For the uninitiated, Pride is an annual celebration of diversity and inclusion. It started back in the 70s as a way for gay men and women to express themselves and has grown to include anyone who identifies as LGBTQ, people of color, and allies. If you support equal rights, even if you are not one of the aforementioned LGBTQ or POC, you can still be an ally and participate in these spectacular events.

Pride parades and festivals take place in cities all across the country and around the world. When I lived in NY attending Pride was an event. There was so much excitement and energy from the performers, the crowd, and the passersby. Now that I am a transplant to Charlotte I have grown to embrace the community here by setting up a booth every year along with our friends Jessica and Drew of Crowley’s Crafty Creations. We’ll be prominently displaying some of our collaborative work that combines their super cool fractals with my etchings and painting. We are hoping that the folks attending Pride will be as excited about our work as we are.

If you are going to be in Charlotte this weekend, Aug 17-18, and you want to be a part of the festivities come by Tryon Street in Uptown. We’ll be between W 3 and W 4th Street. Come check us out, and enjoy the music, the activities, the drag shows, the parade, and all the stuff that makes Pride so wonderful. Happy Pride and, as always, stay unique.

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We met some amazing people from all different walks of life. On Saturday a couple wearing a pair of shirts that said “Free Mom Hugs” and “Free Dad Hugs” stopped by and, in addition to letting us cash in on the promise of hugs, taught us about Free Mom Hugs. They are an organization that spreads awareness about the LBGTQ+ Community.

So Many Wonderful People

We also met some wonderful people from the LGBT Chamber of Commerce who shared with us the services they offer to provide equity and inclusion for those who identify as LGBTQ. Many other wonderful people stopped by and shared their stories with us and we are looking forward to an opportunity to come back again next year. Sharing our space were some fantastic small businesses that shared our values and were wonderful to work with. We had so much fun getting to know Vita Candle Co (@vitacandleco) Daily Mews (@dailymewscatcafe), Clumsy Bee (@clumsybeebakingco), and all the other wonderful shop owners.

Our biggest seller of the day was definitely our hand-burned CLT Pride coasters and keyrings. They made great souvenirs to remember the event. It was also a great opportunity for us to connect with some folks to take some custom orders. From custom charcuterie boards to personalized coasters it gave us a chance to work on so many great new designs.

We have plenty of products still on sale celebrating pride and we will be looking for other upcoming events in the area to get to know even more great people. Happy Pride.

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The colors of the pride flag represent the diversity of the LGBTQ community. Red represents life. Orange is for healing. Yellow is for sunlight. Green is for nature. Indigo is for harmony. Violet is for spirit.

Whether you are a member of the community or an ally show your pride with these beautiful handmade coasters that remind your guests that love is love no matter who you are. All coasters are wood-burned, painted with acrylics, and coated with a polyurethane finish to keep them preserved for many years to come.

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