ABOUT THE AWARDS | JUDGES | 2023 WINNERS | PAST WINNERS
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016

 

★ 2022 Winners ★

 

★ Craft Category

Genres Collection by Bright Black.

Founded in Durham in 2019, Bright Black. is a Black- and family-owned company that uses scent as a platform to share positive stories about Blackness. The juxtaposition of the words Black — which often has a negative connotation — and Bright, meaning beauty, brilliance, and intelligence, was purposefully chosen as the company’s name to reflect its vision for a world where the complexity, beauty, and brilliance of Blackness is widely known, recognized, embraced, and celebrated. Bright Black. candles are lovingly and carefully handcrafted with all-natural, vegan, and phthalate-free coconut and soy waxes. Burning the lead-free wooden wicks helps intensify the fragrances captured in a stunningly modern design. The Genres Collection honors five Black musical traditions: Bachata, Hip Hop, Gospel, Rock, and Yemanja. In 2021, Bright Black. donated nearly six percent of sales to community organizations and initiatives serving the Black Diaspora. Learn more about Bright Black.

Honorable Mentions

  • Wood-Fired Pottery Lidded Jar by Mark Hewitt Pottery
  • Basketweaving by Pat Holbrook — Simply Entwined

★ Drink Category

Blueberry Basil Jun by Shanti Elixirs, LLC

Located in Asheville, Shanti Elixirs is a woman-owned business that brews handcrafted, small-batch Jun, a fermented and sparkling probiotic beverage that is made with raw honey and organic green tea. Jun is often referred to as the “champagne of kombucha” and has a light, smooth, and unique flavor profile. A nonalcoholic and gluten-free beverage, Jun is perfect to drink on its own or can be used as a mixer in a drink of choice. It is immune-boosting, mood-lifting, and full of flavor. The balanced taste of Blueberry Basil Jun is derived from locally grown basil that is infused with the dynamic sweetness of North Carolina-grown blueberries. Learn more about Shanti Elixirs.

Honorable Mentions

★ Food Category

Lamb Salami by Sun Raised Foods

Based in Cornelius, Sun Raised Foods was started in 2018 based on the belief that smart people care where their meat comes from and what’s in it. They produce delicious dry-cured salami that is made from lamb raised on the green pastures of North Carolina solar farms. The farmers Sun Raised Foods works with are required to be Animal Welfare Approved and cannot use antibiotics or artificial growth hormones on their lambs. The lambs are domestic breeds, which have more of a mild, less gamey flavor. Family-owned North Carolina companies process the lamb before the cuts are sent to one of the highest quality dry-curing facilities in the country. Sun Raised Foods has two flavors of lamb salami: The Finocchiona salami has a robust flavor with a hint of fennel to balance the pepper, and the Sweet Soppressata salami has a slight cherry note that is complemented by cracked red pepper, which creates a mildly sweet and spicy flavor. Learn more about Sun Raised Foods.

Honorable Mentions

★ Home & Garden Category

Large Grilling Set by Robinson Ex-Files Knives

Robinson Ex-Files Knives consists of a married team from Arden that creates quality kitchen cutlery and utensils from upcycled, locally sourced materials. The couple continues the rich tradition of rural Appalachian craft to create practical, durable, and beautiful pieces that will bring joy to your culinary adventures. The tools and blades are hand-ground from vintage files and rasps, and a wide variety of fabrics are transformed into vibrant and long-lasting handles for most of the culinary tools. Every Robinson Ex-Files Knife has been properly annealed to improve performance and durability. This Large Grilling Set incorporates a flat and half-round vintage file, and the handles feature a burlap coffee sack from Dynamite Roasting Co. burlap coffee sack layered over Wrangler denim and red canvas. Learn more about Robinson Ex-Files Knives.

