Discover Unique Artisan Creations: Local Makers of the Lowcountry
Made in the Lowcountry
The Lowcountry boasts a thriving community of artisans who draw inspiration from the region’s natural beauty, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern artistry. From hand-thrown pottery to intricate jewelry, these makers craft unique pieces that reflect the charm of the area and their talents. Here’s a closer look at some of the creators bringing their one-of-a-kind work to life.
- Shattuck Clockworks
- Clay on the May
- Finch Sign and Design Metalworks
- Little Red Hen
- Calilou Clay
- Deb Staub Designs
- Helen Tavern Designs
- Beachside Wood Art
- Aloha K Designs
- Fishsticks Coastal Crafts
- These Two Hands
- PillowSak
- MW3 Woodworks
- The Junk Bug
- Kara Artman Art
- Two Bay Horses
- Hilton Head Soap Co.
- Jolly Pig Pottery
- HK Steel Art
- Banana Stitches Co.
Shattuck Clockworks
Product: Custom hand-crafted clocks and tide clocks
Where it’s made: Hilton Head Island
What makes it great: Blake Shattuck’s clocks combine artistry with functionality, crafted entirely by hand with traditional tools. Each clock is a commissioned piece, making it personal and meaningful to every customer. Blake has been passionate about creating since childhood, starting with whittling and later honing his wood carving skills with chisels from his grandfather. During the pandemic, Blake found himself unemployed and turned his hobby into a full-time pursuit, now exhibiting at Pluff Mudd Art Gallery.
Where to find it: Visit Shattuck Clockworks at Pluff Mudd Art Gallery in Old Town Bluffton or online at ShattuckClockworks.com.
Clay on the May
Product: Handmade polymer clay earrings
Where it’s made: Abby Doyle crafts each piece from her dorm at the University of South Carolina Beaufort, infusing her love for Bluffton’s May River into her designs.
What makes it great: Founded in 2023, Clay on the May started as a hobby with a basic Amazon kit. Abby creates trendy, lightweight earrings with whimsical designs, perfect for comfortable, all-day wear. She also uses custom 3D-printed clay cutters, bringing customers’ unique visions to life. Originally from Virginia, Abby’s frequent visits to Hilton Head inspired her to major in Hospitality Resort and Tourism Management. She’s found Clay on the May to be the ideal way to connect with the local community, recently raising funds for the Hilton Head Island Sea Turtle Patrol through earring sales.
Where to find it: Check out her jewelry at Jarvis Creek General Store & Southern Kitchen or the Hilton Head Oyster Festival on November 9. For custom orders, follow her on Instagram (@clay.onthemay).
Finch Sign and Design Metalworks
Product: Custom aluminum art
Where it’s made: Hilton Head Island
What makes it great: Charlie Finch and Pamela Chanay’s custom metal art combines CNC plasma cutting with hand-finishing, creating durable and intricate Lowcountry-themed pieces. Charlie and Pamela elevate traditional metalworking with their precision and creativity.
Where to find it: Instagram (@finchsignanddesignmetalworks)
Wendala’s Lowcountry Sugar Scrub
Product: Hand, foot and body scrubs, all-in-one shave scrubs and lip scrubs
Where it’s made: Bluffton
What makes it great: Wendala’s Lowcountry Sugar Scrubs are crafted with natural ingredients, offering a luxurious self-care experience. Infused with essential oils and fragrances, each scrub leaves the skin soft and refreshed. Wendy Kushel, a former stand-up comedian and actress, started making sugar scrubs for friends before launching her business in 2020. Her product line has grown to nearly 30 items, all inspired by her motto, “Live. Laugh. Scrub.”
Where to find it: Wendala’s scrubs can be found at the Hilton Head Farmers Market, at many local shops and online at wendalas.com.
Little Red Hen
Product: Eco-friendly food wraps
Where it’s made: In Sarah Thomsen’s outdoor studio in Bloomingdale, Georgia.
