Caite Hamilton

Every day on fast-paced Route 250 between the towns of Ivy and Crozet, countless drivers may pass The Barn Swallow without even noticing. Only a small sign points it out. Shielded by a line of thick bamboo and tucked into a barn by a trickling creek, the boutique artisan gallery is an oasis from hurry […]

So you wanna be able to say, “I made that!”? These four spots are helping you craft something brag-worthy, from floral arrangements to beaded earrings.  Be Just407 Monticello Rd.bejustcville.com What do pizza, pillows, and flowers have in common? They’re all workshops held by this Belmont home goods shop. The thoughtfully curated class list focuses on […]

Cody Lester has been a woodworker since 2012, but one day on his way into work (he keeps a day job as quality improvement analyst for the UVA Transplant Center), inspiration struck: He’d been trying to dream up a new product for his business, The Fine Grainery, that would allow him to combine mediums and […]

Llorel Eldridge was standing in a lavender field when she had the idea to start L’Essentials, her nature-inspired skincare and décor brand.  “I always stayed at my grandparents’ house during the summer and we were always outside,” Eldridge says. “I’ve been inspired by nature my whole life.” She launched in 2020 with hand sanitizer, floral […]

Longtime fiber artist (and communications consultant) Miriam Dickler knew her pit bull Frank was a big softy, but his serious face often said otherwise to strangers.  “I started putting him in fun bandanas I made to try and help communicate his friendly, loveable personality,” she says. “It seemed to work!” Eventually, she began to make […]

After graduating from Appalachian State University with a BFA in graphic design, Emily Wool was searching for her next step.  “Towards the end of the program, I had become pretty disenchanted with what I saw as the rigid world of graphic design and wanted to explore a more expressive way of art-making,” she says. She […]