SUPPORT MAKERS AND MANUFACTURERS
$15- $40
The Baltimore Development Corporation is pleased to share with you the third edition of the Made In Baltimore Lookbook! This bi-annual publication is a stunning showcase of the wide range and exceptional quality of the products made by small businesses in Baltimore City.
Since the last edition of this lookbook was published in 2020, BDC and the Made In Baltimore program have been hard at work both delivering direct support for small businesses, and setting a vision for the future of Baltimore’s local economy. In 2021, we published Baltimore Together: A Platform for Inclusive Prosperity. This five-year economic development strategy focuses on strengthening Baltimore’s economy while also eliminating racial disparities by ensuring Baltimore’s Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) businesses thrive and communities of color receive the level of investment they deserve. The Baltimore Together plan names our Creative Industries sector as a key pillar in this work, which includes our city’s makers and craft manufacturers. In the following pages of this book, the reader will get a sampling of some of the businesses that make up this important sector of our local economy.
As Baltimore transitions from COVID response to recovery, it is more important than ever that we continue to support our small businesses that have valiantly kept their doors open over the last two years. These businesses are the backbone of our communities, and an essential part of what makes Baltimore unique among cities. We hope that you, the reader, will show this support by finding ways to ‘buy local’ this holiday season, and beyond.
Colin Tarbert President & CEO
Made In Baltimore is a program that supports makers and manufacturers in Baltimore City. Our mission is simple: Encourage investment in Baltimore’s economy by growing the market for locally-made goods and supporting the people who make them.
At the heart of our program is a strong community of manufacturers, retailers and maker spaces working together to create and promote locally-made products. Our growing network of over 300 product-based businesses ranges from home-based makers to large scale manufacturers. Learn more about our members and our projects at:
The Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) is the economic development organization for the City of Baltimore. Our mission is to grow the city’s economy in an inclusive manner by retaining, expanding and attracting businesses and promoting investment, thereby increasing career opportunities for residents. Businesses interested in expanding or locating in Baltimore City should contact us at info@BaltimoreDevelopment.com
Credits:
Art Direction by Tatiana Mullin
Photography by Jill Fannon, Kyle Pompey, Schaun Champion and Vivian Doering
Apparel Styling by Tonae’ Lee
Models: Nichelle Roane and Marcus J Smith
Member profiles written by Jacob Took
Production Assistance from Made in Baltimore Intern Jewel Champbell
Layout and Design by Anya Mizani
Printed by Uptown Press
Special thanks to The Cloisters Castle for the on-location photoshoot.
Thank you for picking up a copy of the 2022 Made In Baltimore Lookbook! Made In Baltimore publishes this showcase of local goods every two years, with the goal of helping shoppers like you discover the freshest finds from Baltimore’s makers. In these pages you will find hundreds of products made by dozens of local brands, all right here in Charm City.
Why do we do it? Easy: small businesses don’t have the marketing budgets of the big corporations, making it harder for them to reach new customers. Here at MIB, we want our local small businesses to thrive and grow, so we do our part to help level the playing field. That includes the promotional power of this lookbook, but also the many other marketing tools we
deploy on behalf of our members, like our online business directory, our social media channels and marketing campaigns, and of course, our pop-up stores.
This year, we launched the Made In Baltimore Online Store, a yearround e-commerce site dedicated to locally-made products. The digital version of this lookbook links many products directly to
that site. See something you like? You can shop it with a single click. If you’re reading the print version, use the QR codes in these pages to get there on your smart phone!
This lookbook also includes profiles of some notable Made In Baltimore businesses. In our 2020 edition, we highlighted stories of resilience, featuring companies that pivoted to PPE manufacturing to aid in the fight against COVID-19. This year, we’re highlighting stories of growth, to celebrate the small businesses who weathered the storm and
came out stronger. The five companies profiled in these pages have all expanded into new real estate in the past year, growing both their manufacturing and retail capacities. We’re particularly proud of Personal Best Ceramics, a graduate of our Home-Run Accelerator program (HRA). We designed HRA to help small businesses grow out of a home-based business or makerspace. Personal Best Ceramics’ expansion is a great example of the kind of growth we love to support!
Look for these symbols on the following pages to denote these products.
Lastly, we are continuing a practice we established in 2020 of labeling products in our lookbook that have been made by business owners of different identities. There’s all kinds of ways to ‘shop your values’ and we want to make sure that is as easy as possible for our audiences.
Look for the symbols below on the following pages to denote these products.
