Skip to content

Home
Meet The Makers
Recipes
Gift Guide

Search for:

Maker Services
About
Contact Me
Work With Me
Search for:

Search for:

Home
Meet The Makers
Recipes
Gift Guide
Maker Services
About
Contact Me
Work With Me

Maker ServicesMeet the MN Makers2023-01-24T07:23:38-06:00

Maker Services

The Makers Table Program
Workshops and Lectures
Product Descriptions
Social Media Coaching and Content Creation

Partners

Keepsake

Rural Innovation

Fives Pines Candle Co.

Fives Pines Candle Co.

Meet the Minnesota Makers

@meettheminnesotamakers

meettheminnesotamakers

*Connect with MN artists, farms, food & bev producers
*Gift guide, maker stories
*Website & Social media Coach
[email protected]

Thank you to KSTP’s @minnesotalivetv for inviting

Thank you to KSTP’s @minnesotalivetv for inviting me to share a State Fair preview of a few local makers and growers you’ll find at the Fair.

Chris was happy to discover that Nashke Native Games, a past show guest, will be a part of the Indigenous People’s celebration on August 30.

Elizabeth was already a fan of Sebesta Apothecary’s soaps and Chris learned about the luxury of their wet shave.

We highlighted four unique corners to explore at the @mnstatefair .

A few highlights from the segment:

Elizabeth’s observation that @nashkenativegames brings a new dimension by serving as “a beautiful reminder of a joyful people” with what you’ll experience at Dan Patch Park and take home from Native Roots Trading Post in the West End.

Chris discovered the healing power of magnesium, available in a topical spray from @sebestaapothecary who will be in the Grandstand as part of a collective of woman-owned businesses organized by @grandmaskills .

Celebrating the Clear Water text that brings @shopgoodgraces social justice exhibit to life in your hands. Find Melanie’s common ground art informed by her background in advertising to get us talking. Shop in the West End.

Sharing about the 20 year history of @renewingthecountryside the Countryside’s interactive exhibits in the EcoExperience building. This year’s exhibit highlights the beneficial relationships possible with Bird Friendly Farming. This Minnesota non-profit brings together chef demos, volunteer-led exhibit challenges, and daily sustainability-focused product sampling to bring the topic to life.

Sampling fresh mozzarella marinated in @smudeoil Tomato Basil sunflower seed oil. With their cold extraction process, this seed oil is a heart healthy diet swap recommended by St Cloud’s Hospital for its cardiovascular patients.

Watch the full segment and plan your fair stops: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTMDv3lhsC8

Our makers’ stories, commitment to excellence, and unique approaches deserve to be shared. I’m grateful to Minnesota Live and their engaged audience for supporting our local businesses.

It’s my birthday today. I want a gift from each

It’s my birthday today.

I want a gift from each and every one of you. 🎁

Yes, this includes you. 😉

It’s a milestone birthday, so that makes my little request mean to ignore…🎂

Go support a local business today (or sometime later this week. I’m a Leo. My family accuses me of celebrating birthday months. I might as well lean into it.)

Here’s how this works…

1. Go support a local business. If you’re not in Minnesota right now, pick one wherever you are.

Examples include: Stop by a farmers market, try an independently-owned coffee shop, pop into a locally-owned grocery store and take something new to you home. Try a local artist or artisan for a gift or a festive greeting card. Book a cooking class, go pick blueberries, eat local ice cream.

2. Share the name of the local business or product in the comments or post what you got in a story to let me know what you picked. Multiple local purchases welcome. 😍

3. Ask a friend to celebrate my birthday too.

4. Repeat.

Thanks for being here. Thanks for loving our local businesses as much as I do.

I’m delighted to celebrate with all of you.

If you’re looking for inspiration, we have lots of suggestions for you over at meettheminnesotamakers.com 😊

Know your Neighbors. It’s always the right time t

Know your Neighbors.

It’s always the right time to shop local at Meet the Minnesota Makers. Our Shop Local series introduces the real makers, growers and doers from our “Shop Minnesota” guide and makers directory.

These are just some of the small business owners who make Minnesota an amazing place to be.

🖌️Who: Melanie Walby of Good Graces Paper Co.

💕Where: Minneapolis, MN

🖼️ What: Designer of art prints with social justice messages

*Artist and graphic designer with fourteen years of experience in nonprofit media arts and advertising creating research-driven designs sparking conversation and advocating for change

*Creator of the Clear Water Exhibit, an art installation critiquing racism and white supremacy culture centering the experiences of Black women

*Creator of the “We Want to Vote” project, a collection of postcards to send to your reps and prints to display in your home advocating for voting rights

🎁How You Get Involved: Visit Good Graces Paper Co. at the @mnstatefair August 27th-September 7th in the West End near the Big Blue Barn

*View the prints designed to be experienced in-person and flip through the Clear Water coffee table book

*Explore all the designs and the Clear Water exhibit in a book at https://goodgraces.store/

*Learn about the layers of meaning behind Good Graces Paper Co.’s designs at https://meettheminnesotamakers.com/good-graces-paper-co-designing-justice-and-healing-for-your-living-room-and-beyond/

*Follow @shopgoodgraces for a closer look at the designs

*Visit meettheminnesotamakers.com and follow @meettheminnesotamakers to discover small business owners building community through their everyday missions.