Honorable Mentions

★ Style Category

Asheville — Outdoor Community Series by Farm to Feet, A Nester Hosiery Brand

Farm to Feet, a Mount-Airy based company founded in 2013, has grown to be one of the leading sock makers in the country through a blend of novel design and technical innovation. Farm to Feet uses U.S.-sourced merino wool and works with many North Carolina-based vendors, including yarns from Burlington and Rutherford College, yarn spinning in Raeford, dyeing in Belmont and Valdese, and elastic from Madison to make its socks. In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Farm to Feet partnered with another leading North Carolina outdoor brand, ENO Hammocks, to create a commemorative design. Named for ENO’s hometown, the three-quarter crew Asheville sock has light cushioning and a comfort compression fit. The Asheville features an ENO hammock hanging between two pines with a bright sun or full moon shining above, depending on the colorway. Proceeds from the Asheville sock benefit Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Learn more about Farm to Feet.

Honorable Mentions

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★ 2021 Winners ★

 

★ Food Category and Overall

Pimento Cheese Ravioli by Melina’s Fresh Pasta

In a Southern and Italian twist, Melina’s Fresh Pasta in Durham makes their homemade version of pimento cheese and then stuffs it into fresh pasta dough. Full of ricotta, freshly shredded cheddar cheese, pimentos, and a secret blend of spices, the Pimento Cheese Ravioli is delicious both fried or boiled and sautéed in butter until crispy on both sides. The first in her family to be born in the United States, owner and pasta maker Carmella Alvaro longed for a connection to her Italian roots and wanted to share the tradition of food made from scratch and served with love to family and friends. To bring authentic Italian food to North Carolina, she traveled to Bologna, Italy, to supplement the southern Italian cooking lessons of her mother and learned the northern Italian traditions of fresh pasta making. Learn more about Melina’s Fresh Pasta.

Honorable Mentions

★ Craft Category

Porcelain Teapot by Julie Wiggins Pottery

Mindfully made with porcelain clay using a traditional coil and pinch method, the Porcelain Teapot has a uniquely hand-drawn inlay with blue slip decorations and carvings to highlight the loveliness of the porcelain. Using transparent glazes allows the surface designs to stand out clearly yet gently. A studio potter in Charlotte, Julie Wiggins grew up in eastern North Carolina and is inspired by the landscapes of her childhood as well as her studies in China, Europe, Mexico, Morocco, and Central America. In combination with her studies of traditional studio pottery techniques, these influences help Julie create a body of work that reflects memories, movement, and a love of life. Learn more about Julie Wiggins Pottery.

Honorable Mentions

★ Drink Category

Vino di Lusso by Piccione Vineyards

Bright and bubbly with crisp notes of green apple and lemon zest, Vino di Lusso is a sparkling wine made from 100 percent Chardonnay and is the perfect bubbly for a special occasion or for simply enjoying with friends. Created in the méthode champenoise style — a traditional Champagne production method that promotes a second fermentation in the bottle — bottles are riddled and rotated weekly before finally being disgorged and corked. Dr. William Piccione, the grandson of Italian immigrants, founded Piccione Vineyards in 2010 and continues the family tradition of winemaking in North Carolina. Located in Ronda at the base of the Brushy and Blue Ridge Mountains, Piccione Vineyards grows both Italian and French varietals and prides itself on estate-grown wines that are hand-picked and handcrafted in the dry style. Learn more about Piccione Vineyards.

Honorable Mentions

★ Home & Garden Category

Infused Grain — The All-Inclusive Cocktail Smoker by Compass Woodworks Co.

Blending industrial elements with the beauty of wood, Infused Grain — The All-Inclusive Cocktail Smoker has everything you need to smoke the perfect cocktail. Made from a slab of live-edge hickory, TreeID 1089, the slab’s cracks are filled with colorful epoxy. The working components of the infuser are recessed into the board, and it includes an LED pushbutton switch and copper tubing that allows the smoke to travel from the infuser into the cloche. Based in Salisbury, Compass Woodworks Co. uses reclaimed or locally sawn lumber salvaged from various properties and slabs purchased from Carolina Urban Lumber Company’s TreeCycle America program, which allows the company to trace the wood’s origin back to an exact tree. Compass Woodworks Co. also offers pecan, cherry, and applewood chips for the cocktail smoker that are a by-product of planing wood for their projects. Learn more about Compass Woodworks Co.

