Featured Artist

.  Janet Libbey has been creating and selling jewelry for about 20 years. It all began when she asked a friend to make her an ankle bracelet and her friend said, “make it yourself.” She did and never looked back. Janet quickly discovered her love of glass. Even though lampwork is her passion, she also fuses and blows glass. She enjoys metalsmithing and kumihimo as well. Covid created an opportunity to virtual teach, keeping Janet up to date and always searching for new processes. Janet has been featured in Delphi Art Glass catalog and won a Kalmbach jewelry contest. Whether it’s made of glass, metal or crystal, Janet loves the concept of wearable art. Thank you!

I started making Turtles for my friends as Christmas gifts a long time ago.  They were the size of your palm!  That's how the name 'Fat Turtle' came to be!  

One friend kept asking me to sell them so he could buy them as corporate gifts.  I finally started making them for others. 

One day, Mary Krauski suggested I should join the Monches tour at her shop.  That was about 8-9 years ago.  Now people outside my circle of friends started tasting them and then buying them and the word slowly got out!

I have expanded my assortment from when I started and now make dark chocolate sea salt caramels, milk chocolate toffee, and of course Turtles!

I love hearing from customers how much they enjoy my chocolates. I now have customers that order for wedding favors, party trays,  office, friends and family gifts,

What sets my chocolates apart from store bought chocolates are their freshness.  I take great pride in the details of making my chocolates by pan roasting the pecans, making my own caramel and hand dipping each piece finished with it's signature swirl on top.  

Hope I see you at the Monches tour.  I'll give you a free sample just for stopping in.  

Featured Artist: Krueger's Homestead Honey - Mike and Piroska Krueger
 

How and when did you start making honey? We got started when we moved from Milwaukee to Big Bend WI, 10 years ago. Bought some honey from a Beekeeper in Big Bend. He showed me the hives, and we started the following spring.
 

Where are your hives? All Hives on kept on our property in Big Bend.
 

What do you like about making honey? We have found that conversation with other people, both Beekeepers and Non-Beekeepers is a lot of fun. People have a lot of interest in Honeybees, and the #1 question we get asked is, Do You Get Stung?
 

Other Info: We are members of the "Milwaukee Waukesha Bee Association". I have been teaching a beginner's course for the last 2 years to help people get entry level information. The club provides free and public information on Bee Keeping. The club also works with Hunger Task force in the city of Franklin by keeping 11 hives on site for pollination of their food plots.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EyjpTzXVt/   

Suzy will be located at the Center Oak location. 

About Whisked away-  I use fiber from natural broom corn to make all brooms and brushes.  Combinations of colors reflect hand dyed natural broom corn.  Broom handles are often foraged locally.  All pieces are hand tied, functional and uniquely decorative.  After taking a broom tying class at the Wisconsin Wool and Sheep Festival, my fascination for this Folk Art led me to study with a lifelong broom making couple in Alabama.Their guidance enhanced my skills and gave me the desire to share this somewhat lost art with "us northern folk"!  I've been sharing my craft for 8 years.  The inspiration for my work is from the skill, craft and cultural traditions of Appalachian style broom making,  While I enjoy creating pieces that are beautiful, everything is designed for use, believing that art is expressed by a combination of appeal and purpose. My goal is to create high quality, functional art, while keeping tradition and history alive.  My passion is to share this amazing folk art with others.   

Diane Evans of Dee Evans Pottery

Diane Evans - (Dee Evans Pottery)

Pottery has been a life long dream of Diane’s.  It started with collecting pottery over the years with her husband, Dave.  When she retired from her career of fundraising for public television, her bucket list was long.  At the top of the list was learning how to create her own pottery.  Diane discovered Cream City Clay during a Doors Open event in 2015 and has been affiliated with Cream City Clay since that event eight years ago.  

Diane creates functional and decorative pottery through the use of contrasting colors, patterns and textures. While many potters use earth tones in their pottery, Diane uses brightly colored glazes combined  with texture to create interesting designs. Her pottery can be used in the kitchen, dining room and on your Christmas tree. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deeevanspottery 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dbevans2

 Yes! Using cut off trunks from your Christmas tree.  I also make a lot of ornaments from red cedar blocks that are cast off from a factory that makes cedar show trees. What they cast off makes the most beautiful and unique one of a kind ornaments.  I also glue up smaller random pieces that are segments from other turning.  For these I glue the pieces together, turn and polish them.  I really don’t have a favorite as they all turn out to be so unique it would be had to choose.  

 Antler baskets plus Elk and Moose sculptures 

 Ten Years.

I took a class from an Oneida artist who in turn, gave me the complete secret to antler basketry. 

My son and I comprise the team of Antlerbasketry.com.  We creatively advanced the basketry art to include elk and moose sculptures. This includes designing and executing unique art work not seen in typical art shows and juried events.  Art buyers have a wide selection to consider for purchase.  Most responses from buyers are, "I have never seen anything like this!"

St Teresa of Calcutta church in Monches hosts a variety of artists on Saturday only. 

