Favorite Local Makers: A KC Bucket List Roundup
If you’re a Kansas Citian on the ‘gram, chances are you know & love KC Bucket List, Mindy Hargesheimer. This local expert rounded up some of her favorite local makers:
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a passion for interior design, and at one point began channelling that love into collecting pieces of art that we would fall in love with from our worldly travels to different destinations, and that would return home with us to fill our walls with memories paired with eternally positive emotions.
In addition to our travel finds, the daily joy and reward I have found in curating a collection of home decor created by local Kansas City makers has transformed our house even further. We take incredible pride in these unique and wildly impressive creations made by driven and talented local artists.
Made in KC has done a phenomenal job inspiring local residents to support Kansas City artists and makers, which in turn gives back to our city’s economy in a profound way. The benefits include not only fueling an up and coming artists’ success in our home community, but also taking pride in your home by displaying pieces that aren’t in one hundred thousand other homes around the world. Your space becomes a space of custom designs that become conversation starters for years, if not generations, to come with a local hero story to tell behind them all.
I’ve rounded up our own array of locally made creations that fill our home with positive vibes, gorgeous lines, and vibrant displays of storytelling!
The Fat Plant Society: @thefatplantsociety
The live green moss designs that Kasey and Morten create are astounding! First learning about their work from a Plaza restaurant design, I reached out to Kasey to connect to hear her story and learn more about what they do for residential design. The perfect spot opened up as we painted a wall in our formal living space black, knowing the vibrant green shade combined with its living, breathing biophilic effects would be the absolute perfection addition to our family’s home.
Wyandotte Woodworking: @wyandottewoodcrafter
After finishing our basement, we wanted a live edge wood sofa table and needed a specific measurement that was difficult to find. One First Friday weekend at Bella Patina in the West Bottoms, we came across the raw walnut wood slab that connected us with Mark, who made this perfect design that stuns us every time we entertain and live day to day in this space.
Anita Easterwood: @anita_easterwood
She had me at “Daydream.” This stunning black and white portrait says “Head in the clouds, never lost just...wandering. This is for all the daydreamers out there.” Yes, Anita, that daydreamer always has been and always will be me. And, this beautiful print will always hang beautifully in the midst of our curated local art collection.
Gallup Map Company
I originally stumbled upon Gallup’s vintage Kansas City map on Etsy when searching for just that. We worked together with the Gallup team in the Crossroads retail shop to size the map to a specific wall’s measurements within our home. Combined with choosing the frame, they nailed the final product and it is displayed beautifully on our staircase.
Steven Dragan Fine Art: @s.dragan.art
Steven’s architectural paintings are so intricate and recognizable. Having worked together on a few different social media collaborations to share his amazing custom work with my audience, I enlisted his KC Arrowhead Aerial print to grace our home office wall to bring our Chiefs pride in-house.
Mano’s Wine: @manoswine
Could I ever tire of Mano’s etched wine bottles? The answer is a resounding NO. I love Mano’s lifestyle + occasion, professional sports, seasonal, collegiate, and custom order bottles. We continue to acquire new designs that we sport in our basement bar, including our alma mater, our Kansas City landmarks and teams, and my favorite seasonal creation; the Halloween Skull Etched wine.
True Grit Woodworking: @truegritwoodworkingboards
Thanks to Kimberly Stern, PR Guru for the Kansas City food and maker scene, I was connected with Scott, the visionary behind these gorgeous and locally made charcuterie boards. Each unique in their design and color scheme, this beautiful green epoxy and wood board is perfect for our home entertainment and grazing board opportunities that always get the crowd talking.
Beautifelt - Art by Jess Bundy: @beautifelt
A mutual friend connected us for me to learn more about Jess Bundy’s story. Watercolor artist and color-inspired maker, the Beautifelt pieces range from local to sassy, to comedic and everything in between. Her variety of designs make her collection always a fun surprise to see what’s next, and her vibrant Kansas City pieces brighten up our home office wall.
Lights on Mason: @lightsonmason
I gifted our Kansas City vintage radio light to my husband for a wedding anniversary. When you walk into the gallery of lights at the Bella Patina shop in the West Bottoms, you see the spectrum of designs that Artist, Larry, comes up with. Kansas City, collegiate, and more, these make for an amazingly unique gift that elevate the design of your home space.
MRS Decor: @mrsdecorllc via @strawberryswingkc
All I needed to see was this epic and simple statement that just sums up the past year. I’ve followed Meggan’s signs for awhile, but nothing spoke to me more than this sign that hangs proudly on my wall. Shoutout to The Strawberry Swing Founder, Katie, who gifted this to me as part of a successful partnership of showcasing the local Midwest maker market scene!
For my music-obsessed husband who plays along with the traditional wedding anniversary gift game, the Edison Amp smartphone music amplifier made from copper was the perfect unexpected gift that means vintage, but screams modern decor to me. I love its simple and perfectly sized design that feels like an elevated addition to a home for a music loving family.
Jamie James: @beautyoutofchaos
Jamie has been a longtime, loyal follower on social media, always engaged with the content creations scene. Upon connecting more closely with her, Jamie shared one of her prints with me, enlightening me to more about her story that stems from her mother’s spirit to make the world a kinder place. Jamie is a KC Artist, Philanthropist, and Social Worker who channels her creative and positive vibes into works of art.
TWA Museum: @twa.museum.kc
My aunt worked for TWA for over 30 years, beginning her career right here in KC. Upon a return visit from LA to KC for a TWA Flight Attendant reunion, we visited the TWA Museum at the downtown airport, and adding this vintage travel poster to my collection held multiple meanings; from the association of my aunt’s career, to my passion for global travel.
Boulevard Brewing Co.: @boulevard_beer
With our love of KC’s original craft beer, I couldn’t resist the Space Camper Tin Tacker from the Boulevard Tours & Rec Gift Shop to liven up the space. Tied into my obsession with all things space, this Cosmic IPA released in recent years holds my favorite design to make a permanent impression on our walls.
