Harmony Ball Company creates handmade collectible box figurines and other whimsical keepsakes from crushed marble and resin, drawing on the English cottage-industry tradition. Its Harmony Kingdom pieces are developed at Wimberley Mills in England’s Cotswolds, where Artistic Director Martin Perry oversees artists known for intricate detail, nature-inspired subjects and a quirky sense of humor. The company’s production story also includes a village guild of home-based painters, formed in 1993 and largely made up of women with young children.
Byers' Choice LTDSince 1978, family-owned Byers’ Choice LTD. has handcrafted Carolers and seasonal display pieces in Chalfont, Pennsylvania. Built from wire, clay and fabric by local artisans, its figures are made in the USA and have become the centerpiece of a company-operated visitor center, Christmas museum and gift shop. Through the Byers Foundation, the company also directs 20% to charity.CHALFONT, PA
Hazel VillageFounded in 2010 by Jane Van Cleef, Hazel Village creates soft woodland animals and dolls for imaginative play, along with handmade clothing for them and matching children’s accessories. Its Brooklyn workshop has a 15-person team, while social-enterprise artisan partners around the world make the toys, including hand-embroidered faces that give each one natural variation. The women-run business also designs limited-edition collections and emphasizes fair work, lower-waste production, and recycled or low-impact packaging.BROOKLYN, NY
Cat's Meow VillageFrom a single wooden house cut on her grandfather’s saw in a Wooster hog barn, Faline grew Cat’s Meow Village into a maker of handcrafted wooden replicas that preserve the character of landmarks and personal places. Founded in 1982, the company still produces its signature little wooden buildings in its Wooster workshop, with the black cat mascot Casper tucked into each design. Its long design files also let collectors recreate retired local pieces and reorder custom home keepsakes.WOOSTER, OH
Danforth PewterDanforth Pewter is a distinctly human-centered Vermont workshop whose local artisans make every piece by hand in Middlebury. Its annual Christmas ornament tradition, dating to 1987, has helped families build collections meant to be cherished and passed down through generations.NATIONAL HARBOR, MD