Honorable Mentions

★ Style Category

Traveling Soldier by Home State Made

Inspired by family who served in the Army, the Traveling Soldier is made with a combination of distressed leather and a repurposed Army duffle and flight bag. The backpack features a padded back, side pocket, computer divider, front zipper pocket, key clip, drawstring top with flap and buckle, repurposed padded straps from an Army duffle, and a North Carolina flag patch. All the leather comes from U.S. tanneries, and Home State Made strives to use every bit of the hide. Each bag includes a vintage cow tag, many of which come from a retired dairy farm in Chapel Hill. All bags are designed, hand-cut, sewn, and finished in Home State Made’s store in Sanford. Finding the beauty in imperfections, Home State Made enjoys utilizing something old and giving it new life. Learn more about Home State Made.

Honorable Mentions

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★ 2020 Winners ★

 

★ Craft Category and Overall

Wild Clay Floor Vessel by Motyl Pottery

Made from 100 percent North Carolina clay dug by Tori Motyl in Burnsville, the Wild Clay Floor Vessel measures 28.5 inches tall. After throwing in sections on a pottery wheel, a slip surface made from watered-down clay was applied and tooled while rotating on the wheel to give it a texture that speaks to the fluid nature of the clay. Firing in a reduced environment gave it flashes of red and orange on an otherwise black surface. Based in Asheville, Tori uses wild clay and a variety of throwing, cutting, carving, and ripping to showcase the highly textural properties of clay. Learn more about Motyl Pottery.

Honorable Mentions

★ Drink Category

Bourbon Barrel-Aged Wildflower Mead by Honeygirl Meadery

Honeygirl Meadery’s Bourbon Barrel-Aged Wildflower Mead is an evolving and deeply satisfying sipper, with medium to full body, pleasant alcoholic warmth and silky smoothness. Made exclusively from North Carolina wildflower honey, fermented and aged to bring out rich, deep notes of dark honey, buckwheat, and brown sugar treacle, this gorgeous amber mead is then further aged in a bourbon barrel from Durham’s Mystic Distillery. Each bottle of mead is handcrafted and hand-bottled in their downtown Durham facility. Learn more about Honeygirl Meadery.

Honorable Mentions

★ Food Category

Providence by Goat Lady Dairy

Goat Lady Dairy has been making artisan goat’s milk and cow’s milk cheeses since 1995, and helps sustain five family farms in North Carolina. An aged goat milk cheese with a natural rind, Providence evolved out of experimental batches of a Tallegio-style cheese that Goat Lady Dairy made years ago. Providence is the perfect table cheese to pair with cured meats, olives, or membrillo and can be used as you would use Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino, or Manchego. Learn more about Goat Lady Dairy.

Honorable Mentions

★ Home & Garden Category

Battleship Teak Large Chef Knife by Nicholas Nichols Knives

With handles made from reclaimed teak wood from the deck of the USS Battleship North Carolina after the deck was replaced in the mid-1990s, each Battleship Teak Large Chef Knife is a piece of history. As a classically trained chef, Leland-native Nicholas Nichols knows the importance of high-quality knives. His love affair with metal began at an early age, and he quickly found his passion in knifemaking. Learn more about Nicholas Nichols Knives.

Honorable Mentions

★ Style Category

Riverside Hi by Opie Way

A classic silhouette, the Riverside Hi sneaker is made with six ounces of unlined vegetable-tanned leather, a suede heel counter and toe cap, and PORON insole for lasting comfort and is finished with hand-beveled edges, a copper rivet on the tongue tag, and waxed cotton laces. Most of the magic happens by hand in Opie Way’s small factory in Asheville to ensure each shoe fits perfectly. Sourcing materials as close to home as possible, Opie Way wants to change the way people look at footwear and provide an everyday shoe made in North Carolina. Learn more about Opie Way.