What makes it great: Made from beeswax and upcycled cloths, these eco-friendly food wraps are designed to reduce environmental impact. Each wrap is reusable, easy to clean and perfect for storing everything from bread to casseroles. Originally from the UK, Sarah has been a Lowcountry local for 15 years. She began making wraps as sustainable gifts for Earth Day and officially launched Little Red Hen in 2022.
Where to find it: Hilton Head Farmers Market and at littleredhenwraps.com.
Calilou Clay
Product: Modern lightweight polymer clay jewelry and accessories
Where it’s made: Bluffton, at Denise Palmer’s in-home studio
What makes it great: Named after her two dogs, Cali and Louie, Denise’s one-of-a-kind jewelry incorporates local materials like Hilton Head sand. She mixes polymer clay with elements like leather and rattan, creating pieces that are both lightweight and distinctive. Originally from Philadelphia, Denise moved to the Lowcountry in 2017 and found renewed inspiration in polymer clay.
Where to find it: Hilton Head Community Market and on Instagram (@calilouclay).
Deb Staub Designs
Product: Unique stoneware
Where it’s made: Saint Helena Island
What makes it great: Deb Staub’s handmade stoneware showcases the natural beauty of clay through unique textures and glazes, all while fostering an appreciation for the Lowcountry’s ecosystem. A retired teacher and Master Naturalist, Staub draws inspiration from nature, incorporating the region’s landscapes into her clay, metal and glass works.
Where to find it: debstaubdesigns.com
Helen Taverna Designs
Product: Chainmaille jewelry
Where it’s made: Originally crafted in Bluffton and now in New Jersey
What makes it great: Each piece of chainmaille jewelry is hand-woven from hundreds of rings, creating intricate patterns and a beautiful finish. Helen, inspired by her father’s engineering background, has been making chainmaille jewelry for over 15 years, finding joy in the process of metal manipulation.
Where to find it: Maye River Gallery in Bluffton or helentavernadesigns.com.
Beachside Wood Art
Product: Cedar wood coastal wall art
Where it’s made: Hilton Head Island
What makes it great: Each piece is crafted from select cedar wood, enhanced with hand-rubbed teak oil and finished with multiple coats of spar urethane for protection and a lasting shine. Peter Brunn is passionate about showcasing the natural beauty of wood in his coastal-themed creations.
Where to find it: beachsidewoodart.com
Aloha K Designs
Product: Reclaimed surfboard art
Where it’s made: Bluffton
What makes it great: Kate and Dan Brown transform damaged surfboards into vibrant, one-of-a-kind works of art that celebrate coastal culture and sustainability. Kate has a strong passion for surfing and was inspired by surfboard artists on a family trip to Hawaii, where she first learned to surf.
Where to find it: Instagram (@alohakdesigns)
Fishsticks Coastal Crafts
Product: Coastal-inspired home decor
Where it’s made: Bluffton
What makes it great: Each piece is handcrafted from natural and reclaimed materials, capturing the uniqueness of the Lowcountry in every design. Amy Starnes creates coastal decor that reflects the beauty of her surroundings.
Where to find it: fishstickscoastal.com or Hilton Head Community Market.
These Two Hands
Product: Handmade silver, leather, fiber and paper goods
Where it’s made: Patte Ranney crafts each piece at her home studio on Hilton Head Island’s South Beach.
What makes it great: Patte is known for her meticulous craftsmanship, attention to detail and original designs. Each piece is either a one-of-a-kind creation or part of a small batch, reflecting her passion for quality and functionality. A Hilton Head resident since 1978, Patte pursued a career with Outside Brands while making art in her free time. Now a full-time artisan, she finds inspiration in Southwestern designs, often spending time at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico to refine her skills.
Where to find it:Shop her work at Hilton Head Community Market, Hilton Head Farmer’s Market, and on Instagram (@TheseTwoHandsStudio).
