This unique gift has been assembled by Woven's winegrower Elaina to include artisan products handmade by local heroes, adventurers, storytellers, and singers of songs. She has prepared the following description of each maker and their product.
Mick O'Leary and Aaron Colvin
HOP CITY SOAPS | PORTLAND, OREGON
Wanderlust IPA Fir Needle | Hand-Crafted Cold Process Beer Soap
HopCity Soaps & Breakside Brewery
Once college dorm-mates at Southern Oregon University, these two Oregon beer lovers are collaborating to produce all-natural bars of soap made with microbrew. After an apprenticeship with a skilled veteran soapmaker in Bend (Aaron's own mother Leslie Colvin, founder of LeCol's Soap Bar) these two launched HopCity Soaps in Portland three years ago.
Why beer? According to their website, hops, yeast, barley, and wheat provide an array of nourishing qualities for your skin and your hair. Hops are rich in amino acids, (helps soften skin), as well as polyphenols (believed to have antibacterial/preservative effects). Beer also contains vitamin B among other essential vitamins, which further moisturize skin.
Craft beers from the Pacific NW are used in every batch and are paired with oils and revitalizing aromas. (There is more than an ounce of beer in every bar.) You can check out their other creations at https://www.hopcitysoaps.com or via Instagram @hopcitysoaps
Jovani Prince
THE CRACKER KING | PORTLAND, OREGON
Rosemary & Sea Salt | Artisan Gluten Free Crackers
My family fell in love with The Cracker King at the Hillsdale farmers market last summer. It isn't easy to forget the huge smile on Jovani's face as my kids methotically sampled each and every one of his offerings (twice). Evan enthusiastically declared that they were all delicious while Ava insisted we buy one of each.
Domestic responsibilities are never-ending for this stay-at-home dad, but in an effort to follow his passion, Jovani finds the time to work magic in the kitchen. The idea for his product came from an amazing seed cracker his mother made. The Cracker King is fully committed to providing a healthy snack food alternative option that is gluten free yet full of flavor and tastes great. In an interview with the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network Jovani defined what success means to him as "people across this world eating one of my products with a smile on their face." His crackers are Certified Gluten Free, have no Cholesterol or Trans-fat, are made only with the highest quality of whole grains and wholesome local ingredients. He and his daughter personally delivered my order to my home with a handwritten thank you note. How cool is that? You can purchase all of his delicious creations at https://thecrackerking.com and via Instagram @thecrackerking
Scott Carroll
SHAUCE | BEAVERTON, OREGON
Hot Sauce | Organic Gourmet, Vegan, Healthy Food
I first met Scott and his wife Küllike several years ago at a hands-on cooking class. At the time, they were in the final stages of testing and perfecting their recipe for this wholesome hot sauce. I was honored to receive one of their first sample bottles.
They listened to the comments from hundreds of tasters like myself while creating Shauce and continually tweaked the recipe based on the feedback they received. The result is a joyful yet bold community-created hot sauce. It's been an absolute pleasure to watch their passion and their product thrive.
As a company, Shauce pledges to use only the healthiest ingredients, to practice sustainability, to honor world cuisines and cultures, and to produce a product that promotes healthy and happy patrons. Visit their website to learn more about their story https://shauce.com or via Instagram @shauceco
José Martinez + Sons (Martín, Levi, Kevin)
OROX Leather Co. | PORTLAND, OREGON
"DAD" Monogrammed Cord Minder | High-Quality Leather and Pin-clasp
Keeping headphone and charger cords from becoming a tangled mess
Orox spans four generations of master leather makers with roots beginning in Oaxaca, Mexico. The name Orox represents the merging the present (Oregon) with the past (Oaxaca). As explained on their website, it all started in 1933, with a family and a baseball team. Don Felipe Martinez Audelo began developing custom-made leather baseball gloves and belts. All of his sons grew up playing baseball. Off the field, they worked together learning the family craft. José was eight years old when he began to work in the family business and grew a natural, ingrained love for leather at that early age. As José grew into a young man he spent six years living and working in Japan developing leather goods and perfecting his skills before starting a family of his own.
After José’s oldest son, Martin moved to Portland to attend Portland State University he decided to stay and build a life here. Conversations between son and father led José, to join him to began the development of a new line of leather goods, handmade in Portland under the Orox trade. José and Martin started their business out of their garage and retailed at Portland's Saturday Market. In 2012, the family opened a workshop in Portland's Old Town (just five blocks from my tasting room) envisioning a retail environment mixed with on-site manufacturing, allowing for customers to see the products handcrafted and assembled in real time.
