When The Mountains premiered its first list of what we dubbed (as so many do) “makers”—artists, chefs, designers, photographers, farmers, bakers and other talented artisans—a misconception arose that we were honoring the definitive list of the very best at their craft. Hardly. How we view our now annual list of deserving makers is simply this: We’d like to introduce you to these fascinating people who live in the same corner of the globe you do. Smiles all around.

For this makers 2025 list, we’ve identified 20 of the most eclectic, diverse, quirky, undeniably gifted humans who are all thriving and loving creating their particular brand of magic in this generous, creative and bucolic region we all call home.

Another way to view the newly anointed makers is how I’ve come to think about it: This curated roster is populated by some of the people we all should be inviting to our homes to elevate any and all social gatherings. Because we all know one thing to be certain: our local makers are always incredible storytellers as well. And who doesn’t want mellifluous raconteurs at our celebratory events? (Say that three times fast).

And even as we celebrate the latest worthy makers to make this year’s list, I’m excited with the knowledge that when it comes to makers, we’ll never—ever—run out of incredible deserving candidates. In fact, I argue that we’re all currently living in the country’s unrivaled makers Mecca. So, that’s pretty cool, yes? Now, it’s time to get to know our soon-to-be favorite party guests.

–Richard Pérez-Feria

Jamie Nadler & Madison Warren

“Every day I gasp with how beautiful it is living here,” says Jamie Nadler, who founded Dancing Greens Farm—a women-owned, no-till farm in the southern Berkshire mountains where they grow organic vegetables, herbs and flowers—with partner Madison Warren and a third co-founder, Madi Taylor. “And literally at every time of year it’s so amazing.” 

obsession: “The Roadside Store & Café in Monterey, MA. My partner and I try to go as much as we can.
The food is incredible, and the staff is so welcoming and kind. It’s the perfect spot.”

Barbara Klar

Barbara Klar is my favorite jeweler. Her artisanry is dynamic and strong, sexy and mystical. I permanently wear six of her pieces because their nearly pulsating power goes beyond mere ornamentation. It’s adorable that ‘every kiss begins with Kay’ but if you’re bold enough to reach for mythic romance, Klar’s gleaming artistry will light the way. 

obsession: “I’m obsessed with vibrations: the subtle shaking of the wind rustling the autumn leaves, or the memories of a precious stone held in my hand that whispers a tale of its journey through time.”

Ken Packie

Ken Packie might’ve never landed in the Berkshires or given full-time art a chance. What was meant to be a two-year pit stop in Otis, MA changed everything. “We fell in love,” he says. Here, he saw a carver using a chainsaw, getting way more detail than he’d thought possible, and it changed the way he made art. With his family’s support, he quit his job installing high-speed telecom networks to carve full time. Now he has a steady stream of commissions, does chainsaw carving for entertainment at events and competes with chainsaw carvers worldwide. 

obsession: “I’m obsessed with John Stanmeyer, a National Geographic photographer whose work is incredible and a totally different medium from mine. Also Dai Ban, who does a lot of funky abstracts—all my work comes from nature, but when I see his work, it’s like, ‘How? Where did this come from?’”

Kristin Nelson

“I love the Hudson Valley’s strong community of artisans and makers who prioritize quality and creativity,” says Kristin Nelson, founder of The Ardent Homesteader and creator of Cara-Sel, handcrafted, small-batch salted caramel sauce made in New York’s Hudson Valley. “It’s inspiring to work alongside people who are as dedicated to their craft as I am.”

obsession: “I’m obsessed with the incredible Thai food served up by NeeNee’s Kitchen when they pop up at my favorite local brewery, Rushing Duck, in Chester, NY.”

Benjamin Bruckenthal

Benjamin Bruckenthal is the chef, baker and owner of The Farmers Feast Inc. and Lightforce Bakery. Both businesses are housed in The Philmont Cooperative located in Philmont, NY. “I made the Hudson Valley my home years after attending college at Marist College in Poughkeepsie. I fell in love with the landscape and the fall foliage. It wasn’t until I became immersed in the local agriculture and food world that my affinity for the region became a foundation to my happiness and wellbeing. The Hudson Valley has inspired my creativity because of the sheer abundance of fresh raw ingredients available during the growing and harvest season, comparable to an artist’s extensive color palette and mediums.”

obsession: “I’m completely obsessed with Café Mutton, Rivertown and Rev Coffee.”