I LOVE fiber! I’ve knit since the beginning of my 4-H years (that’s just a few years ago). I was fortunate to live next door to my adopted mom that knows everything about fiber. She taught me to design sweaters, create my own patterns, spin yarn and recently weave a blanket on her loom! After learning to spin, I thought that was the best thing since sliced bread! Then one day I went to buy roving for spinning and stood in the rain for two hours watching a lady use a circular sock-knitting machine (CSM). Within two weeks, a co-worker knew someone who was selling one and it is my new best thing since sliced bread!

I refurbished two antique CSM machines, but now have two newer CSM machines made in Cape Girardeau Missouri. I am known for cranking two machines at once! The CSM machines can be used to make hats, mittens, fingerless gloves and many other items, but I love just making socks.

I’ve never really considered myself as an artist, as it is so heart warming to see people wearing socks that I’ve made. My socks are good for diabetics and people with poor circulation. I mainly use self striping yarn but design what I call leftover socks from my scrap yarn. I made a few pairs of non-matching socks… but that feels wrong to me!! My next venture I’m looking at dyeing sock yarn. I’m thinking fiber will always be my pastime hobby. I still design sweaters and shawls. 

St Teresa of Calcutta church in Monches hosts a variety of artists on Saturday only. 

 
I work with many mediums, for years I have made primitive dolls and needlework.  I work with decoupage, wood, IOD Designs.
I have been sewing since I was a young girl, first making Barbie doll clothes for my sisters and neighbor kids.  In middle school I took Home Ec and was hooked on sewing. I made all my clothes throughout high school, then made dresses for weddings, nieces and nephews clothes and western shirts for my father and bands.  Then continued sewing after getting married and made clothes for my son when he was a child.  I started making things for craft fairs when my son was about 3.  I've been doing shows now for 40 years, while working fulltime.  Currently I have a booth at Roost Mercantile, Pewaukee. 

St Teresa of Calcutta church in Monches hosts a variety of artists on Saturday only. 

There are over 20 artists/crafters at St Therese...providing arts and crafts from quilts and cutting boards to mittens, wool socks and wreaths.  

The church offers a homemade chili lunch, with pulled pork and hotdogs as alternate options!

Jane works with fibers of many kinds; fabric, wool, yarn, pearl cotton and many other different threads to create my unique creations. Quilted runners, bags, and wall hangings have been staples on my tables in the past. I am also focusing on smaller items including ornaments, wool decorated tins, and holiday home decor. 

I started sewing in 1987 when I won a sewing machine in a sales contest. Clothing for myself was my first focus. One day I picked up a free quilt pattern at Minnesota Fabrics and I had a new love. I’m on my third sewing machine and I own a long-arm machine allowing me to quilt my own creations. 

Stop by the church on Saturday to see and buy my items!  

 My medium is Watercolor

I always loved to paint. My interest started when I was around 10. 

I started my career doing art shows. And my medium changed as I figured out what the customer was looking for. I started with stitchery then stained glass and found they liked paintings. So that is when my career took off. 

Every painter has their special way of expressing themselves. I like to paint nature, whimsical animals, funny insects,………. You will find my paintings on prints, cards, stone tiles, canvas and originals. and history alive.  My passion is to share this amazing folk art with others.   

  I draw with pen and color with markers on sketch paper. 

3 years

    During the pandemic, I heard a voice in my heart that told me to draw again, which is something I haven't done since middle school....so I bought a sketchbook and pens, and the first thing I drew was a chubby chickadee. My grandpa nicknamed me Heather Feather a very long time ago, and birds have always been my favorite animal. That was the start of Little Birdie Buddies. 

   I am not a trained artist and did not study art beyond classes in elementary school. I believe these birds have been trapped inside me (for who knows how long!) and I know that part of my purpose is to spread joy one bird at a time.  

I have been in the food industry since I was a teenager. Until about 10-12 years ago I was actually terrified of baking because of the precision that's involved with baking recipes. So, I decided to teach myself to bake and I fell in love with it.  

Jennie is the owner of Mill Street Cafe in North Lake.  

Mill Street Cafe offers a full menu of coffee and espresso drinks as well as teas and fresh fruit smoothies. Our full menu is available all day everyday and includes things like baked oatmeal, breakfast sandwiches, creative lunch sandwiches, salads, and soup from The Soup Market. Our bakery is baked fresh in house daily. The bakery case is stocked with cookies, scones, muffins, and much more!  Check out Facebook for more details:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=61556658428020

I absolutely love creating with all aspects of food. From growing it, cooking, or baking with it. Creating unique but familiar recipes is so exciting for me. 

How long have you been in the food business?  I have been in the food industry since I was a teenager. Until about 10-12 years ago I was actually terrified of baking because of the precision that's involved with baking recipes. So, I decided to teach myself to bake and I fell in love with it.

How did you get started in your craft/art?  I have always had an interest in cooking and sharing food with people. I started cooking at a young age and my passion grew from there. 

What sets Mill Street Cafe apart?  When I came up with the concept of Mill Street cafe I wanted to create a space where people could gather for wholesome scratch made food and drinks. While also creating an inviting homey feel. A place where you feel like you’re visiting family everytime you stop in.