The Lioness Proudly Calls St. Augustine Home

/ Made in St Augustine/
The Lioness Proudly Calls St. Augustine Home

Sometimes you just know when you have found your home. That’s how it was for Alura Dye, owner of The Lioness Elite Hair and Skin Care, the first time she visited St. Augustine.

Upon graduating from Redken Academy she came to the nation’s oldest city and instantly fell in love. She took a day to visit places, meet people and admire the architecture – and was completely smitten with all of the local businesses and how much locals support them.

She immediately decided this was the type of place she’d like to call home and where she would like to start her business. So, she moved here the very next day.

Alura loved the idea of a town being drenched in love and support by its locals and how they helped put hard working passionate small businesses in the realm of success. She knew this was something she needed to be a part of.

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Regalia Gives New Life to Vintage and Antique

/ Made in St Augustine/
Regalia Gives New Life to Vintage and Antique

Regalia is a St. Augustine brand that has been foraged through many years of international travel and vintage collecting where each piece reflects the love of all things repurposed and remembered.

The brand comes in many (very affordable!) forms including home goods, clothing, accessories, jewelry and paper goods. From recycled vinyl record sleeve notebooks to rare restyled T-shirts, and then all the way to antique teacup candles, Regalia has made sure all the basis are covered.

From a young age, owner Rosalie Cocci enjoyed all things vintage and antique and began her collection as soon as she could earn an allowance.  These collections turned into creations as she grew into adolescence. The style she chose to express herself could not be found in any department store. By combing collections of vintage and the desire to be different, Rosalie was able to create a whole line of goods with solid branding. 

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Knotilus Bringing Back the Art of Macramé

/ Made in St Augustine/
Knotilus Bringing Back the Art of Macramé

Jessica Stark began doing macramé in elementary school when string boxes were the “in” thing. Jessica is bringing back the trend with Knotilus, her business handcrafting macramé pieces.

As a kid, Jessica and her friends would spend hours making friendship bracelets, anklets and necklaces for each other. Within the last six months, she decided to pick the skill back up and challenged herself to make a wall hanging for her husband’s birthday.  In the process, she rekindled her love for the craft of macramé.

Jessica’s favorite pieces to create are large intricate wall hangings that incorporate different materials such as shells, beads and feathers. Some of her pieces even light up! She recently started collaborating with Lotus Island Threads to make macramé pieces for their handmade bathing suits. Jessica loves the fact that the possibilities in the craft of macramé are endless.

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Minorcan Mike’s Carries on the Datil Pepper Legacy

/ Made in St Augustine/
Minorcan Mike’s Carries on the Datil Pepper Legacy

Like the datil pepper, the O’Steen family has been part of St. Augustine’s history since the beginning. It seems only natural that this fiery pepper would be part of the O’Steen family legacy.

As a kid, Mike O’Steen can vividly remember his grandfather growing datil pepper plants in his hothouse. Mike learned at an early age not only how to cultivate the peppers, but also how to cook with this staple ingredient of our local cuisine.

Ten years ago, Mike returned to his datil pepper roots and began making sauces as a hobby for oyster roasts. He figured out how to perfect his family’s recipe and create the amazing sauce Minorcan Mike’s offers today.

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Lotus Island Takes Mother Nature up on her Offer

/ Made in St Augustine/
Lotus Island Takes Mother Nature up on her Offer

As a Florida girl, born and raised near the beach, Jamie Compton has always loved the outdoors, sunshine and what the Earth provides us to enjoy.

She decided to pursue that love by becoming a Master Herbalist and create her own herbal remedies. She began by using her education to create products for herself and her family. Through Lotus Island Remedies, Jamie now passes her knowledge to the world offering ways for everyone to take advantage of what Mother Nature intended us to use to keep our bodies happy and healthy.

Jamie is a firm believer that we have everything we need right here on this planet to keep our bodies as healthy and happy as possible. She believes that in most cases for common ailments, symptoms can be curbed with a simple diet change and old fashioned herbal remedies just like those made in our grandmothers’ kitchen. Through Lotus Island Remedies, it is Jamie’s intention to provide these same types of herbal remedies for the benefit of the world to experience a healthier way of day-to-day living.

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Building Handcrafted Outdoor Furniture for St. Augustine

/ Made in St Augustine/
Building Handcrafted Outdoor Furniture for St. Augustine

Anyone driving down US 1 South has noticed the property adorned with picnic tables, swings and benches and a sign stating “Handcrafted Outdoor Furniture.”

This is where lifelong St. Augustine resident Roger LeBlanc who, as the name implies, makes items such as picnic tables, swings, benches, gliders, chairs, children’s furniture and playground sets completely by hand.

Some would say his talent runs in his blood. Roger’s father was trained as a master carpenter by his father and uncles. Roger’s father then passed his talent and knowledge on to his sons teaching them the art of woodworking and carpentry.

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Martin Story Designs Pieces Together Works of Art

/ Made in St Augustine/
Martin Story Designs Pieces Together Works of Art

Marlene Zullig is a local award-winning artist who has been working with stained glass and metal for more than 30 years. But her inspiration - and the namesake of her business - date back even farther.