We hope you enjoy this year’s edition and find some cool items for yourself or your loved ones. From the team at MIB, THANK YOU for believing in Baltimore and Buying Local!
We know it’s been a rough couple of years! Sometimes nothing feels better than getting back out in the world and visiting some of the old shops we know and love (and discovering new ones!). Made In Baltimore retailers carry some of the best locally-made products available, and there is likely one near you. Use this map to find an MIB retailer in your neighborhood, pay them a visit, and go ahead: treat yourself!
DR GREY CHEETAH LOOK
DIFFERENTREGARD
$175
INTENTION
NEW VINTAGE BY SAM
$70
HAND-DYED SCARVES
$52
BMORE LOVE THANG HATS HGE DESIGNS CO
$50
NATURE IMPRESSION EARRINGS
$65
$50 THE BOUTIQUE LIFE
Versatile and easy to carry, the clutch is made with a built-in card holder and two secure magnetic closures. The goldband strap allows you to alternate and secure which side you would like to have exposed, the beautiful printed fabric or the smooth faux leather. The sleek minimalist design of the clutch allows you to take with you just what you need!
XL BLACK SHEER TACOS
LOBE’ DANGLE
XL Black Sheer Tacos are our classic design with a die-cut leather adorned with stainless steel earwires. Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by the designer Q. Smith, and a warranty.
$125
Currency Studio’s space on North Avenue is more than a store. It’s an exhibition, an experience, an experiment. The exterior windows tint red, so colors seem to morph as you enter. Products from fiance co-founders Michael and Erica’s Currency Studio brand are displayed on interior concrete walls alongside a curated gallery of local art. They call it the 0520 Concrete Project.
The red comes from Currency’s signature logo, a red-white-red stripe. The bare concrete speaks to Michael’s affinity for natural materials – concrete is solid and balanced, while natural woods are all unique, qualities he aspires to embody. He’s proud, he says, to have a space to display work from local artists.
“Art’s always inspired me,” he says. “Having a physical presence for artists and their products is huge.”
Michael traces the unique flavor of the space to his memories of shopping with his father, who owned an urban apparel line and took him to high-end boutiques in search of quality vintage products. He was taken away by the atmosphere at these shops, which were nothing like typical department stores.
The first t-shirt Michael designed during his freshman year of high school featured the slogan Respect Your Wealth. It sold well, thanks in part to blossoming online platforms like MySpace and Tumblr.
The slogan is both empowering and cautionary.
“I’d seen people with certain wealth, certain success, who didn’t really respect it,” he explains. “Respect your wealth came from this idea that you are your most valuable currency.”
Currency Studio opened its first store in Fells Point in 2008, but Michael found himself leaving the city a few years later, first to Las Vegas and then to New York City. He was attending expos and trade shows, seeking out boutique stores, hitting up gallery openings on the daily and going home to design shirts to sell online. Eventually, wanting to nurture a flagship Currency Studios store, Michael and Erica returned to Baltimore.
Scouring the city, they found a studio in Greektown which helped them build out the brand, providing a space to invent, experiment and grow as artists. It wasn’t until they got in touch with Made In Baltimore staff that they found their current space, the site of Made In Baltimore’s 2015 pop-up. Michael said that while the space is almost right, they’re still looking for the perfect spot for a flagship store, driven by a vision for what creatives can help Baltimore become.
“I’m Baltimore born and raised,” Michael says. “I’m willing to take risks because I want to see artists, brands and retail flourish in this city.”
CURRENCY HOUSE SHORTSLEEVE
CURRENCY STUDIO
$68
$15
BALTIMORE ART
MONKEY IN THE METAL
$425
BALTIMORE GPS SKYLINE
KEPPEL & KISMET
$35
LET THE HORSES RUN OXFORD
CURRENCY STUDIO
$268
KEY DESIGN BRACELETS
$15-$40
3 WAY TOP
YBI APPAREL
$65-$100
LEATHER ABSTRACT FACE EARRINGS
NIRO DESIGNS
$27
BECOME SPELLBOUND
Get your spellbinding Lunar Palmistry Necklace, perfect for layering or wearing solo!
Each and every palm is hand-pierced (cut with a jewelers saw)
$300
MAXI CIF DESIGNS
Get your spellbinding Lunar Palmistry Necklace, perfect for layering or wearing solo!