Karen Washington

“Coming from New York City and all the skyscrapers, it was a totally different experience,” says Karen Washington of her 2014 move to Chester, NY to co-found Rise & Root Farm, a QT+BIPOC centered farm, founded on love, chosen family and commitment to social justice. “Being on the farm, in the Black Dirt region has been absolutely incredible, experiencing that soil, that gift, I appreciate it every single day. It’s been a blessing for me.”

obsession: “Rushing Duck, a local watering hole where beer is brewed, the atmosphere is festive and full of joy, family friendly, with great music, and after a hard day it’s so great to relax and enjoy the best beer in town.”

Francesca DiMattio

Francesca DiMattio and her partner, artist Garth Weiser, live on a 17-acre tree farm in Hillsdale, NY, where they both have studios. DiMattio, an interdisciplinary artist, reimagines decorative motifs, transforming everyday domestic objects like dishware into towering porcelain sculptures that challenge traditional views of femininity. Recently, she renovated her childhood home and presented an immersive exhibition at Pippy Houldsworth Gallery in London. Despite her busy schedule, she finds time for gardening, which she describes as physical, creative and grounding. 

obsession: “Oh, the Goodwill in Great Barrington and Hudson; I also love the new Hy’s Fried Chicken in South Egremont, MA for the dancing on Saturday nights.”

Josh Blank & Emily Rosenberg

When Great Barrington husband and wife Josh Blank and Emily Rosenberg (pictured above) founded Papar Watch Co., they say they were inspired by the Brutalist architecture of their second home in México. A marvelous first run of classic-yet-new, section dial, GMT dive watches came to life in November 2024. “I think there’s an amazing beauty that feels simultaneously heavy, yet whimsical… serious, but somehow fun,” says Blank. “People don’t need to wear a watch. There’s an intentionality to it. It’s a tool of emotional connection.” 

obsession: “The first responders who fought the Butternut Fire, and the local community that’s supporting them. We’re also obsessed with music at The Egremont Barn, cocktails at Mooncloud and giant plates of fries at Prairie Whale in Great Barrington.”

Melina Hammer

As a cookbook author, food stylist and photographer, Melina Hammer strives to make her audience feel as if they’re right there at the table with her. Alongside her husband, she runs Catbird Cottage, a bed-and-breakfast in Accord, NY where you can get a taste for her cozy hospitality and hear the birds sing, too. “We invested in the landscape upon moving to the country—with it has grown a very active bird ecosystem,” she tells us of her latest passion. 

obsession: “Feast & Floret, an Italian eatery in Hudson, where I find new inspiration each season.”

Richard Selesnick & Nicholas Kahn

“Kingston has a vibrant, diverse community and is close to a lot of beautiful areas for exploring on both sides of the river,” says Richard Selesnick, who teams with fellow collaborative artist Nicholas Kahn to create photography and installation art. “These landscapes are varied, which appeals to us and is great for the kind of work we do.”

obsession: “Rough Draft in Kingston! We love the coffee, pastries and book selection. They have a lot of events that engage the community, and all the staff are amazing.”

Danielle Mailer

Danielle Mailer had a colorful childhood, to say the least. One of nine children of legendary American writer Norman Mailer, whispers of maternal Peruvian heritage come alive in the Goshen, CT painter and sculptor’s decorative surrealism imbued with complex patterns, mixed metaphors and hidden symbolism. One thing she learned from Dad: “When the muse arrives, don’t be late. Put your art first.” Mailer’s installations and murals can be found throughout Litchfield County in Torrington, Salisbury, Bantam, Cornwall and New Milford. 

obsession: “White Hart Inn in Salisbury. I love the wait staff, the owners, the beautiful environment, the coffee, the food and the community. It’s a treasure. Also, Sweet William’s Coffee Shop and Bakery for their lattes and epic apricot scones.”

Nadine Robbins

As a young woman, Nadine Robbins was admonished by a teacher who claimed realism isn’t an artform. Since relearning to paint in the footsteps of classical masters, her innate sense of color, composition and concept shines in the compelling, subversive, beyond lifelike oil paintings created at her Milan, NY studio. Robbins’ hyperrealist portraits and defiant nudes surpass mere likeness on their way to a harmonious blend of humor, poignancy and truth. “I see the world differently,” she says. 

obsession: “I’m obsessed with oysters—sexy, briny, delicious and sustainable. I used to paint them.”