Honorable Mentions

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★ 2019 ★

 

★ Home & Garden Category and Overall

Rocking Chair by Wheeler’s Chairs

Following traditional methods of post and rung construction passed down from Colonial times, Wheeler’s Chairs ladderback chairs and rockers are handcrafted from native Appalachian hardwoods sourced from local hardwood suppliers. Built in Millers Creek, this rocker features walnut posts; red oak rungs, arms, and runners; spalted maple backs; and a hand-rossed and woven hickory bark bottom. Learn more about Wheeler’s Chairs.

Honorable Mentions

★ Craft Category

Mid-Century Modern by Koolbird

Inspired by the 1950’s interior designs, Charlotte-based Koolbird integrates mid-century modern elements into bird houses. Koolbird bird houses are eco-friendly and are made from a variety of tropical hardwoods. With Mark Ellis’s background in the furniture business, these retro birdhouses are well built, firm, and stylish and will complement the exterior design of any home. Learn more about Koolbird.

Honorable Mentions

★ Drink Category

Lemon Elderflower Hard Cider Spritzer by Noble Cider

Located in Asheville, Noble Cider uses locally grown apples to create innovative and delicious craft hard ciders. Their hard cider spritzers offer drinkers a fantastic and fruity, gluten-free option made with hard cider, real botanicals, and filtered sparkling water. The Lemon Elderflower Hard Cider Spritzer is fermented from freshly pressed apples is mixed with organic dried lemon peel and dried elderflowers for an infusion that’s crisp, bright, and lightly floral. Learn more about Noble Cider.

Honorable Mentions

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★ Food Category

Bourbon Honey Chocolate Truffle by Little Bird Chocolate

Little Bird Chocolate proudly creates small batch chocolates in Winston-Salem. Their Bourbon Honey Chocolate Truffle is definitely one to savor and is full of North Carolina ingredients. The 70% Venezuelan dark chocolate, sourced from Winston-Salem’s Brasstown Chocolate, is blended with fresh cream and Fool’s Gold Bourbon Honey, which combines Forsyth County-harvested honey with bourbon from Seventeen Twelve Southern Spirits in Conover. Learn more about Little Bird Chocolate.

Honorable Mentions

★ Style Category

Classic Patchwork Pack by Amber M. Jensen (formerly of ha!)

Made entirely by hand in Marshall, the Classic Patchwork Pack was inspired by regional textile traditions with an eye toward the colors, shapes, and textures experienced during Amber’s hike across the Blue Ridge Mountains. Designed with the intention to create an equally utilitarian and stylish backpack for men and women, the pack rolls up to reveal an interior pocket for laptops and a durable cotton canvas lining. Learn more about Amber M. Jensen (formerly of ha!).

Honorable Mentions

 

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★ 2018 ★

 

★ Art Category and Overall

Old Hickory by Recycling is for the birds!

This exquisite birdhouse incorporates rural North Carolina materials in a unique and useful way. The house itself is made of wood sourced from a farmhouse, corn crib, and general store dating back to the early 1900s. The glass windows and tin roof are from farmhouses built in the 1800s, and the base is from a tobacco barn circa 1940. All of the materials came from Jones, Pitt, and Craven counties, and the birdhouse took 124 hours to complete. Learn more about Recycling is for the birds!.

Honorable Mentions

★ Food & Drink Category

Sweet Potato Crunch by Jenni’s Ugly Chocolates

Homemade in Greenville, this gourmet candy features ingredients from a number of North Carolina farms. The bonbon-style treat gets its namesake crunch from a base of toasted pecans and toffee bits, while the creamy sweet potato filling is infused with vodka distilled from sweet potatoes. Whether these chocolates are “ugly” is debatable; what’s not is that they’re delicious! Learn more about Jenni’s Ugly Chocolates.

Honorable Mentions

★ Home & Garden Category

Mountain Laurel Mirror by Bryson Mountain Studio

These unique frames are constructed of mountain laurels harvested from the remote mountains of North Carolina. Each piece of wood is sliced, cured, and then carefully designed to fit the glass it will hold, ensuring that those who view themselves in the mirror will also be able to catch a glimpse of our state’s forested hills. Learn more about Bryson Mountain Studio.