Each and every palm is hand-pierced (cut with a jewelers saw) by the artist out of solid sterling silver sheet metal. They are individually sanded, soldered and finished with a matte texture. Pendant is 1 inch in height, chain is 18 inches and sterling silver
$75
LEATHER ABSTRACT FACE EARRINGS
NIRO DESIGNS
- Up-cycled hand painted black leather
- Matt brass face charm and findings
- Handmade
- Dimensions: 3 “ length; 1 “ max width
$27
RAVENS NECKLACE
KEY DESIGNS
Beaded Necklace pendant to show your support for the Baltimore Ravens
$15-40
PATCHWORK CARDIGAN
HGE DESIGNS
$325
RING
KEY DESIGNS
$15- $40
THE 2-IN-1 DAY TO NIGHT BAG
THE BOUTIQUE LIFE
$70
BALTIMORE BOLT SNAPBACK
PANGEA PRINTING CO.
$25
BALTIMORE SKYLINE
PANGEA PRINTING CO.
$20
KLETTER PACK
SEWLAB USA
$58
PERRINE SHAWL
Flattering and versatile, the Perrine Shawl is made from a luxuriously soft rayon/cotton/modal knit.
GEODE STUDS
MAXI CIF DESIGNS
$85
EVERYDAY TOTE
GEMSTONE WIRE WRAPPED PENDANT
TOUGH AS A MOTHER T-SHIRT
$30 ON & UP DESIGN
JOEY FOR ROO
$225
LARGE FOLK ART EARRING
MAGAN RUTHKE: ART & DESIGN
$40
MILKY WAY NECKLACE
MAGAN RUTHKE: ART & DESIGN
MAGAN RUTHKE: ART & DESIGN
FOLK ART CICADA HAIR (OR ANYWHERE!) CLIP $18 MAGAN RUTHKE: ART & DESIGN FOLK ART BUTTERFLY HAIR MAGNET
STERLING SILVER MAPLE
SEED NECKLACE, FROM PATTERSON PARK
TIGERLILLYSHOP JEWELRY
$98
TWIN ECLIPSE BRASS DANGLE EARRINGS
NIRO DESIGNS
$32
AMAZONITE OCEAN BREEZE BRACELET STACK (SET OF 3)
NIRO DESIGNS
$40
NATURE COLLAGE, MIXED METAL NECKLACE
TIGERLILLYSHOP JEWELRY
$68
SNAKEWARE PIN
PBODY DSIGN
$10
SILVER OXIDIZED CHAIN
ON & UP DESIGN
$150
LARGE FACETED AMETHYST AND TOPAZ WIRE WRAPPED PENDANT
ON & UP DESIGN
$300
ANTLER TALISMAN
BECOME SPELLBOUND
$395
CITRINE, LAPIS LAZULI, AND ROUGH DIAMOND CHARMS NECKLACE
ON & UP DESIGN
$325
VARIOUS BRACELETS
KEY DESIGNS
$15-$40
MEGALODON FOSSIL WITH HERKIMER QUARTZ TALISMAN
BECOME SPELLBOUND
$625
QUARTZ TALISMAN
BECOME SPELLBOUND
$325
MEGALODON FOSSIL WITH DINOSAUR
BONE AND CROCODILE TOOTH TALISMAN
BECOME SPELLBOUND
$545
AFRICAN PRINT ROBES
$75 AFROTHREADS
Made in small batches using limited edition fabrics, our African print robes are lightweight and soft on the skin. Comfortable enough to wear around the house, and cute enough to wear outdoors! The detachable belt makes it easy to create different looks: tie the belt in the front, side, or back when wearing it as a dress, or ditch the belt and wear the robe open over shorts, pants, or jeans. Our robes feature large side pockets, perfect for carrying your phone, keys and more.
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Doubledutch Boutique 1021 W. 36th Street Baltimore, MD 21211
www.doubledutchboutique.com @doubledutch_boutique
Hours: Mon-Sat. 12-6, Sunday 12-5 Indie Lines & Vintage Finds. New modern women’s clothing and accessories including Made In Baltimore items, quality vintage and Men’s goods. Independent and women owned. Best of Baltimore 2006-2019
IMMUNE BOOST BATH BOMB
HON’S HONEY
$9
GOURMET BODY SCRUB
HARP VISION LLC
Natural Sugar buffs away dull, dry skin without robbing skin of its own moisture like salt. Our sugar scrubs are made with a premium blend of oils, fragrance or essential oils, and fair trade organic sugar.
$22
WILD LILAC LIQUID SOAP AND 100% SHEA BUTTER BAR
MILES OF MOISTURE
Liquid Hand + Body Soap is made from responsibly sourced vegetable oils & formulated with skin nourishing properties. 100% Shea Butter Soap is made w/ your sensitive, dry skin in mind. Enriched with Shea butter and packed w/ skin-loving vitamins & essential fatty acids.