Sergio Guadarrama

Sergio Guadarrama (front) moved to Hudson from New York City because a trusted intuitive from his home state of Texas told him that’s where he’d be successful. Good call. Guadarrama, who placed third in season 18 of Project Runway, runs Celestino, a successful couture line that’s garnered attention dressing celebrities (Google Billy Porter’s 2019 Tonys red carpet ensemble) while aligning with Guadarrama’s political heart. Through Made X Hudson, Guadarrama, together with Kade Johnson and Eric De Feo of Hudson Community Incubator, collaborates with small local companies to offer sustainable fashion that uplifts local artisan-made goods. 

obsession: “I’m obsessed with the creative energy in the Hudson Valley and the Catskills, where people are doing things at such an exceptional caliber. There’s something here that makes you want to be only your best self and to create beautiful things responsibly.”

Josie Moon 

“As a Catskill Mountain native, born and raised in the Black Head Mountain Range, these lands have always been very sacred and magical to me,” says Josie Moon, co-creator of Mighty Moon Medicine. “My initial inspiration for this work came from spending time with the plants, listening to them, being called into the woods by medicinal mushrooms, and learning how to make medicine with them. My main message is to empower people to trust themselves in taking their health into their own hands.”

obsession: “Oh, the Reishi cacao at Café Joust and a croissant from The Maker Hotel in Hudson—pure joy!”

Jimmy DiResta

Jimmy DiResta considers himself a fabricator—“I use all materials to design and create anything,” he says. His popular YouTube channel exemplifies this, where various instructional videos can be found on everything from barn doors to Dopp kits, an ax and even a treasure chest. Based in East Durham, NY, DiResta takes it one step further by making and selling his own tools and makewear clothing. He says he’s actively bringing several makers to live full-time in his corner of the Catskills, where he’s a contributor to the classes at Blackthorne Resort. If you attend in person, expect to make friends and learn a skill.

obsession: “I’m obsessed with my sawmill Cooksburg Lumber in Cooksburg, NY—I’m constantly thinking of reasons to go and buy fresh cut lumber. Not something you can get downstate simply.”

Hanoux

Hanoux (hah-NOO-ks) is the nickname under which Hannah Ross creates small-batch, naturally dyed textiles and workshops at her homestead in the Hudson Valley, not far from where she grew up in Litchfield County, CT. She was the fabric dyer for the New York City Ballet, which would’ve been a dream job but for the hazmat suit she had to wear while handling toxic chemicals. Cue the move Upstate. She says life here is abundant—in natural resources, yes, but also with a supportive community that’s more interested in localized and sustainable systems than in scaling for a profit. 

obsession: “I’m obsessed with The Fix-It Picnic. It’s a fully-funded and sponsored event hosted by Elise McMahon of LikeMindedObjects, and because of organizations like this lifting independent artists up and supporting us, I’m able to offer things like indigo dying as a free service at this event.” 

Chrissy & Ben Traore 

Chrissy & Ben Traore are the chefs behind See & Be Kitchen in Cairo, NY. “We love the community we’re able to serve with our long, slow fermentation sourdoughs,” say the cooking power couple—Ben has more than a decade of experience as a baker, Chrissy has him beat by a few years in experience as a chef. “Using local grains, milk, butter and seasonal ingredients is key to our philosophy. It is our firm belief that when the tide rises, all boats go up, and this is shown in how we’ve structured the business. Partnering with local farms ensures our work aligns with the seasons.”

obsession: “We’re obsessed with the Snickers brownies from Delightful Bites by Nina and cider by Left Bank.”

Irwin Feld

Hillsdale’s “Design Coach,” Irwin Feld says his interactive approach to design has made him a better designer. “Coaching is a novel approach because it really involves the homeowner.” With his wife Marcy, he renovated the 18th century farmhouse they now live in, which he says allowed him to blend his modern aesthetic with “the practical side of country living.” Living in Hillsdale, he says, has played an integral role in his design approach. “Moving here was a total sensory reawakening.” 

obsession: “I’m obsessed with Tommy B’s pizza in Craryville—a mouthwatering delight.”

Phil Sullivan & Gwen Benjamin 

Phil Sullivan and Gwen Benjamin are the owners of Your Neighbor Studio in North Adams, MA, where they offer unique, high-end, second-hand items they collect from all over the country. After 12 years in New York City and one year living in their Ford Travel Master RV, they’re now settled in Williamstown in a converted elementary school. Phil and Gwen chose the Berkshires because Phil grew up here and, as Gwen notes, “there are few places we have been that feel this special. The people, the nature and the amount of art we’re surrounded by is unmatched.” 

obsession: “Our local wine shop, Provisions Williamstown,_, has an incredible curation of wine, cheese and tinned fish.”