Unique Hand-made Gifts for the Holidays?

Look no further than the Antiques District located around the Westwood Hills area in Kansas City. Kansas City’s Antique District, including Show Me Antiques & Consignment Shop, Kincaid Antiques, The Georgian Village, Parrin & Co. and the Knotty Rug Company. These quaint local galleries, studios and stores lend a very local feel to one of my favorite neighborhoods in KC (I am biased, living in Westwood Hills for several years and attending Westwood View when I was young. Good memories!)

Rafter E Studio, located on the corner of Fairmont and 45th St. is one of these charming galleries featuring the beautiful ceramic work of resident artists John Eck and Tara Dawley. John is a ceramic handbuilder that trained in Chicago with Lill Street Studio in Chicago and Red Star Studio here in KC. Because he is still a practicing architect, his work explores architectural form and “remembered” form, ” the mental baggage we all carry regarding the spaces and shapes we inhabit.” He established the studio in 2013. Tara began her career as a studio potter in KC in 1999 and her work is designed on function and made with thoughtfulness and heartfelt purpose. The building itself screams history, having been built in 1905 as a neighborhood grocery store!

These beautiful and affordable ceramic pieces as well as other artwork from invited guests would make great local gifts for the holidays! This weekend, the gallery is holding their Holiday Show with the KC Clay Guild Studio. Come browse the hand-made ceramic vases, server sets, mugs, bowls and baskets- these truly make heartfelt and thoughtful gifts. Added bonus: there will be Christmas cookies to munch on! Not sure what to get a friend or a hostess this season? Grab a gift card and set someone on their own journey to explore this beautiful gallery! Show and shopping runs Friday-Sunday with hours on Friday from 6pm-10pm, Saturday from 10-5pm and Sunday from 12-5pm. Break out of the mold- shop for something truly unique and local this season! Happy Shopping! #SupportLocal #ShopLocal #LocalArtists #KansasCity