José’s other sons, Kevin and Levi, have proudly joined the family business, as generations before them had done. Orox's philosophy has been, and remains, that quality products are classic in style designed to last a lifetime. Visit their website to support their amazing work at https://www.oroxleather.com or via Instagram @oroxleatherco
Chef/Farmer Mark Lopez
GATHER AND FEAST FARM | LA CENTER, WASHINGTON
CRAVE CATERING | PORTLAND, OREGON
Roasted Red Chile Oil
& Salsa Roja
A jar of each - straight from the farm to your table!
Chef Mark and I began working together twenty (yes ... 20!!!) years ago. He owned a taqueria downtown at the time and made the best fish tacos on the planet. He still does.
Over the past two decades, Chef Mark has adapted his business from utilizing the freshest, local, organic ingredients available to planting it, cultivating it, and harvesting it himself. Three years ago he expanded his thriving catering business with the purchase of his 20-acre biodiverse 'Gather and Feast' Farm in La Center, Washington. Mark and his team use exclusively organic farming procedures, which means no pesticides or herbicides – ever. He also bring things full circle by recycling food scraps as feed for livestock, or compost for the soil.
The farm is home to laying hens, boiler hens, quail, geese, rabbits, and the famous Scottish highland cattle–all raised free of pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals. Dinners and events at Gather and Feast Farm are among the most authentic and memorable farm-to-table experiences you'll find anywhere. I look forward to the day we can gather around Mark's table and feast until the wee hours.
Not only is Mark an amazingly talented chef, he is a gifted and dedicated farmer, and friend ... he is one of the most dedicated fathers I have ever met. I encourage you to support his efforts during these unprecedented times. His farm store is open for weekly pickups in three locations with everything from garden starts and seeds to full family meals and prepared items such as salsas and sauces. I just purchaed some chive blossom infused salt and edible flower confetti compound butter. Seriously!?! Please support them via their website https://www.gatherandfeastfarmstore.com or via Instagram @gatherandfeastfarm
Ian Williams
DEADSTOCK COFFEE | PORTLAND, OREGON
10oz of Whole Bean NENEMAR Medium Roast Blend
(Dried Peach and Milk Chocolate, Laid Back)
Ian grew up in the Hillsboro/Beaverton area not far from where I spent my childhood. After leaving a retail position at the NIKE Employee store he took a temp poison making airbags for shoes. Shortly thereafter, he was hired for a position as a janitor at the NIKE World campus. Over the course of three years, he worked his way up the corporate ladder to become a footwear developer. His first design was a Nike SB, inspired by the bright yellow wet floor sign he became all too familiar with in his previous role.
After realizing his dream and living it for a few years, the story is told that Ian craved the interaction with people more than he enjoyed sitting behind a cubicle. He aspired to create a place where sneaker lovers could gather and share the creative spirit. Thus, Deadstock Coffee was born out of the idea that a coffee house with a gallery could become that community.
His café is literally five blocks from my tasting room. While I have not yet gotten to know him personally, my friend's fish "Sushi" hung out with him for three months. My daughter also tells me "he makes the best chai tea she's ever tasted" as she has been several times with her friends.
I once overheard the best way to understand someone's wine plate is to ask them how they take their coffee. For what its worth, I take mine with cream and sugar. Lots of both. I am looking forward to trying his Charles Oatly (half sweet tea, half coffee with a splash of oat milk) on my next visit to Deadstock.
You can find him in Old Town at 408 NW Couch Street (did I mention the Butterscotch Trap Cake made by his mom?) or online at http://www.deadstockcoffee.com or via Instagram @deadstockcoffee.
Bradley Speer
Bradley Ceramics
PICK THIS FARM AND STUDIO | NEWBERG, OREGON
Handcrafted Clay Beverage CupHigh Fired Functional Ceramics
Anyone who’s had the good fortune of experiencing Brad’s pottery knows he makes exquisite art with a purpose and function. His work is gorgeous and displays nicely on a shelf or wall. It also intends to go to work by serving, through dinner or holding a favorite beverage. Color, shape, texture, expression, and touch all play roles in the ceramic art experience. For Brad, he wholeheartedly believes everything is better experienced in clay.
We have been friends for nearly two decades. From leisurely dinners to a weekend at wine camp I always enjoy the time we spend together. While his day job brings him into the hospital for long days, I have often admired his ability to bring work life balance through his passion for pottery.
I love many things about his art but his attention to every minut detail is something special. As a masterful cook, Brad thinks about not only the functionality of each piece he creates but he inherently cares about the added beauty it can bring to a particular dish. He has been commissioned by reputable restaurants such as The Painted Lady in Newberg to create custom pieces.
