche,” she explains.

Satin Silk-Screened Scarves by Kavita Singh of Painted Silks by Kavita.

The influence of Kavita Singh‘s home base in Saratoga, Calif., can readily be seen in her bold and colorful handpainted scarves. First introduced to fabrics during an apprenticeship in Paris, she developed her own technique for painting silk when she returned to the U.S. Unlike most silks, her pieces are colorfast, shrink resistant and hand washable. Inspired by nature, lilies, orchids and irises are frequent subjects in her work.

“Peapod Necklace” by Kiona van Rhee-Wilson of Lucky Accessories

Artist Kiona van Rhee-Wilson knows a thing or two about beauty. A former model, she turned to jewelry making full-time in 2003 with her company Lucky Accessories based in Raleigh, N.C. “So much about fashion is about what’s ‘in’ now,” she says. “I wanted to ignore trends and just make what feels natural, what inspires me in the moment.” Her most popular pieces, called “Peas in a Pod,” use pearls lined up and bracketed in sterling silver. Perfect for Mother’s Day, the number of pearls can easily correspond to the number of children a woman has.

“Wish Box 4” by Jim and Tori Mullan of Mullanium Jewelry & Songbird Collection.

“My goal is to design and create unique glassware and home decor that can be used in everyday life,” says Beth Keenan of Funktini Art. Since 2001, Keenan has been using her love of color and bold statements to create funky handpainted stemware. The former potter found inspiration when spotting a plain martini glass with a strange stem and thinking that it needed something to make it even more unique. A decade later, she continues to paint glassware with thermo-hardening, permanent and durable paint out of her Westlake, Ohio studio. “The most frequent compliment I get from customers is that Funktini Art is full of life and whenever they see the pieces they’ve bought, it makes them smile,” she says.

“Large Pendant” by Sue Savage of Studio Picea.

A mutual love of old watches, vintage jewelry and antiques first brought Jim and Tori Mullan together at a 1985 art show. A mixed-media artist and jewelry maker, respectively, they combined both their lives and their individual talents to create Mullanium Jewelry & Songbird Collection in Pompano Beach, Fla. One of the couple’s most popular items is the wish box. Each box is handpainted, embellished with nature themes and riveted together, awaiting a wish.

Hand-crocheted Mini Earrings with Freshwater Pearl by Randi Chervitz of Uncommon Threads Jewelry.

Randi Chervitz of Uncommon Threads Jewelry first picked up her grandmother’s crochet hook while taking a metalsmithing class in college. Combining her love of knitting and jewelry making, she turned to crocheting silver to make wearable pieces of art from her studio in Saint Louis, Mo. “Through my techniques, I examine formal artistic concepts such as line quality, pattern, composition and wearability in jewelry,” she says.

Rose Paperweight by Scott Hartley of Infinity Art Glass.

As a young child, Scott Hartley surrounded himself with art—he painted, drew and experimented with every type of medium he could get his hands on. In college, however, he turned his focus to science, earning a degree in biology. After a stint as a high school teacher, he realized that the artistic impulse had never left him. “There was something missing in my life, and it was art,” he says. Hartley opted to combine his two loves of science and art and opened Infinity Art Glass in Benton, Kan. “My work is hard, but it is by far the most rewarding work that I have ever done.”

“My philosophy is to create elements of personal adornment emitting surprise and whimsy with attention to detail and craftsmanship,” explains Sue Savage of Studio Picea. Based in Petersburg, Alaska, her jewelry is inspired by colors, textures and patterns in nature. Marred and hand-sliced, each piece of jewelry is created from polymer and further embellished through drawing, riveting and lacing, then mounted on rhodium-plated pewter.

“Little Man Clutch” by Christine Guanipa of Little Man.

Art has always been a part of Christine Guanipa’s life. A former art teacher based in Whitinsville, Mass., she uses her love of graphic design to create functional, versatile and affordable handbags and accessories through her company Little Man. Guanipa’s work ranges from retro to modern designs, and for good reason. “We endeavor to have every woman know the pleasure of owning a Little Man,” she says.

“Tokyo,” “Napa” and “5th Avenue Clutch” by Stella Page of Stella Page Design.

The combination of whimsy and luxury inspires the work of Stella Page, designer and founder of Stella Page Design. The daughter of an architect and a fashion connoisseur, she is a natural-born artist. The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising graduate currently creates one-of-a-kind handbags in her Moss Landing, Calif., studio. Each of her leather accessories is a numbered work of art, complete with a registered certificate of authenticity.

Embroidered “Pamela Clutch” by Cheyne Little of Cut Out and Collect.

Cut Out and Collect began as Cheyne Little’s attempt to “avoid graduate school, jobs involving fax machines and other adult endeavors,” she laughs. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in art history, Little traveled around South-east Asia, and found herself spending more time in fabric markets than in museums. After returning to Arlington, Texas, she launched her business to make products that emphasize creativity and individuality. Each handbag and accessory is designed, embroidered and created one at a time.

Large and small “Pearl” bags by Christiane White of Tutela Handbags.

The film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” left a mark on Christiane White of Tutela Handbags: “Holly Golightly looked smashing, but she always wore the same dress. Changing accessories made it look different,” she explains. “I learned that all you need is one simple outfit and a lot of accessories.” After working in boutiques as a buyer, she was inspired to create her own line of handbags. For the past seven years, White has focused on accessories for everyday use in fun prints from her Wheat Ridge, Colo., studio.

““Classic Messenger Bag” by Lisa Zawacki of Gorilla Sacks.

When Lisa Zawacki read an article in 2005 about the afterlife of billboards, she learned that non-degradable vinyl signs are simply thrown away. Drawing on her passion for sustainability, she collected some of the retired billboards and discovered she could make messenger bags with the leftover materials—and Gorilla Sacks was born. Today Zawacki creates unique bags from upcycled materials in her Atlanta, Ga., studio.

“Miramar” and “Del Mar” in kaleidoscope fuschia by Carol Hirashima of Chira Designs.

Carol Hirashima’s business in Goleta, Calif., began as a hobby. In 2001, she launched Chira Designs, defining her lines with fabrics that range from classic to eco-friendly. “Change happens gradually, and with each step we are doing our part to lessen our impact on earth,” Hirashima says of her fabric choices for her totes, cosmetic bags, handbags and other accessories.

“Long Clutch—Frog” in a gold frame by Debbie Brooks.

Debbie Brooks is first and foremost an artist. The Pratt Institute graduate was formerly a design director for media giants such as the Walt Disney Company, Nickelodeon and FAO Schwarz. After years of working for others, she decided to create her own collection of original pop art using a non-traditional canvas: handbags. Her handpainted works, created in Gardiner, N.Y., are attached to big names such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker and Nathan Lane.