MOUNT ROYAL SOAPS
Our palm oil free and all natural bar soaps and sure to please. We blend Lemongrass, Tea Tree, and Patchouli essential oils and calendula petals.
$7
VANILLA MINT DEM LIPS MOISTURIZER
HON’S HONEY
Dem Lips Moisturizer uses beeswax and nourishing essential oils to create a barrier on your lips– keeping moisture in and environmental irritants out.
$6
$10 & $11
A few years ago, Iyonna Woods was looking for a manufacturing and retail space for her business, Fancy Free Hair & Skin. Today, she and her team run things from her recently-renovated basement. The setup includes industrial lighting, gleaming countertops and plenty of functional space for processing, as well as a break area, bathroom and external entrance for her team. It’s an incredible space — and was years in the making.
“You have to plan carefully,” she says to those considering similar steps to grow their business. “But it’s worth it.”
Iyonna styled braids for The Wire and knows her way around natural hair care. Growing up, her mom was a cosmetologist, and she worked summers in her great aunt’s salon. Despite this, she pursued a career in healthcare, a background which gives her unique expertise in her craft and which she weaves into the branding of her business. Wearing a white coat, she explains, can make her pitches more effective.
“In order to sell my product, I have to sell myself and my story,” she says. “I am a scientist creating personal care products.”
For years, she struggled to find quality hair and skin products which met the care needs of Black people, so she decided to make her own, and started
getting more compliments and questions about what she used. This led her into entrepreneurship — she sold product and also charged for consultations. Things started small — in 2015, the budding business made a few thousand dollars. She had minimal marketing or dedicated space, and also still worked a full-time job.
“I didn’t know what I was doing,” she says with a laugh. “But the product was good.”
Quitting her job after preparing her whole life for a career in healthcare was a scary moment. She was working 18-hour days, growing her business with business-to-business sales — oh, and was also pregnant. In 2017, she and her husband made the
call — they’d have to adjust their budget, but she would quit to spend more time with the family and the business.
Around this time, she first had the idea to convert the basement. Based on initial quotes, she estimated the required renovations would cost around $15,000. But unexpected structural changes, plumbing and electrical upgrades, plus the rising cost of materials and supply chain snarls caused by the pandemic pushed the project bill higher. Still, with a microloan from the Baltimore Development Corporation and federal pandemic relief, she continued to grow her business while turning her basement into a space perfectly suited to her needs.
Looking ahead, Iyonna plans to scale up her private label portfolio with an eye on healthcare, and is excited to introduce a steroid-free eczema cream. Meanwhile, it’s a blessing to have her family close. Her son helps her with production, and she is proud to set a strong example.
“You can have a STEM career, and you can make your own path,” she says. “You can create your own life, however you want to make it.”
We understand that everyone’s hair is different and has different needs. While our products can be used for both hair and skin, we encourage you to try these products on your hair.
$39.99
TEA TREA LAVENDER SOOTHING SCALP TREATMENT
BMORE NATURAL
$15
GODDESS LOCS MOISTURE SPRAY
BMORE NATURAL
$15
OYIN HANDMADE
Our Bubble Bath is mild enough for kids but still produces TONS of bubbly fun. It won’t irritate skin or eyes and it’s palm and sulfate free so your conscience can be as clean as your little one! Oh, and here’s the best part. It sparkles! Each bottle contains biodegradable glitter for added fun but won’t stick to skin or bath tubs.
$12.99
The next time you have a boo-boo, reach for Hon’s Healin’ Ointment, an all-natural salve. The ointment contains a combination of antiviral and anti-inflammatory elements to relieve your skin.
• Use to soothe burns, sunburns, cuts, rashes, blemishes, bugs bites or scrapes
• Great after a long day in the sun
• Made with all-natural ingredients
• Uniquely and beautifully handcrafted by women survivors
$15
Capsule collection of our favorite conditioning products. Our Conditioning Care Collection works to keep your hair cleansed, conditioned, moisturized and styled from start to finish with award-winning formulas and invigorating new products.
