We all want to find that perfect gift โ something special, original and meaningful to show our loved ones how much we really care. Fortunately, we can find it right here at the College of Charleston!
This holiday season, look no further for gifts than our very own staff and faculty! These talented and creative individuals make truly beautiful and amazing items that will show all the special people in your life that you really, truly care.
Check out their products and websites below, and feel good knowing that youโve foundย theย perfect thing for everyone on your list โ all while keeping it local and supporting your CofC community!
Selynne Ancheta owns Clayja Vu, specializing in handmade polymer clay earrings. (Photo provided)
Selynne Ancheta
Development Coordinator, Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art
Business: Clayja Vu, specializing in handmade polymer clay earrings
Artist Statement: Clayja Vu is my pandemic project turned passion project. I’ve always wanted to do something creative that energized and motivated me. Making polymer clay jewelry did just that. Over the past year, my confidence has grown in both my personal and professional life, and I truly believe it has now spilled into the breadth of my small business! My hope is that everyone who wears a pair of Clayja Vu earrings will feel confident and empowered.
To order: Purchase earrings by browsing on Instagram @clayjavu and directly contact Selynne Ancheta to order via direct messaging or email at helloclayjavu@gmail.com.
Special Instructions: College of Charleston employees may contact Selynne Ancheta for a 10% discount. All orders must be made by Dec. 15, 2021.
Erica Harrison-Jones โ04 owns The Sweet Life of Cupcakes, specializing in sweet treats for all occasions. (Photo provided)
Erica Harrison-Jones โ04 (M.P.A.)
Associate Director for Scholarships,ย Office of Financial Assistance and Veterans Affairs
Business:ย The Sweet Life of Cupcakes SC, specializing in sweet treats for any occasion
Artist Statement: My goal is to make peopleโs lives sweeter, one order at a time. This is achieved by pouring love, passion and consistency into each and every cake, cupcake, cookie box or blondie box that leaves my door.
To order:ย Visit theย Sweet Life of Cupcakes website to shop online, email thesweetlifeofcupcakessc@gmail.comย or send a private message viaย Facebook or Instagram @thesweetlifeofcupcakessc.
Special Instructions:ย College of Charleston employees will receive a 15% discount. Holiday orders will be accepted through Dec. 13, 2021, and must be picked up or delivery arranged by 12 p.m. on Dec. 24.
Tiffany Gammell owns Candle Damsel, featuring small batch, hand-poured candles using antique vesselware. (Photo provided)
Tiffany Gammell
Director of Special Events and Donor Relations, School of the Arts
Business: Candle Damsel offers a unique array of small batch, hand-poured candles using antique vesselware sourced from various collectors in and around the Lowcountry.
Artist Statement: I love giving new life to pieces that we likely all have collecting dust around our homes that were passed down from loved ones. I love that, with Candle Damsel, each sustainable piece tells a story that you get to continue after the burn. The sense of smell is so closely linked with memory, perhaps more so than all our other senses. A gardenia candle gives me my grandmother’s perfume, a magnolia scent puts me in her backyard for a family picnic. Youโll see her reflected in my work, along with several others who are a source of inspiration.
To Order: Shop online at http://candledamsel.com or find current in-person shopping events on Instagram @candledamsel.
Special Instructions: All orders are shipped via USPS or UPS from Charleston, South Carolina; for holiday delivery, the cutoff for USPS ground delivery is Dec. 15, 2021, and cutoff for UPS 3 Day Select is Dec. 21, 2021.
Austin Hunt ’19 owns Austin Hunt Portraiture, specializing in realistic hand-drawn portraits. (Photo provided)
Austin Hunt โ19
Webmaster, Ancillary Web and Mobile Department, Division of Information Technology
Business: Austin Hunt Portraiture, specializing in the production of realistic hand-drawn portraits, in both digital and traditional media, with a signature style fueled by years of experience and hyper-focus on detail
Artist Statement: Iโve built my life around computers and webs of digital connections, so I draw portraits mostly as a means of disconnecting โ of turning off and back on again. I keep my appreciation for detail close as a carry-on when crossing the border from code land to art land, but art land is a bit more colorful and is more forgiving of mistakes so it doesnโt throw error messages.
