Announcing Go Ask Mom's 2020 Made by Mom Gift Guide

Every Monday, I highlight a local mom who is making a difference in her community. Maybe she's building something. Maybe she's creating something. Whatever she's doing, she is taking risks and finding success as she follows her passions.

Posted 2:00 a.m. Nov 23, 2020 — Updated 12:05 p.m. Dec 10, 2020

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

, Go Ask Mom editor

And every November, I announce Go Ask Mom's Made by Mom Gift Guide, which features a dozen of these local moms. As you plan your holiday shopping, I encourage you to consider these local mom-run businesses and support their amazing work. Over the next several weeks, you'll hear more about each them and the work they are doing.

Without further ado and in no particular order, here's our ...

2020 Go Ask Mom Made by Mom Gift Guide

Sterling Berry Tea Company

Tatiana Boulankina of Raleigh developed a love of tea thanks to her grandma, Meela. Today, her business Sterling Berry Tea Company offers a variety of delicious black, green and herbal teas.

Made by Mom Gift Guide: Sterling Berry Tea Company offers fine teas, custom aromatic blends

Plaid Love Threads

Valerie Evans of Apex, a former VIP and celebrity tour guide at Disneyland, now lives in Apex and runs Plaid Love Threads, offering up gorgeous embroidery hoop art and embroidered jewelry, among other things.

Made by Mom Gift Guide: This Apex moms creates embroidered hoop art, jewelry, amazing bridal bouquet portraits

Michael's English Muffins

My family has fallen in love with Michael's English Muffins during the pandemic. They're the creation of Annabelle Comisar, whose inspiration is her father, a longtime restaurant owner in Ohio. These English muffins are like nothing you've had before. Light, fluffy and almost doughnut like.

Made by Mom Gift Guide: Raleigh's Michael's English Muffins serves up billowy puffs of buttery goodness

Rosehip Lane Knits

Jana Olecka of Raleigh offers up beautiful hand knit beanie hats for the entire family, scarves and knitting patterns through her business Rosehip Lane Knits.

Made by Mom Gift Guide: Rosehip Lane Knits draws international following for its handmade beanies, patterns

Clean Bar Shop

Clean Bar Shop, founded by Kimberly Boyd, offers handcrafted bar soaps in scents like simply lavender, warm cedarwood and oat and aloe and other products, including body cream and lip balm.

Made by Mom Gift Guide: The Clean Bar Shop offers handmade, small batch body products

LiLi's Sweet Shop

Shanika Ruffin of Raleigh serves up yummy bite-size gourmet desserts and dessert bars, popcorn and other treats through LiLi's Sweet Shop. Her creations are designed to catch the eye and please your taste buds.

Made by Mom Gift Guide: LiLi's Sweet Shop specializes in bite-size desserts, popcorn, celebration boxes

Bumble Brews

Blair Byrndside opened Bumble Brews, a play space for kids and a cafe with coffee, draft beer and other drinks for parents in Cary. Bumble Brews offers private and non-private play sessions, craft kits, party rooms, a rotating select of drinks and special events.

Made by Mom Gift Guide: Cary business serves up brews for parents, play space for kids

Bright Black Candles

We featured Tiffany M. Griffin of Durham and her Bright Black Candles earlier this year. She creates high-quality candles that honor the Black Diaspora.

Made by Mom Gift Guide: Bright Black Candles celebrate the scents, designs of the Black Diaspora

CheReversible

Cheresa Denae of Durham has built CheReversible, a reversible clothing line with dresses, skirts and accessories, including face masks.

Made by Mom Gift Guide: Durham business offers line of reversible clothing, custom creations

Fillaree

From Durham, Alyssa Cherry, founder of Fillaree, offers handmade liquid soaps and cleaners with a focus on transparency and waste reduction through refill.

Made by Mom Gift Guide: Durham mom finds success with line of refillable, sustainable soap products

Pandemic Play

The pandemic prompted Azure Cutter and Miel Binford, both occupational therapists who share activities here on Go Ask Mom, to write "Pandemic Play: Promoting Socialization While Social Distancing," to help parents figure out the best ways to keep kids safe and socialized.

Made by Mom Gift Guide: Local moms write book to help parents, kids find safe ways to play during pandemic

Alara + Zane

Sanaa Alyemeni opened Alara + Zane, a new children's boutique and play space in North Hills. in the spring. Her shop curates a collection of cute items for little ones, plus a place to play.