Meet the Makers & Artisans Behind 7 Hudson Valley Brands

Whether you’d like a one-of-a-kind glass lamp, a faux-paint job, or even a full-scale renovation, local master craftsmen are here to help.

By Autumn Jordan

It’s important to shop local, but when you purchase beautiful items crafted in the Hudson Valley it’s a win-win. Here, we shine a light on a few of the most gifted artisans whose wares are lining the shelves of some of our favorite stores.

pottery mugs
By Autumn Jordan

Alexis Tellefsen

Tellefsen Atelier Middletown

It’s always wonderful when a small business gets big. And Alexis Tellefsen (a SUNY New Paltz-trained ceramicist) has become one of the biggest names in Hudson Valley ceramics. Her studio creates thousands of pieces a year for about two dozen regional vendors and online buyers. Alexis’ line includes dishware, mugs, carafes, berry bowls, garlic jars, and candle holders. The clean-lined, modern pieces will add pop to your tables or shelves, but the palette is the real pull: “I formulate all my recipes myself so that I can get the exact colors I want,” she says. “I love the process of testing dozens of batches, tweaking until I get it just right.” Most items are solid earth tones (with names like Fern, Cremini, and Paprika) though there are fun two-tone and checkered patterns as well. “I like my work to be unintimidating and playful,” explains Alexis.

pottery making
By Autumn Jordan

FAVORITE PRODUCT: “The Curve Mug—one of the first designs I ever sold. Every time I roll out a new glaze color, I dip a Curve Mug, bring it home, and hope my husband doesn’t notice the clutter in our cabinets.”

FALL PICK: A picnic set, which comes with two plates and three bowls. Alexis rolls out new color combos each launch.

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BEST SELLER: Bowls, bowls, bowls!

FIND TELLEFSEN ATELIER: Berte in Beacon; Shop Little House in Woodstock; Flowerkraut in Hudson; The Parcel Flower Co. in Cold Spring; Kaaterskill Market in Catskill; and online at tellefsenatelier.com.

Malu Byrne and Rick Van Streain Low

EN Studio Catskill

crafting jewelry products
Photo courtesy of EN Studio

Jewelry stores don’t usually have a curated playlist in the background as you shop for your next statement piece. But EN Studio isn’t your typical jewelry store—and not just because owner Malu Byrne’s dad is renowned singer-songwriter David Byrne. Malu and her partner, Rick Van Streain Low, both NYC transplants, met years ago while studying at Pratt Institute. Those were the early days of EN Studio—they collaborated on designs, and made jewelry for one another, which evolved into fashioning pieces for friends and family. Over time, the duo felt something was missing: a bridge between traditionally masculine and feminine jewelry. By launching EN Studio, they sought to express their love for form and fluidity to “empower its wearer within” and provide balance. “EN” is derived from “ensō,” a practice in Japanese Zen Buddhism where the process of circular ink painting from planning to creating to the outcome are all equally important. As you peruse the shop (by appointment only), you’ll be entranced by gold constellation rings, blue chalcedony ear cuffs, and mini knot duo necklaces with peridot and 22k gold. This beautiful brand has expanded out of tiny Catskill—Saks Fifth Avenue launched EN Studio’s pieces last November.

crafting jewelry products
Photo courtesy of EN Studio

FAVORITE PRODUCT: “The Temple ring, as each client wants to make it special to them—using family diamonds, or sourcing meaningful stones to include.”

rings
Photo courtesy of EN Studio

FALL PICK: Wear a Papal hair pin and match it with a sparkling ring, like the Fortuna. They’ll pop against autumn jackets and scarves.

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BEST SELLER: The Constellation Ring and Arch earring are always battling for the top spot.

FIND EN STUDIO: At Land in Kingston; their atelier; or enstudionyc.com.

earring product

earrings product
Photo courtesy of EN Studio

Janette Bower

Flora Beauty Kingston

perfume
Photo courtesy of Flora Beauty

For 22 years, Janette Bower was hard at work in the high-powered beauty industry, running multiple boutiques in Lower Manhattan. During her free time, she studied aromatherapy, green medicine, and psychology. She began tinkering with ingredients to make her own beauty products—which ultimately brought her to Kingston in 2017. Janette’s chic spa in the Stockade District offers just about everything you’d need for self-care—her own formulations, as well as those from other local makers looking to elevate the beauty game. Flora is a perfect place to find your next unique fragrance, be inspired to change up your skincare routine with high-quality serums and essential oils, or pick up a new lipstick for fall.

FAVORITE PRODUCT: “A perfume I crafted called Essentia. It’s the essence of my travels in Mexico. It captures the warmth of the people, scents, and imagery of that time in my life.”

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perfume product
Photo courtesy of Flora Beauty

FALL PICK: Nectar, a regenerative oil that repairs sun damage and locks in moisture.

BEST SELLER: There are a few: Luster, a daytime oil; the rose mist, lavender, and squalene body oil; and orange blossom hair oil.

FIND FLORA BEAUTY: Three Turtle Doves in Woodstock; Thank You Have A Good Day in Hudson; the Kingston store; or florabeauty.com.