To Order: Visit https://www.sketchyactivity.com/commissions to commission me for a custom portrait, or if youโd like to order something cool with my work printed on it, you can visit my Redbubble shop at https://austinjhunt.redbubble.com.
Special Instructions: No special instructions. The above Therese Curatolo digital drawing was drawn with Procreate on an iPad.
Lauren Mann โ07 owns Southern Bloom Press, specializing in pressed flower art and ornaments. (Photo provided)
Lauren Whiteside Mann โ07
Senior Development Officer, Division of Institutional Advancement
Business:ย Southern Bloom Press, specializing in art, ornaments and home dรฉcor made from pressed flowers
Artist Statement: My aim is to capture the beauty of nature by creating artwork using flowers and foliage. With Southern style, precious memories are preserved with love.
To order: Purchase art and ornaments by browsing designs on Instagram @southernbloompress or the Southern Bloom Press website and contact Lauren Mann to order.
Special Instructions:ย No commissioned designs being accepted during this holiday season.
Savannah Ramion owns Little Boss Lady Studios, specializing in hand-thrown pottery. (Photo provided)
Savannah Ramion
Associate Director of Multicultural Services, Residence Life
Business: Little Boss Lady Studio, specializing in hand-thrown pottery such as mugs, cups, bowls and planters. Occasionally will have small paintings and needle punch items for sale.
Artist Statement: With a bachelor of fine arts in ceramics, I have made it a goal to bring joy to others with my art. I am heavily influenced by my surroundings, add sculptural work to my pieces and use underglaze for fine, painterly details that cannot be achieved with glazes.
To Order: Visit Little Boss Lady Studio and follow on Instagram @littlebossladystudio for shop updates.
Special Instructions: Anything available on Little Boss Lady Studio can be purchased and picked up on campus.
Leslie Sautter owns Oceanica Designs, specializing in home dรฉcor featuring actual marine organisms. (Photo provided)
Leslie Sautter
Associate Professor, Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences
Business:ย Oceanica Designs, specializing in home dรฉcor with fish and other marine critter designs. Items include fleece blankets, tea towels, pillows, coasters, mugs, aprons and more. Items for the little ones (little T-shirts, blankets and bibs) are also available.
Artist Statement: My work uses actual marine organisms, which I print onto muslin. I then scan the image and create digital designs that can be used on a wide variety of products! Being a geologist, I also use photographs of some of my fossils for many designs.
To Shop: Browse designs and products on Instagram @oceanica_designs or visit the Oceanica Designs website. If you are local, contact Leslie directly at 843.709.2665 orย leslie.sautter@gmail.com and avoid shipping costs. You may shop in person at the Oceanica Designs booth at the Sea Island Farmers Market on Johns Island (2024 Academy Drive, 29455) on Dec. 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., or the Holiday Night Markets (same dates and location) from 4:30โ8 p.m.
Special Instructions: All online orders must be made before Dec. 8.
Knox Smith owns Path Light Craftworks, specializing in high-quality handmade leather products.ย (Photo provided)
Knox Smith
Director of Video Production, Office of University Marketing
Business:ย Path Light Craftworks, specializing in handmade leather products like wallets, journals and jewelry
Artist Statement: We are Knox and Nia Smith, and it is our hope that those who buy our products get as much enjoyment out of them as we did in making them. We are continually learning and growing, and look forward to sharing in some of lifeโs unexpected surprises with all of you!
To order:ย Visit theย Path Light Craftworks websiteย to shop online and check out the holiday market schedule (including Middleton Place, James Island, Daniel Island and Summerville markets) onย Facebook and Instagram @pathlightcraftworks.
Special Instructions:ย Gift certificates are also available.