💙Meet the Minnesota Makers is a news site that connects you to the local food, farms, artists and artisans that make Minnesota thrive.

What a thrill to be a “celebrity” judge at the @mn

What a thrill to be a “celebrity” judge at the @mn_arboretum Taste and Toast.

The true celebrities of the evening are our local food and beverage innovators who brought their top bites to share with hundreds of foodies and fans.

I was honored to spend the evening with the discriminating palates of @bethdooleyskitchen and @h_rap_sky . We had tough decisions at hand to choose among the more than 50 vendors there.

It was my honor to present:

Best Non-Alcoholic Beverage to @drywitdrink — truly elevated N/A pairings for every course

Best Sweet Bite @patisserie46 — a strawberries and cream dish with a true cloud of cream

Best Bubbles/Wine @moussewinery — the perfect summer wine cocktail to toast the evening

We also selected best presentation — @chowgirlscatering stole the show with their edible flowers and checker board display, most surprising bite for Rootstock’s chilled zucchini soup, best savory bite for @heathersmtka amazing watermelon gazpacho and best beer to Omni Brewing.

The evening was a perfect balance of floral garb, gentle breeze, live jazz music, and a celebration of our local wineries, breweries, restaurants, and caterers. We are so lucky that Minnesota is such a delicious place to be.

I’m delighted to officially add celebrity judge to my resume. :-) I’m ready to encourage to mark your calendar for next year’s event as soon as they announce the date.

Thank you to @chefbethfisher and the Taste and Toast Planning committee for inviting me to have a role in this wonderful event.

Celebrate our local flavors and flair by supportin

Celebrate our local flavors and flair by supporting local artists, artisans, farmers, and food and beverage producers. There are so many festivals and fairs throughout the state to enjoy!

Find the makers from our gift guide and maker features across the state this weekend. Visit our gift guide to find out where your favorite makers will be.

We acknowledge the absence of the Ely Blueberry Festival this weekend. This event is a summer cornerstone for dozens of artists and the greater Ely community. Visit https://www.ely.org/events/annual-events-and-festivals/blueberry-art-festival/ to see the artists who planned to attend. Reach out to your favorite Ely artists, restaurants, cafes, and outfitters. See who is able to ship products or consider a gift card for a future visit. @visitelymn

Farmers markets, of course, are a win right now. We’re in prime summer abundance. Stop by before you hit the grocery store to get some seasonal inspiration for your table. Bonus points if you bring your own bag or basket (it makes the hauling easier, saves resources, and looks snazzy too).

Thank you for looking locally. @mnpotteryfestival @ricecountyfair @loringparkartfestival

What event is on your calendar this weekend? Tag it in the comments so we can add it to our list.

Know your Neighbors. It’s always the right time to

Know your Neighbors.
It’s always the right time to shop local at Meet the Minnesota Makers. Our Shop Local series introduces the real makers, growers and doers from our “Shop Minnesota” guide and makers directory.

These are just some of the small business owners who make Minnesota an amazing place to be.

🎨Who: Grace Burski of Little Rocks Design

🐟Where: Sauk Centre, MN

🖌️What: Artist and Illustrator

*Hand-drawn illustrations inspired by the Midwest on waterproof stickers, magnets, wrapping paper, notebooks, and more

*Creator of commissions for local businesses and state parks

*Showroom at the Minneapolis Gift Mart where local business find new products to stock

*Commemorating the beauty and diversity of the outdoors in the Midwest

🍃How You Get Involved: Visit Little Rocks Design at Bean Hole Days in Pequot Lake 7/15, Art Fair in the Gardens in St Cloud on 7/16, and the Blueberry Art Festival in Ely 7/24-7/26.

*Order a trout sticker or a newly-released trout-patterned notebook

*Explore the different collections at https://littlerocksdesign.com/

*Learn more about about Grace’s artistic journey to success at https://meettheminnesotamakers.com/little-rocks-design-illustrating-the-beauty-of-the-midwest/

*Follow @littlerocksdesign for an insight into the outdoor adventures that inspire the art

*Visit meettheminnesotamakers.com and follow @meettheminnesotamakers to discover small business owners building community through their everyday missions.

💙Meet the Minnesota Makers is a news site that connects you to the local food, farms, artists and artisans that make Minnesota thrive.

Follow on Instagram

Sign up to receive Subscriber Discounts in the Meet the Minnesota Makers Newsletter!

Copyright © 2026 All Rights Reserved.