ideas for unique gifts from North Carolina (Winston-Salem, Welcome: wedding, live)

[nrmanby]

We're headed to a wedding overseas and want to bring a number of gifts to the bride's family. We'd love for these to be unique, preferably relate to North Carolina, and possibly hand-made.

One idea we've had is a nice print of Duke Chapel, as our friend earned her MBA from Duke. Another would be Hugh Morton's picture book of North Carolina.

We'd really appreciate others' ideas about potential gifts. Don't worry about a price range as we'll need a couple of potentially expensive gifts (the actual wedding gift) to a number of cheaper gifts (for children or general acquaintances).

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

[lovebrentwood]

NC pottery. The website says there is a shop in Cameron Village:

Traditional, Functional, and Artistic Pottery along with gifts and more from Historic Seagrove, North Carolina

A large bowl in a different, but not weird, design might be nice. Even if it doesn't match anything, they can put it as a centerpiece on a table with fruit or something.

Or a pitcher they could also use as a vase: http://www.seagrovepotterygallery.co...s/photo14.html

[nrmanby]

Thanks for the pottery ideas. There are some beautiful pieces ... these would make great gifts!

Please, keep the ideas coming.

[NC~Mom]

NC made wine.

[lovebrentwood]

Back to NC pottery. Personally, I don't like most of it (to me, much of it seems old and tired), but the items below would make especially nice gifts, IMHO, especially the first two. The ones below show creativity and may appeal to a wider variety of tastes than other items.

Nichols ~ Cranberry - leaf platter

Windsong ~ Green - green tea set and platter

Lantern Hill ~ Red - red platter

U Turn by Mary Ann Purser - orange platter

Lantern Hill ~ Blue Drip- blue bowl

I found this website, too: Glass Plates Platters Bowls Serving Pieces
It is an individual who fuses glass to make platters and dishware. The person is in the mountains of NC.

Years ago, I did a story on an artist who did similar work and watched how it was done. The pieces can be very beautiful; on that site, I didn't see anything great, but they say they are updating. Maybe they can send you pics or make a a custom piece.

Here is another pottery site, and it links to an artist with some INCREDIBLE teapots. Unfortunately, there are no prices listed. They are truly works of art. Pottery Carolina, Handmade/Hand Made Pottery in North Carolina Pottery by David Bellar

[roadpony]

Originally Posted by lovebrentwood

Back to NC pottery. Personally, I don't like most of it (to me, much of it seems old and tired),

Here is another pottery site, and it links to an artist with some INCREDIBLE teapots. Unfortunately, there are no prices listed. They are truly works of art. Pottery Carolina, Handmade/Hand Made Pottery in North Carolina Pottery by David Bellar

Please don't paint all NC pottery with one brush. There are many incredible potters of many varied styles (traditional to contemporary) throughout NC. Take a look at Piedmont Craftsmen, located in Winston-Salem, and one of the finest non-profit craft guilds in the country. They offer fine craft in all mediums (wood, glass, pottery, fiber, print, metal, etc.) Their juried members are from throughout the southeastern US, but many are from NC.

I agree with your assessment of David Bellar. I have several of his teapots. It's been a while since I've been to his home/studio and don't remember what I paid, but they're reasonably priced for what they are.

[roadpony]

For other NC-related gift suggestions, the NC Museum of History has a terrific gift shop chock-full of NC items.

I think the Hugh Morton book would be a wonderful gift. There are some nice NC wines, but since you're traveling overseas, there will be obvious restrictions... same with food-related items. Maybe some of those could be shipped ahead of time?

[LLN]

Some BBQ sauce

A dulcimer

A Canvas Goose Decoy or handcarved duck decoy

The Charles Kuralt book, North Carolina is My Home (I think is the title) is the book to get Pictures and poetry -- very very good

Possibly a quilt

Good Luck

lln

[Ann in Oriental]

There are some amazing artists here in Oriental and probably in lots of other towns. I'm talking paintings. All types all different mediums. In just this tiny town alone there are maybe 5 galleries and I even have 1 friend who lives on a sail boat and does amazing water colors. We also have a sculptor who is rather famous and folks who do stained glass and basketry and of course the old standby...pottery. One man in town does awesome woodwork, bowls and bracelets and balls inside of balls. Then there are the jewelry makers. I could go on and on. I don't know where you live but if you aren't too far from here give Oriental a try.

[LRoyal10900]

Our State magazine has alot of nice gifts too....Welcome to Our State Magazine