Honorable Mentions

★ Style Category

Ginger Handbag by ShoeBeeDo

One of ShoeBeeDo’s most popular designs, the Ginger bag is made from strong, durable bull hide that wears to a beautiful patina with use. The bag comes in a wide array of colors, features a main compartment big enough for the necessities, and has a special back pocket for keeping your phone handy. Complete with a wide, adjustable strap for cross-body wear and a unique dial-lock clasp, the Ginger Handbag is the perfect travel companion for any North Carolina adventure. Learn more about ShoeBeeDo.

Honorable Mentions

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★ 2017 ★

 

★ Art Category and Overall

Vessel Sink by Blue Mountain Bowls

Carl Pittman, owner of Blue Mountain Bowls, has held woodworking near to his heart since childhood. As an artist, he works with locally sourced wood to create products that serve both practical and decorative purposes. Learn more about Blue Mountain Bowls.

Honorable Mentions

★ Food & Drink Category

Old North Shrub by The Chef’s Farmer

Jamie Swofford, a former chef turned farmer, is passionate about providing fresh ingredients and flavors to chefs across the Piedmont. Old North Shrub, The Chef’s Farmer’s first shelf-stable product, reintroduces a centuries-old beverage to North Carolinians that can be enjoyed by all ages. Learn more about The Chef’s Farmer.

Honorable Mentions

★ Home & Garden Category

Plantation Lumbar Rocker by Troutman Chair Company

Originally founded in 1924, Troutman Chair Company products can be found across the state wherever a good rocking chair is needed — from a front porch to the Charlotte-Douglas airport. More than 20 pairs of hands touch every rocker before it leaves the manufacturer, one of the many reasons why the chairs are cherished for generations. Learn more about Troutman Chair Company.

Honorable Mentions

★ Style Category

Button Downs by Ole Mason Jar

Ole Mason Jar is more than just menswear; it’s a socially conscious lifestyle brand. Originally college roommates, co-founders Filipe Ho and Bradley Rhyne channeled their entrepreneurial spirits into bringing the textiles industry back to North Carolina and have shaped the clothing market in Charlotte in the process. Learn more about Ole Mason Jar.

Honorable Mentions

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★ 2016 ★

 

★ Craft Category

Carved Rhododendron Root Burl — “Mountain Shells” by Waldroup Woodworks

The Waldroups seek out wood with imperfections, such as burls and knots, and turn them into stunning and functional pieces. Made from locally salvaged or harvested wood from the mountains of western North Carolina, each piece of wood is chosen for its shape, color, and grain patterns. Using chain saws, a lathe, power grinders, hand chisels, and sanding techniques, the Waldroups strive to produce a finished piece with curves and shapes they see in the natural world.

Honorable Mentions

★ Food & Drink Category

Salted Honey by Cloister Honey

Cloister Honey has more than 50 beehives in Charlotte and specializes in creating handcrafted, small-batch, gourmet honey products. The company’s flavored spreads, from Salted Honey to Arbol Pepper-Infused Honey, separate them from the hive. Dreamy wildflower florals and a pinch of sea salt in Cloister Honey’s Salted Honey give this savory honey spread a personality of its own.

Honorable Mentions

★ Home Category

Basket Weave Baby Blanket by Echoview

Echoview, whose woven textiles are sustainably made in Weaverville, honors America’s pioneering past but always has an eye on the future. A true classic, Echoview’s Basket Weave Baby Blanket is inspired by a pattern in every knitter’s arsenal — a simple all over in-and-out jersey stitch, which gives the blanket a woven look that is reminiscent of old-time wicker bassinets. Created with super-soft, eco-friendly, organic Supima cotton, the blankets are not treated with any chemicals in order to keep them safe for you and your family.

Honorable Mentions

★ Style Category

American Made Handbags by R. Riveter

R. Riveter creates more than just high-quality handbags. It also creates jobs for military spouses all over the county. The parts and pieces of every R. Riveter handbag are inspired by or made from authentic military materials and are crafted by the hands of military spouses stationed coast-to-coast. The final products are assembled by local military spouse operators at R. Riveter’s FabShop in Southern Pines.

Honorable Mentions

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