$49.99
Our preservative-free hair and body nectar is a blend of organic and fair trade rainforest butters. Antioxidant tropical oils contribute to the regeneration of the skin without leaving a greasy feel. Available in 2oz size bottles
$15
BAKLAVA, HORCHATA, KULFI FLAVORS
CAJOU CREAMERY
$12 EACH
VARIOUS FLAVOR JUICE
TREEHOUSE JUICERY
$54/6 PACK
Nicole and Dwight, founders of Cajou Creamery, just wanted to find a tasty, healthy sweet treat for their lactose-intolerant kids. Dwight had 15 years of culinary experience, and Nicole was earning her raw food chef certification after working as a criminal defense lawyer. She had been raw vegan for a minute, which she credits with helping her stay laser-focused on studying for the bar exam. “I’d never felt so good,” she says. “But it makes sense — if you’re feeding yourself the best fuel, you’ll operate at your best performance.”
They experimented with dairy-free ice creams, and an early flavor — maple with almonds and dates — was a hit with the kids. As they refined their product, they also had to figure out the business side, eventually joining a commercial kitchen and renting their own ice cream machine. Based near D.C. at the time, they came up to Baltimore for Light City in 2018 and loved the energy. It wasn’t long before they moved and started setting up shop at local farmers markets, where they met fellow small business owners Lynette and Eric of Cuples Tea House. They didn’t know it then, but Cajou and Cuples would soon be neighbors.
A breakthrough came in early 2020 when Nicole and Dwight won the Howard Row Small Business Storefront Competition from developer Poverni Sheikh Group, securing a year of free rent at a built-out retail space on Howard Street. Cuples won a space next door, and the number of Blackowned businesses has continued to grow on a block that had been nearly abandoned, the result of historic under-investment. “It’s nice to turn that racist history on its head,” Nicole says. “Now we’re the business owners, and we’re bringing life to the street.”
The space helped Cajou fulfill larger contracts, including with
Whole Foods Market, and provided a footprint to build community and spread the good word of plant-based nutrition. And this is just the beginning. Nicole and Dwight want to open an employee-owned manufacturing facility for plant-based products, providing jobs and skill training to returning citizens. For now, they are still educating folks that yes, plantbased vegan ice cream really can taste this good.
As one of the world’s only Black-owned plant-based ice cream companies, Cajou is making history. Nicole credits the Baltimore business community for helping at many key moments in their growth, but it ultimately took years of hard work to get where they are today. “Despise not small beginnings,” Nicole says. “Don’t wait for the space to start making the ice cream.”
When Cuples Tea House founders Lynnette and her husband Eric were dating, they often met for tea. When they traveled, they loved trying out local tea houses. When they had the idea to open a place of their own, it felt like a natural fit. They attended the World Tea Conference + Expo in Las Vegas, learning from other entrepreneurs what it would take to start their own tea company. Lynnette was intimidated. “We didn’t know what we were doing,” she says. “I worried that we weren’t ready.”
But things took off quickly. They debuted a branded product line at an event for vendors in Lexington Market in 2015, and scored contracts with Maryland Institute College of Art and Kaiser Permanente. Their operating principle was to say yes and then figure it out. “That was the moment we knew there was no turning back,” Eric says. “We were part of the supply chain.”
As their brand in Baltimore grew, they got products on shelves at brick-and-mortar stores across the city, fulfilled contracts with some of the city’s top institutions and were a regular presence at local farmers markets, where they met fellow small business owners and future neighbors Nicole and Dwight of Cajou Creamery. But they still sought a space of their own to create the shop and cafe experience they envisioned — not your mama’s tea house, as Lynnette says.
A breakthrough came in early 2020 when they won the Howard Row Small Business Storefront Competition from developer Poverni Sheikh Group, securing a year of free rent at a built-out retail space on Howard Street. Cajou won a space next door, and the number of Blackowned businesses has continued to grow on a block that had been nearly abandoned, the result of historic under-investment. “We remember when Howard Street used to be hustling and bustling for businesses,” Lynnette says. “We are bringing that
back. We are pioneers in this journey.”
They credit Made In Baltimore for expanding their scope of opportunities, and the city’s wider small business community with supporting their goals for growth.
“Support is a verb,” Eric says, noting that collaborating, sharing resources and having one another’s backs has helped them establish partnerships with other entrepreneurs. “I can’t imagine doing this on an island.
Lynnette says that Cuples has been on fire recently, with features from high-profile people and publications and continued growth. She teases a big Baltimore-based project in the works, but isn’t ready to say more. Ever humble, Lynnette says Eric’s tenacity and drive kept her going through moments of doubt,
while Eric says Lynnette’s vision made Cuples what it is today. “We’re demonstrating that small businesses can come to the city and be successful,” Eric says. Lynnette adds, “Baltimore is ready for it.”