Marlene named her business, Martin Story Designs, after her two grandmothers, Evelina Martin and Rosanna Story. Evelina was a true Renaissance woman who could hand-make anything. She was a master quilter and could create a dress or gown simply from a mental image. Rosanna, Marlene’s other grandmother, was the person who always encouraged her to reach beyond providing Marlene an immense amount of inspiration.

Marlene likens stained glass to hand-quilting in that each piece is individually cut out and pieced together to form beautiful art. She says she used to watch her grandmother make beautiful quilts from scraps of material, and she connects with her by working with stained glass in the same way.

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Laurel Dagnillo Touches Hearts through her Artwork

/ Made in St Augustine/
Laurel Dagnillo Touches Hearts through her Artwork

Many ask Laurel Dagnillo how long she has been an artist. The answer is simple: All her life.

Laurel was a quiet, shy kid growing up and spent many hours drawing alone. Art quickly became her best friend – a friendship she maintained through devotion (and practice). Her dedication began paying off even while she was still in high school as she sold her pieces as a way to make extra money.

As she got older, Laurel studied with some of the best local artists she could find and continually refined her skills. Her art education stems solely from teachings from her mentors, fellow artists and experience without any formal college training.

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Jelly Press Depicts Memories through Hand-Drawn Paper Goods

/ Made in St Augustine/
Jelly Press Depicts Memories through Hand-Drawn Paper Goods

A palm branch is a symbol of victory and triumph. So, it’s not too surprising that palm trees ultimately led Chelsea Preston to create Jelly Press, her successful business featuring hand-illustrated stationery and watercolor prints.

Growing up, Chelsea Preston drew everything. Her mom was artistic and encouraged a creative environment at home. (Her CPA father would have preferred she focus on becoming a doctor or something more practical.)

Chelsea excelled in all of her art classes and art became her primary focus in high school. Specifically, she drew endless doodles of palm trees  - probably because she grew up in Kentucky and loved vacationing in Florida. The word “endless” is not used lightly… she really drew a LOT of palm trees. This obsession actually resulted in Chelsea being banned from drawing palm trees in her high school art class. To this day, there is a “no palm trees allowed” sign on the door in her high school’s art room.

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JMC Boutique Handcrafts the Simple Things for Life

/ Made in St Augustine/
JMC Boutique Handcrafts the Simple Things for Life

The need to manage four girls’ hair will motivate a mother to do just about anything to make life easier.

While anyone who has daughters can attest to this daily struggle, this is an over-simplification of why Chamane Williams created JMC Boutique.

Chamane’s start to making natural care products was actually not personally motivated at all. A friend came to her needing help with a small soap-making business. Her friend taught her the basics and then Chamane took a few classes to advance her skills. But what Chamane ultimately learned was more than how to make soap – she discovered a love for creating with her hands like nothing she had ever experienced.

[Now enter Chamane’s daughters into the equation.] As Chamane was mastering her soap-making skills, she found herself always buying lotion for her girls. So, she thought to herself, if she can make soap, why not make lotion? [And now enter four daughters’ hair into the equation.] And if she can make lotion, why not make conditioner?

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Anni Frohlich Makes Art to Wear

/ Made in St Augustine/
Anni Frohlich Makes Art to Wear

Armed with a treasure chest of watches, baubles and repurposed found objects, Anni Frohlich gives castaways a new life through her original jewelry.

Anni uses her 29-year collection to create art to wear that falls into the steampunk genre. Her unique pieces do not always have a new finished appearance which is part of their charm and what characterizes them as vintage or upcycled.

Anni’s journey as an artist began more than two decades ago. It was a point in time when what is now considered “reuse and re-purposing” was commonly referred to as “recycling.” At that time, the trend was on the cusp of becoming more recognized and more importantly, appreciated. 

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Billy Bob Creations Handcrafts Smiles

/ Made in St Augustine/
Billy Bob Creations Handcrafts Smiles

Bob Carberry’s love of putting a smile on the faces of his wife and children is how Billy Bob Creations got its start.

A native of St. Augustine, Bob moved back to his beloved hometown after graduating from Florida State University and started a family. Always the tinkerer, Bob would pick up sticks, leaves, acorns and other natural items and carve out or draw silly faces on them to amuse his wife and children.

It all began about three years ago with a palm frond. Bob was in the park watching his girls play when he picked-up a palm frond off the ground. With his trusty knife, he began carving a face. He showed it to his girls and they giggled with delight (Bob’s intended reaction), and exclaimed that it looked like a cartoon character they liked named Billy. Bob brought it home and his wife liked it so much she hung it on the wall. From that point on, anytime Bob created something with a face, they were known as “Billy”.

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Bring Home the Saltwater’s Edge

/ Made in St Augustine/
Bring Home the Saltwater’s Edge

Growing up at the saltwater’s edge has shaped Minnette Baker and Brandy Hollingsworth’s style in repurposing found items and creating one-of-a-kind home accents.

Minnette and Brandy are true locals with family roots dating back to St. Augustine’s first settlers. They are inspired by the beauty of the nation’s oldest city that surrounds them daily.  They strive to make creations with an organic and relaxed feel, while still being a little funky and unique.