PillowSak
Product: Travel pillow covers
Where it’s made: Springfield, Georgia
What makes it great: PillowSak is a travel-friendly pillow cover with adjustable straps, suitcase sleeves and cord locks, ensuring your pillow stays clean and protected during travel. Debby McIncrow created PillowSak after struggling to keep her pillow clean while traveling. Her innovative product now offers a stylish and practical solution for travelers.
Where to find it: pillowsak.com or Hilton Head Farmers Market.
MW3 Woodworks
Product: Handcrafted wood culinary items
Where it’s made: Bluffton
What makes it great: MW3 Woodworks specializes in handcrafted cutting and charcuterie boards, using sustainably sourced wood and food-grade finishes. Mike Walsh’s love for woodworking and cooking inspired him to create culinary boards that are functional and beautiful.
Where to find it: Instagram (@mw3_woodworks) or mw3woodworks.com.
The Junk Bug
Product: Oyster shell art
Where it’s made: Hilton Head Island
What makes it great: Each oyster shell is sealed and preserved before being transformed into art, maintaining the natural beauty of the shells while enhancing their durability. Stephanie Vojnovic began her art business after moving to Hilton Head and has since balanced creating unique pieces with the joys of motherhood.
Where to find it: Hilton Head Farmers Market, Hilton Head Community Market and Instagram (@thejunkbug).
Kara Artman Art
Product: Reconsidered trifles
Where it’s made: Mid-island on Hilton Head
What makes it great: Kara Artman creates porcelain replicas of ancient bottles found along Lowcountry shores, turning them into food-safe art pieces that tell the story of the past. Kara draws inspiration from debris and forgotten objects, transforming them into meaningful art that connects with the region’s history.
Where to find it: karaartman.com or Hilton Head Community Market.
Two Bay Horses
Product: Southwestern-inspired jewelry
Where it’s made: Sea Pines
What makes it great: Named after the horses that have influenced her life, Megan Taylor creates unique, limited-edition pieces with a personal touch. Megan’s lifelong love of horses and jewelry culminates in her handcrafted designs that reflect her passion for both.
Where to find it: twobayhorsesdesigns.com.
Hilton Head Soap Co.
Product: Handmade soaps
Where it’s made: Hilton Head Island
What makes it great: Each soap evokes memories of iconic Hilton Head locations, with sustainable, responsibly sourced ingredients ensuring luxurious self-care. Jonathan Suhre blends his love for Hilton Head with his knowledge of scent, creating soaps that capture the essence of the island.
Where to find it: hiltonheadsoap.com
Jolly Pig Pottery
Product: Functional stoneware pottery
Where it’s made: Seabrook
What makes it great: Jolly Pig Pottery’s functional stoneware is oven, microwave and dishwasher safe, with unique textures and glazes adding creative flair. Traci Walter blends her background in painting and pottery to create beautiful, functional pieces inspired by the Lowcountry’s natural beauty.
Where to find it: Jolly Pig Pottery on Facebook, Instagram (@JollyPigPottery), Wimbee Creek Farm and the Beaufort Art Association Gallery.
HK Steel Art
Product: Hand-cut plasma steel art
Where it’s made: Hardeeville
What makes it great: Each piece of steel art is hand-drawn and hand-cut by Hailey King, finished with a clear coat for durability and a custom touch. King learned plasma cutting and welding from her father and has been crafting beautiful steel art since 2017, inspired by the Lowcountry’s natural beauty.
Where to find it: Bluffton General Store, Grayco (Lady’s Island), hksteelart.com
Banana Stitches Co.
Product: Handmade crochet plush toys
Where it’s made: Bluffton
What makes it great: Banana Stitches Co. offers whimsical, hand-crocheted plush toys, from crocodiles to toast, that are perfect as gifts or collectibles. Anna Jane, who learned to crochet from her grandmother, creates plushies with unique, playful designs that add a dose of cuteness to everyday life.
Where to find it: Jarvis Creek General Store, Hilton Head Farmers Market, Hilton Head Community Market, bananastitchesco.com.