ASSORTED TEAS
CUPLES TEA HOUSE
$9- $22
MISO KIMCHI
HEX FERMENTS
$12
GINGER KOMBUCHA
HEX FERMENTS
$15
SAUERKRAUT
HEX FERMENTS
$10
BUTTERFLY LIME KOMBUCHA
HEX FERMENTS
$15
GLOW KRAUT
HEX FERMENTS
$10
NINA’S COOKIE EXPLOSION
VARIETY PACK $19 PER PACK
CHOCOLATE GANACHE TARTS
TREATS FOR EATS
$19.99
TREATS FOR EATS FRUIT TART-MANGO, LEMON $34
JUKE JOINT LEMONADE
DRNK.
Infuses With: Whiskey or Bourbon. We had to create a cocktail to honor our party roots. This is dedicated to every man and woman that let their souls fill with music, love and laughter.
$22 PER PACK
PASSION FRUIT JALEPENO MIXER
CANE COLLECTIVE
Enjoy a trip to the Tropics! Created as Baltimore Submission for Patron’s Margarita of the Year, this mix combines the tropical flavor of passionfruit, lime juice, and a subtle kick of Jalapeno to create a fun and addicting experience with every sip.
$10
JUNIPER CULINARY APOTHECARY
Our special blend of raw cacao, turmeric, cinnamon & maca. Superfood Hot Cocoa is great brewed hot with milk or nut milk & can be sweetened however you like!
$7
THE WINE COLLECTIVE
Vermútino Orange Cinchona is a spritzer like no other. Made from our Vermú Rosé vermouth, with 100% all natural ingredients, it is light, bubbly, and hopelessly refreshing. It is a natural aperitivo ready to drink like they do in Spain.
$6/CAN - $20/4 PACK
THE WINE COLLECTIVE BALT-NAT $32/ BOTTLE
UME PENDANT LAMP
LA LOUPE DESIGN
$250
VARIOUS CANDLES
$22- $34
$1,2000
MOUNT ROYAL SOAP CO.
Our vegan, soy wax candles are sure to warm your heart and home. We captured this historical blend of clove, lemon, cinnamon, rosemary and tea tree oils to perfection in our 100% soy wax candle.
$18.99
HOME BOARD WITH STATE CUT OUT
WORDS WITH BOARDS
The Maryland state shape is cut out as the “O” in HOME .
Maple wood Size: 9.5” x 12.5” x 1 1/8”
A tree is planted for each purchase.
$70
14oz organic candle made with 100% soy wax, cotton braided wicks, and blended oils. The oils are a fusion of essential oils and vegetable oil-based fragrance oils. All scents are Phthalate Free. The candles are made in 14oz rocks glass tumbler with a silver lid. ‘STAYCATION’ SOY CANDLE
$30.90
It doesn’t take much to build out a ceramics studio — a wheel, plenty of shelf space, a kiln, and a steady pair of hands.
But as Whitney Simpkins sought to scale up Personal Best Ceramics, she wanted to leave the shared studio she’d frequented for years to find a space where she could spread out and work on her own terms. That led her to move into a 5,000-square-foot studio in Greenmount East, where she set up shop earlier this year with a wheel, workbenches and three refurbished kilns.
“I learned a lot at the shared studio,” Whitney says. “It really helped me prepare for having my own space.”
She traces her experience with pottery back to the early days in her middle school art classes making pinch-pots for family members. Studying painting at Maryland Institute College of Art, she took additional ceramics classes, but she had thoughts about the industry gatekeepers and their ideas about who could take up the craft and how it should be done. It wasn’t until 2015, years after graduating, that she once again found herself drawn to pottery.
“People want modern, functional forms and cool shit,” she said. “I decided to take a crack at it.”
What started off as a side hustle grew into something much bigger as she brought her products to trade shows and built her network. When the pandemic hit, Whitney reevaluated and realized that she was ready to step into entrepreneurship full-time. She had access to equipment and classes through the shared studio, but worried about taking up too much space and wasting time moving materials to and from her home. So she started looking for other options.
She credits Made In Baltimore’s Home-Run Accelerator program with helping her find her current space, as well as connecting her with opportunities for grant funding to make it affordable. The move has allowed her to grow, and she wants to use the space to make pottery more accessible to creators who face challenges to getting established in the industry.
“The opportunities and the resources it opens up are so valuable,” she says about Made In Baltimore. “They’re very hands-on with support.”
The Home-Run Accelerator also helped her secure paid interns from MICA to help her scale up production while spreading her love and knowledge of the craft. Still, she identifies bringing on employees as a barrier to growth, saying she doesn’t want to exploit anyone.
