Kaitlyn Clavin’s first project with wine corks was a simple snowman ornament, painted white with black dots for eyes, mouth and buttons.
Once Clavin added orange carrot-nose paint and a small plaid scarf, she judged her creation cute enough to attempt a cork Grinch, and then a penguin. She was amazed when all three sold at the gift shop that she was managing at an historic property in Leesburg.
Seven years later, Clavin, 30, runs Once the Wine is Gone, a business that offers fun-but-functional items handcrafted from recycled wine corks. “It’s the most incredible feeling when customers get excited about our products and take something home,” she says. “They’re shocked at how much you can do with corks.”
Early on, the King George resident drew in her mother, Jayne Miller, as a partner. The duo has traveled to craft fairs and festivals in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, including 35 events in 2024 alone. They also have sold products to buyers in 29 states, and counting, on Etsy.
Kaitlyn Clavin and Jayne Miller are the daughter/mother duo behind Once the Wine is Gone.
Many corks are donated by Virginia wineries, particularly Ingleside Vineyards, as well as by shoppers themselves. “The top question we get is, ‘Did you drink ALL this wine?’ ” Clavin reports with a laugh. “We do enjoy a good Chardonnay and dry red, but not that much.” Adds Miller, “People have handed us garbage bags full of saved corks. We’ve never had to buy one.”
Clavin and Miller’s growing product list includes wine glass charms (consistently their top seller), coasters, earrings, ornaments, bracelets, cheese spreaders, trivets, birdhouses, beaded garlands and American flag signs.
Clavin handles event planning and marketing and completes smaller crafts at her dining room table, while Miller, based in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, creates larger items in her home office and garage. Other than Miller’s gentle teasing about having to handle a few last-minute orders, they report no conflicts since their 2019 craft show debut.
“I get such a kick out of doing this,” says Miller, 62. “She’s my only child and we’ve always been close, and this lets us spend time together at beautiful venues.”
Surprisingly, neither woman has an artistic background, although Clavin thinks of Miller as crafty: “I almost got a C in high school art, whereas Mom actually created most of the décor for my wedding.”
Miller worked in Enrollment Services at Penn State University for 37 years before retiring in 2024; Clavin, who has a master’s degree in American Studies, spent seven years in the museum field. She currently has a full-time marketing job at Naval Support Facility Dahlgren.
Clavin’s next goal is to open a brick-and-mortar storefront sometime this year, likely in King George or Fredericksburg. The store will offer home décor, garden accessories, a flower bar, gifts, gourmet food items, classes and workshops.
Meanwhile, Clavin and Miller have visited 55 wineries in Virginia to date—the Northern Neck region is a favorite—and have maps with red wine glass stickers marking places they’ve seen. Their supportive husbands, they note, take care of two dogs apiece during travel days.
“This has been such an unexpected journey,” Clavin says, “and brought us so much joy.”
Visit oncethewineisgone.etsy.com and the company’s Facebook (facebook.com/oncethewineisgone) and Instagram page @oncethewineisgone. Current retail locations are Backporch Vineyard in King George, Ingleside Vineyards in Oak Grove, Pearmund Farmstore in Broad Run and the Colonial Beach Creative Art Center.
