Beccijo Neff is a stay-at-home mother who home-schools her four children, so it's not surprising she has sought creative outlets — both for her children's education and for her own sanity.
In fact, the Harrisburg native has found a way to profit from her creative outlet — most recently making seasonal wooden toys. It's a pursuit that gives Beccijo great joy because she knows her items are teaching children about cultures, holidays and fantasy. She is also among the creative masses using Etsy, an online hub for independent crafters and makers to sell handmade items from around the world.
Since her online shop “The Enchanted Cupboard” opened its virtual doors in 2008, she has created hundreds of toys and now is busier than ever. In the last two years, the store has generated four times as much profit as it did in 2009. This Holiday season is so far proving to be the busiest, with hundreds of orders coming to Beccijo weekly.
“Being a toy maker for the holiday season is big for me,” says Beccijo. “Etsy gives me the opportunity to have customers all over the world. I am as busy as a Christmas elf from October through December and jollier then Santa Christmas Eve. I get so excited thinking about all the kids all over the world opening my toys.”
Keystone Edge hopes you shop local, in PA, as much as possible this holiday season. Our holiday gift guide based on PA's best Etsy offerings will make it a little easier, including categories for your entire shopping list.
A handmade or vintage gift is always more meaningful, and knowing it supports a nearby creator only doubles the holiday spirit. Happy shopping!
CLOTHING
Oma Vintage
Philadelphia
This all-vintage shop specializes in women’s fashion, with the occasional men's offering. Unique fashion pieces from the 40s through the 90s are sold at affordable prices.
Interference Channel
Beaver County
All knitted, all cozy and warm! This shop features handmade knitted bags, clippers, hand gloves and cozies for everything. They even do custom ordering.
FOR KIDS
Three Little Goblins
Glen Mills
Stay-at-home mom Pat loves to sew. She makes skirts, capes and alphabet bean bags for children in vibrant colors using only child-proof materials.
The Enchanted Cupboard
Harrisburg
Beccijo creates wood figures and scenes for children to use their imagination and play with. Hand-crafted and painted, figurines like mermaids, pirates, dinosaurs, astronauts and seasonal characters.
JEWELRY
Bottled Up Designs
Philadelphia
Living near a wooded area with too many antique bottles being dumped, Laura decided to pick up these broken shards of glass and start creating jewelry from them. Designing necklaces, earrings, ornaments, candle holders, home accessories and rings from 100% reclaimed glass and with each purchase gives “The Story of the Glass” to educate buyers about what glass was used for in previous decades.
Owl and Hourglass
Doylestown
Specializing in unique bronze toned brass pieces such as necklaces, pocket watches, pendants and bracelets. All pieces have a vintage and old fashioned look to them, creating a timeless accessory. If you or someone you know is a Harry Potter fanatic, they have a Hogwarts engraved necklace!
ART
Art by Clare
Landisburg
Creating intricate and colorful wall art from carving trees and nature scenes into recycled cabinets drawer, door panels and antique shutters to create beautiful pieces. All pieces are most appealing to the eye while creating little impact on the environment.
JRA Gourd Art
Lititz
When this stay-at-home mom isn’t homeschooling her children, she is woodburning dried gourds to freely create a multitude of designs. Since dried gourds last just as long as wood, these pieces make great centerpieces. She is open to creating personalized designs for weddings, holidays, etc.
FURNITURE
Valley Picks4u
Duncannon
Selling hand painted one-of-a-kind vintage furniture to look modern yet timeless. All furniture pieces are truly antique and no carvings or lines are distorted from the original piece.
Deckstool
Philadelphia
Using recycled skateboards, which would traditionally be tossed into a landfill, this shop makes upcycled stools, benches and other furniture that can be great additions to any house. Benches can be custom ordered, too!
HOLIDAYS
Table and Wreath Lady
Carlisle
Selling finished wreaths, ready for personalizing, pre-assembled scrapbooks and holiday craft supplies including stencils, stamps, name tags, wreath wires and much more. Any crafter can find a good majority of their crafting needs here. Be sure to look out for the finished holiday napkin holders and centerpieces!
Hits the Spot
South Williamsport
This mother of two boys decided to take her superb homemade chocolates and baked goods to create an online shop where she specializes in truffles, personalized chocolates, chocolate-covered Oreos, cookies, pretzels, and even chocolate string christmas lights!
The Fox’s Glove
Berks County
Herbs, spices, teas and natural blends are Rebecca’s specialty and passion. Creating all-natural and vegan teas, spices and bread dips for sustainable gifts and treats.
QUILTS
Gettysburg Quilts Civil War and More
Gettysburg
Stitching handmade quilts from 100% cotton with old fashioned patterns from the Civil War era-inspired styles and fabrics. These quilts are great for warmth, wall hanging, table cloths and pillows. Plus this shop offers free shipping on all orders.
Alams Trading
Philadelphia
Using a needlepoint technique called “Nakshi Kantha” from Bangladash, this shop stitches intricate floral embroidery patterns on cotton quilts. These quilts are filled with the most ornate colors and designs to create a beautiful piece of art.
WOODWORKING
Bradford Woodworking
Worcester
Using off-the-shelf parts in ways that they were never intended to make furniture pieces such as ax handles as legs for a stool, or a tractor seat for a bar stool. All pieces are farm related and hand crafted using traditional and modern woodworking ways.
Reis Renditions
Chester County
This family business that started as a thoughtful way to make gifts for relatives during Christmas has turned into a profitable business specializing in: necklaces, frames, baskets, book holders, clocks and pencil cups all from natural wood and rocks. All items are 100% hand crafted.
GEEKERY
8 Bit Geekery & Gifts
Franklin
Pixelated art coasters, business card holders and magnets designed to replicate old school video game characters such as Pac Man, Mario and Star Trek. All items are designed with a retro gamer flair.
Book Geekery
Erie
A shop filled with witty note cards with quotes from esteemed authors. All books and note cards have a vintage look to them, filled with typewriter fonts and faded color to create an antique look.
KELLY CLAYTON is a senior at Elizabethtown College who plays field hockey, writes on a variety of subjects for publications and is the Editor of Tru(4)ia Magazine. Send feedback here.
PHOTOS
Ada Egloff from Oma Vintage in Philadelphia
Oma Vintage apparel (photos 2-5)
The Enchanted Cupboard creations (photos 6-8), courtesy of Beccijo Neff.
Photographs by Michael Persico unless otherwise noted.