LOVE: 5 Local Brands That Inspire
The Kitsap Peninsula is full of incredible brands, businesses and entrepreneurs known for their uniqueness, creativity, and giving the gift of inspiration to their community.
wonderful makers + artists abound, but here are a few shops that are inspiring us to tap into our creative side.
These businesses will help you tap into your creativity with unique experiences and products.
Bookmark this list for gift ideas for your creative friends and families who love making and creating together.
Kirsten Judkins
Kirsten is a local artist on a mission to share her love of illustrative art with others. Kirsten can be found instructing kids at Kitsap Art in Silverdale and lends her graphic talents to local businesses like Purpose Boutique and newlife church. Her website is a great place to find a unique gift - her custom family portrait illustrations are one of our favorites. She also has art packs that are fun for the whole family and every skill level - and especially the Disney lover!
Happy Kat Creates
Kat Perry is another incredible mixed media known for her custom, wood home decor. Kat is generous with her talent, donating a portion of every sale to a local non-profit that rescues women and children from human-trafficking. You’ll find a wide variety of DIY art projects on her site but one in particular that we are loving, is her wooden ornament painting kits. Kits include everything you’ll need for a fun evening of family arts and crafts!
Click here to buy an ornament kit.
Eastern Wind Glass
Dixie of Eastern Wind Glass loves watching her students create something with their own hands. With many guided classes to choose from, you can learn any type of glass art media, such as glass fusion or stained glass. For an experience everyone will love, schedule a small group lesson for your family and you’ll have her expertise and the entire shop all to yourselves! If you need a quick + unique gift, Dixie has several pieces ready to purchase, as well as the option to have a custom piece created by one of her in-house artists. The opportunities are as endless as your creativity in this cute Bremerton glasshouse.
Dancing Brush
Poulsbo’s Dancing Brush has been a beloved hands-on pottery painting experience Kitsap locals have loved for years. They had a wonderful idea to offer their painting experience in a to-go kit. In the absence of in-person classes, Dancing Brush has created a pottery experience for at-home family fun! Grab a friend, pour some drinks, and make a masterpiece in the comfort of your own home.
AR Workshop
AR Workshop in Gig Harbor is known for being the place to host a crafty party! But did you know they also offer DIY to-go kits as well! Build your own lawn games, weave a tapestry, learn to embroider, or - one of our personal favorites - grab a ‘Kindness Gathering Box’ and throw some extra love and kindness around like confetti!
Kitsap Art
Kitsap Art Center has been providing high quality fine art instruction to students of all ages for over 21 years on the greater Kitsap Peninsula.
KAC has locations in Old Town Silverdale, Port Orchard + Kingston. They are currently hosting many of their classes online, making it so easy to gather your people around the table and enjoy a guided lesson that is guaranteed to create fun memories! Make sure to check out our favorite teacher - Kirsten Judkins!
More of what we love about the Kitsap Peninsula
Sam Eitzen, the co-founder of SnapBar, is a truly inspiring story of grit and perseverance as he grew his company through the pandemic.