“You can’t just not pay people when business is down,” she says. “I’m not sure about adding employees unless I’m doing well enough that I know they will be taken care of.”
That said, she is looking forward to continued growth as she ups her online sales traffic, adds to her client portfolio and builds out her presence at trade shows and other markets. Looking back on her experience, her biggest takeaway is to be ready for anything.
“As long as it’s not shady, there are no bad ways to get started,” she says. “Something might seem like small potatoes, but just go for it.”
TORO TABLE LAMP
DESIGN
A unique table lamp that explores the traditional Japanese techniques of origami creating a functional work of art. With a minimalist black walnut lamp base design that shows off the natural character of the wood.
$450
WORDS WITH BOARDS
Maple Wood Size: 9.5” x 12.5” x 1 1/8”
A tree is planted for each purchase.
An Oprah Favorite
$95
LUMA LAMP WITH ROUND BASE
This handcrafted table lamp provides a warm and soft ambient light bringing to your interior a unique piece. Made of a minimalist black walnut lamp base and a unique printed linen shade. The hefty and simple design of the base shows off the natural character of the wood.
$215
BALTIMORE ART
This is a really fun and unique way to display your love of Baltimore. An art piece that combines the city skyline, map of the harbor, and flag into a metal cutout framed by reclaimed pallet lumber.
$425
COLUMN COFFEE TABLE
$1,200 BLISS WOODWORKS
Walnut wood meets porcelain tile on the top of this coffee table. The base is solid walnut wood with slats supporting a lower shelf. 36” L x 18” W x 18” H
NAMASTE SOY CANDLE
NAMASCENTS CANDLE CO.
$10 - $20
SEED BOMBS - JAR
URBAN ROOTS COMPANY LLC
$20
ROOM & LINEN MISTS
NAMASCENTS CANDLE CO.
$18
TALL LUMA TABLE LAMP
LA LOUPE DESIGN
This lamp is part of our LUMA Collection that explores the dynamic balance between positive and negative spaces.
This handcrafted table lamp provides a warm and soft ambient light bringing to your interior a unique piece. Made of a black walnut lamp base and a unique printed linen shade.
$550
CARDINAL PRINT
3 WORLDS PRINT
$180 ZERFLIN
This Cardinal was made for my Mother for Mother’s Day. For as long as I can remember, in every single one of the many houses we have lived at, there was always a bird feeder sitting outside the kitchen window.
BALTIMORE SNOW GLOBE TEA TOWEL
TINY DOG PRESS
2 color silk screen printed tea towel {red & teal blue}
Size: 13” x 12” image on a 28” x 21-1/2” white cotton towel
$16
$180 ZERFLIN
This piece was created for Tectonic Space’s show What May Be. The show was all about visions of the future either in positive or negative ways.
EUTAW PLACE JOURNAL
DRAMA MAMA BOOKSHOP
A depiction of a Baltimore Row house etched and cut into Chipboard, hand wire bound and filled with 100% unbleached sugarcane paper.
$24
MEAN GIRL MARX
GALAXY BRAIN DESIGN
$5
COFFEE FOR EVERYTHING MAGNET
KEPPEL AND KISMET, LLC
$4
$8 ASHYTJ CREATES LLC
ASHYTJ CREATES LLC
$3
$3
$3
$15 CHARM CITY THREADS FILTH IS MY LIFE STICKER
TONI (WOODEN) JOURNAL
DRAMA MAMA BOOKSHOP
$40
OUR VOICES, UNMASKED
CHARM: VOICES OF BALTIMORE YOUTH
$25
BALDWIN (WOODEN) JOURNAL
DRAMA MAMA BOOKSHOP
$40
BLACK WOMXN LAUGHING 8X10 PRINT
ASHYTJ CREATES LLC
$20
BELL (WOODEN) JOURNAL
DRAMA MAMA BOOKSHOP
$40
GREATEST CITY IN AMERICA ORNAMENT
$15
OCTAVIA BUTLER QUOTE NOTEBOOK
DRAMA MAMA BOOKSHOP
$40
BLACK WOMXN GROW
ASHYTJ CREATES LLC
Number 7 in the Black Womxn Do Stuff collection, Black Womxn Grow, is for all the plant mamas. This 8x10 print is professionally printed on thick cardstock and sleeved for protection.
$5+
ROW HOUSE 14
A2 (4.25”x5.5”) card. Printed on 130lb white card stock with gold foil lettering. Paired with a 100% recycled kraft envelope. Blank inside. Packaged in a cellophane sleeve. Copyright Row House 14. Made in the USA.