Alison Smith

Salt + Still Peekskill

geometric pattern
Photo courtesy of Salt + Still

If you’ve ever longed for a one-of-a-kind quilt, look no further than Salt + Still. After taking a natural dye workshop at the Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn, Alison Smith fell in love with the process of soaking textiles in spectacular colors. She ditched her day job in communications to stitch beautiful, geometric-patterned quilts that are naturally dyed with botanic- and insect-based ingredients. “Cochineal is an insect found on prickly pear cactus and the color extracted from the insect creates a gorgeous range of reds and purples,” she explains. The extremely detailed and intricate tidal and pinwheel quilts are remarkable and true investment pieces.

sketching a product
Photo courtesy of Salt + Still

FAVORITE PRODUCT: All! “I love hearing what colors clients are drawn to and what patterns resonate with them. It’s an honor to have someone choose one of my pieces for their home or to commemorate a special occasion.”

FALL PICK: The quilts are one-of-a-kind and only made once, so choose (or design) one that matches your vibe or complements your home.

quilt product
Photo courtesy of Salt + Still

BEST SELLER: “Indigo pairs well with other colors, so it’s easy to incorporate into your home decor. The color is calming and grounding.”

FIND SALT + STILL: At Field + Supply’s Fall MRKT (October 7–9 at Hutton Brickyards) or online at alisoncharlismith.com.

Stacey Dugliss-Wesselman

Cold Spring Apothecary and Wellness House Cold Spring

About 12 years ago, when Stacey Dugliss Wesselman was tired of searching for beauty and skincare products that didn’t contain chemicals she was allergic to, she decided to make her own. Stacey started experimenting and crafting beauty products (her first creation was shampoo, now a cult favorite), left Brooklyn for Cold Spring, and then opened her beautiful, airy space on the corner of Main and Rock streets. Shelves are lined with a variety of handmade, clean products for the face, body, and hair. Over the years, Stacey expanded her brand to include home goods, a sustainable refill bar, full-service salon and spa, and an herbal dispensary.

creating apothecary
Courtesy of Cold Spring Apothecary

FAVORITE PRODUCT: “If I must choose, it’s our healing salve. It functions as a catch-all in my regime, from cuticle moisturizer to under eye treatment to cleansing balm and nighttime facial treatment. It truly heals all the skin’s woes.”

FALL PICK: One of their top-selling incenses—No. 1 (redwood, saffron, patchouli) or No. 2 (teakwood, bergamot, spruce)—to infuse your home with a woodsy aroma.

BEST SELLER: As the weather cools, customers turn toward the joint salve and joint therapy bath salts. They can keep you nimble and energized, but be warned—they fly off the shelves!

FIND COLD SPRING APOTHECARY: In its brick-and-mortar store or online at coldspringapothecary.com.

Sarah Mijares Fick

Sarah Mijares Studio Hudson

vase
Photo courtesy of Sarah Mijares Fick

When you take a close look at Sarah Mijares Fick’s clay pieces, you may see some connections to rock formations or botany. That’s because much of her work is inspired by nature. Sarah spent about a decade learning and honing her craft in mentors’ studios in New York, New Mexico, and South Korea, playing with and ultimately mastering clay, before opening her studio in 2020. There you’ll find monochromatic items, mostly vases, vessels, and tables, that are sculpted and then given distinct textures, resulting in truly special pieces.

crafting a product
Photo courtesy of Sarah Mijares Fick

FAVORITE PRODUCT: “The Isamu Table—a two-part accent table inspired by acclaimed sculptor and architect Noguchi’s interlocking sculptures.”

accent table product by makers
Photo courtesy of Sarah Mijares Fick

FALL PICK: Large serving vessels, for dining rooms or kitchens, are wonderful statement pieces. They look beautiful on their own or filled with local produce.

BEST SELLER: Sarah only makes one-of-a-kind ceramics. So while her vases and bowls are extremely popular, no two are alike.

FIND SARAH MIJARES STUDIO: Berte in Beacon; The Hōm Market in Hastings-on-Hudson; Mary MacGill Studio in Germantown; or online at sarahmijares.com.

Sara Golden

Sara Golden Jewelry Phoenicia

makers crafting a product
Photo courtesy of Sara Golden

Sara Golden’s handmade jewelry is more akin to works of art. She honed her craft as an apprentice in Florence, Italy, where she learned to create original, stunning designs meant to live in one’s collection forever. “I love bright, bold jewelry, and I particularly like mixing beautifully patterned stones with sparkling, colorful ones,” says Sara, “I purposely look for stones with inclusions and natural irregularities—I think they make the stones so much more interesting.” In fact, she finds a lot of her inspiration in nature, starry night skies, and mythology. Sara works with precious or semiprecious stones and minerals such as lapis lazuli, emerald, and azurite malachite to create pendants with chunky chains, snake bangles, and bold rings and earrings. If you love wearing pieces that don’t look like anyone else’s, the sort of items that make people stop and stare, you’ll adore this jewelry.

FAVORITE PRODUCT: “The Pharos Ring—it’s a fair-mined 14k gold ring with a beautiful, bright green emerald in the center. My father’s birthstone was emerald, so I have a soft spot for them.”

ring by makers in the valley
Photo courtesy of Sara Golden

BEST SELLER: Collage Studs, a “mix of playful but tasteful” earrings that combine natural-patterned and sparkling stones.

earrings product by makers in the valley
Photo courtesy of Sara Golden

FALL PICK: If you need an easy-to-wear, closet staple that goes with just about everything, check out the Aswan Hoop earrings. They’re smaller hoops in gold that pop with hand-carved details.

FIND SARA GOLDEN JEWELRY: Berte in Beacon; Facets of Earth in Kingston; Sunny’s Pop in Narrowsburg; or online at saragolden.com.

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