My personal favorite pieces are the ones where he incorporates ash from local vineyards (created from burning the discarded grape wood after pruning) into his glazes to create an extraordinary aesthetic. I feel very lucky to be able to include a unique one-of-a-kind clay sipper cup in each of these gifts. These are cups to be treasured and put to use daily.
Follow his story and support his work at https://ptfas.com or on instagram @pickthisfarmandstudio
This and 11 other handcrafted products are featured in our special Father's Day gift on sale now via link in profile.
#thefutureiswoven #bradleyceramics
Follow his story and support his work at https://ptfas.com or via Instagram @pickthisfarmandstudio
Sebastian Cisneros
CLOUDFOREST CHOCOLATE | PORTLAND, OREGON
Orchid
80% Dark Chocolate highlighting the delicate flavor from the vanilla orchid
Sebastian first discovered chocolate while on a road trip from his hometown of Quito, Ecuador to the beach at the young age of five. Several years later, he moved to Oregon as an exchange student, graduating from Ashland High School. He produced his first chocolate under the name "Cocanu" from the basement of Kenny & Zuke’s.
Cloudforest was originally the name for his first bean-to-bar product, made from beans from the Camino Verde orchard in Balao, Ecuador weaving the past with the present. His goal is to create a unique tasting experience that honors Pacific NW ingredients such as Hazelnuts, honey and olive oil with cacoa beans from his hometown. During his endeavors here in Portland he has created many different chocolate bars representing multiple profiles and stories but as he explained during an interview with OPB his most meaningful work is his Valentina bar that was inspired by his daughter. I absolutely love that he hand stamps every single bar he makes with a wax seal.
Click here to watch a OPB video about his journey to the Pacific NW. You can also purchase more of his delicious art at https://www.cloudforest.shop or follow his journey via Instagram at @cloudforest
Tommy Ferguson
BANKS, OREGON
Custom Wine Glass Charm
A simple yet handy little trinket to help Pop find his Pinot
Tommy is the eldest grandchild of Uncle Jim and Aunt Lynn and the son of my cousin Kathryn. He currently lives at the family farm. Tommy started learning computer programming and engineering at a very young age and now, 14 years later, has become exceptionally skilled at creating and building everything from complex systems to tasty treats. Last Christmas he programmed his 3D Food Printer to spell out each of our names in perfectly prepared golden pancakes. (#truestory You can't make this stuff up!)
These attractive wooden wine glass charms were created using a CNC (computer numerical control) Router that Tommy 3D printed and built himself based on an online design. The table that the CNC Router uses was also designed and built by Tommy from scratch. He designed these charms in Adobe Illustrator and fine-tuned the cutting before printing each individually. Watch out world! This kid is gonna move mountains ... and probably print a few a new ones along the way.
Evan Eden
PORTLAND, OREGON
Herbs de Papa & Smoky BBQ Spice Rub
A woven blend of dried herbs and spices made by a son for his dad.
My son Evan is eight years-old and a rising 3rd grader at the Oregon Episcopal School. He loves playing video games more than anything but in the treasured moments when he's not building new worlds in front of a screen, he loves food. He is often referred to as my little foodie and I enjoy spending as much time as possible with him in the kitchen and around the table.
Back in November, Evan opened a pizzeria in an effort to provide an elevated snack experience for the extension program on campus at the OES lower school. He worked in collaboration with his two best friends, both also named Evan. The dynamic trio assembled a talented team to develop a concept design with the plan to execute a versatile menu that "meets the evolving demands of a new generation of sophisticated young diners." Prior to opening, they thoughtfully sourced ingredients and equipment, created a cost-analysis based on individual portioning, and even developed a written business plan. Finally, they assembled a team of prep cooks and servers each with the individual job responsibilities required to successfully execute orders. Not only was the pizza yummy, the project inspired other students to create and execute their own restruant concepts.
This time, Evan wanted to make something special for his dad Darrin. He has created a secret blend of dried herbs (aka Herbs de Papa) that can be added soups, sauces, and dressings for extra flavor. It can also be sprinkled onto any protein or vegetable before it hits the grill. Fun fact! You can even add a pinch or two of it to the coals of your grill when they're hot to add extra aromatic flavor.
Evan also made a smoky sweet BBQ spice rub that weaves together 15 different delicious spices including smoked paprika and brown sugar. The rub can be applied to any protein prior to cooking ... or sprinkled on popcorn like Evan enjoys.