The mother-daughter duo humbly started repurposing, revitalizing and refreshing furniture and other objects years ago as a means to redecorate on a shoestring budget. It has since turned into a life practice as well as a flourishing endeavor known as Saltwaters Edge Studio. 

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Frog Song Organics Provides More than Amazing Produce

/ Made in St Augustine/
Frog Song Organics Provides More than Amazing Produce

When John Bitter and Amy Van Scoik started Frog Song Organics in 2011 they had a vision to accomplish farming with the “triple bottom line”: respect for human, ecological and economic resources.

With the help from family, friends and neighbors, who worked in trade for food, Frog Song Organics has grown from two planted acres to managing more than 60 acres.

They grow more than 80 types of produce, herbs, fruits and flowers, mainly in the field and also in several greenhouses/hoophouses. Certified organic since 2012, Frog Song Organics grows everything in soil for full flavor and do not utilize hydroponics.

Beyond the foods they grow, John and Amy raise egg-laying hens and recently started a pasture pork program. Frog Song Organics also produces value-added goods such as jams and fermented foods like kimchi and pickles.

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Yo Dog Designs Captures the Young Artist

/ Made in St Augustine/
Yo Dog Designs Captures the Young Artist

Rebecca D’Elena is a local artist who is passionate about more than just creating her own work. She shares her love of art by inspiring children to find their inner artist.

As a mother, Rebecca has always encouraged her sons to draw, equipping them with a creative space and proper drawing materials. Over the years, she watched her sons’ pictures bloom and develop. Impressed by their imaginative line drawings - coupled with the difficulty of finding artistic T-shirts for kids – Rebecca decided to make her own shirts using her kids’ crazy illustrations. And so, Yo Dog Designs was born.

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Cultivated with Love

/ Made in St Augustine/
Cultivated with Love

What stemmed from a passion for nature and gardening combined with an interest in cooking and creating in the kitchen has grown into what we now know as Cultivate Tea & Spice Co.

When Jon Veniard began blending unique spices and tea leafs, it was purely as a hobby. But after continued positive reactions from everyone who sampled his creations, he became convinced he should be selling his loose leaf tea and culinary spice blends.

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Forging the Future

/ Made in St Augustine/
Forging the Future

Becoming a blacksmith started as something much simpler for Cameron Fisher.

Nearly 15 years ago, Cameron when to farrier school to further his knowledge on shoeing horses. While his job as a farrier was rewarding in its own right, what he developed over time was a true love for the craft of blacksmithing.

At an event, Cameron met a blacksmith who took the time to explain how and what he does and the two developed a relationship based on the exchange ideas and knowledge. His mentor allowed Cameron to make mistakes (and there were many!) and used them as teaching tools. Under his guidance, Cameron learned the skills needed to craft items in a style that has long been forgotten.

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Your Search for the Perfect Tomato is Over

/ Made in St Augustine/
Your Search for the Perfect Tomato is Over

Sheldon Morrison’s quest for a good old-fashioned great tasting tomato and his wife Wanda’s desire for a greenhouse led the Morrisons to a solution that not only satisfied them both – but is delighting St. Augustine’s chefs and residents.

Although Sheldon grew up on a farm, he didn’t start farming on his own until retirement. After his first crop of tomatoes, Sheldon toyed with the idea of selling to restaurants. He talked to local chefs and found out what they wanted. What he discovered was a solid demand for locally-grown tomatoes. Not long after, Sheldon founded Morrison Tomato Farm under the premise of providing the finest tomatoes for the finest chefs.

Without realizing it, you may have already tried the fruits of his labor while dining at local restaurants like Blackfly, Collage, Michael’s Tasting Room and Meehan’s.

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See What the Buzz is about at Made in St. Augustine

/ Made in St Augustine/
See What the Buzz is about at Made in St. Augustine

Danielle Brooks loves drinking tea – especially with honey. One day, she had the thought of how awesome it would be to have her own hive from which to harvest.

Her interest piqued, Danielle set out to determine just what it would take to make her own honey. So, she checked out every book available from the library and learned all she could about bees and keeping them. She prepped her property including jumping through hoops to keep them in her deed-restricted community.

Once the stage was set, Danielle added her name to a list to get a beehive. And she waited. She likens the experience to an adoption. She says, “You can only prepare to a certain extent and then you just wait for the call that your beehive is in.”

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Rype and Readi Fills Your Plate and Delights your Palate

/ Made in St Augustine/
Rype and Readi Fills Your Plate and Delights your Palate

Located in St. Augustine’s historic Lincolnville, Rype & Readi Downtown Farm Market provides for area residents, local chefs – as well as those who aspire to be – and truly anyone who enjoys high quality, locally-sourced food.

Upon arrival at the Riberia Street location, visitors are immediately transported to a European village marketplace filled with an array of fresh, locally-grown and organic vegetables you might be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. Each season brings its own specialties to the market: strawberries, cherries and asparagus in spring and early summer; blueberries and melons later in the summer; mushrooms, apples and pears in autumn; and oranges, nuts and root vegetables in the winter.

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