$6
FRUIT VAGINA GREETING CARD 6-PACK
GALAXY BRAIN DESIGN, LLC
Greetings, Earthling cards are the perfect way to tell them how you feel — with a twist. Get all six of the fruit vulva greeting cards at a discount of $1/card. The cards are printed on 80-lb white card stock in water-resistant ink. Each card is 4″x5″ and comes with plain white envelopes.
$18
KEY BRIDGE TABLE (BASE ONLY)
MONKEY IN THE METAL
$2,499
Jill Andrews’ mission is to bring the impeccable traditions and exquisite materials of custom European dressmaking to modern women, creating uniquely perfect pieceswedding attire, corsets, veils, wraps, belts, millineryfor her clients, whom she regards as her muses and collaborators, from initial consultation to final fitting.
www.jillandrewsgowns.com
IG: jagowns
Facebook : jillandrewsgowns
Artstar Custom Paintworks, founded by Kelly Walker in 2002 and 20 years in the making, was recognized as Baltimore’s Best Custom Painting Company 2022 by Baltimore Magazine. Artstar specializes in hand-applied, atmospheric finishes that capture and enhance the charm of any environment with sophisticated drama. We are dedicated to individualized service and the highest quality craftsmanship to make your improvement project a powerful and diverse work of art. We actively develop new custom finishes for the design and architectural trades, and we are well respected for our professional contracting services and collaboration in the design process. Our services include a wide range of decorative painting applications, faux finishing, murals, fine Italian plasters, gilding and verre églomisé.
www.artstarcustompaintworks.com
IG: artstarbaltimore
Facebook: Artstar Custom Paintworks
LinkedIn: Artstar Custom Paintworks
Thomas Brown, Woodwright LLC has been at the forefront of high-quality historic architectual millwork manufacturing and general custom woodworking in Baltimore since 1991. Our shop is currently located in a stone ice-house built in 1905 in Remington.
All our work is custom-made here, by us, tailored to the exact needs of our clients. We are dedicated to preserving the historic integrity not only of America’s built heritage but also the tools and techniques that built it, using antique tools whenever practical.
www.thomasbrownwoodwright.com
Email: roadscholar@thomasbrownwoodwright.com
Monkey in the Metal, based in Baltimore, Maryland has provided premier solid wood and metal fabrication services since 2012 in the mid-Atlantic region. We specialize in furniture, fixtures, architectural treatments, signage, and artwork. When you need comprehensive and timely quotes for even unusual items, we are your one-stop shop for custom fabrications. Let us show you why…EVERYTHING CUSTOM COMES TO US.
Monkey in the Metal has experience as both a fabricator and a subcontractor, with a proven capacity to meet all customer needs. Additionally, we provide creative, custom design services to collaborate with project owners. Each of our skilled team members is very passionate about their work product and is accountable for delivering high quality craftsmanship.
www.monkeyinthemetal.com
Email: create@monkeyinthemetal.com Ph: 443-453-9625
Words with Boards was established in 2013. Our wood shop and studio is located on Union Ave in Hampden/ Woodberry. We manufacture giftable wooden home good products such as personalized cutting boards, charcuterie boards, lazy susans, trivets, coasters, etc. They make great gifts for any occasion (weddings, birthdays, anniversary, house warming and holiday) and we ship worldwide.
We are also open to custom projects. Some examples of past custom items we have made include special shaped cutting boards (guitar, paint palette, extra large grazing boards, etc), cutting boards/coasters with company logo laser engraved, 3d indoor/outdoor signs, 3d wooden plaques, donor walls, table centerpieces for events, barkuterie boards for dogs, etc.
For every wood product sold a tree is planted in the U.S.A. Help us plant a forest!
www.wordswithboards.com
Chase Street Accessories & Engraving offers custom awards, branded promotional products, personalized gifts, and Baltimore City souvenirs. Our state-of-the-art engraving and customization services unite in-house production with an international network of socially-conscious suppliers and vendors. The Chase Street A&E production team’s decoration services include laser engraving, rotary engraving, heat transfer printing, full-color sublimation printing, embroidery, and more. The design team also provides layout, design, and artwork services upon request. From the showroom and workshop in the historic neighborhood of Mount Vernon (Baltimore, MD) Chase Street A&E provides branded awards and swag for corporate events, bespoke favors for parties and reunions, made-to-order gifts for birthdays and anniversaries, and keepsakes commemorating distinctive moments in Baltimore history.
www.chasestreetae.com IG, Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin: @chasestreetae
