Minnesota

In the last decade, Safeera Inayath of Prior Lake went from never having baked a cake to creating the exquisite layer cakes and macarons seen here.

Larry Sickmann of Rosemount’s Lake Supply Company wanted a North Shore souvenir to commemorate a family vacation. After rejecting a number that felt cookie-cutter, “I found one that I liked that said 'North Shore' on it,” remembers Larry.

Larry started with two colonies and extracted 30 pounds of honey. “I got stung a lot that first year,” he said with a laugh. The next year he took a course through the University of Minnesota and bought a bee suit.

With wit and sidewalk chalk, Carrie Jarvis of See Carrie Color brings vividly vibrant messages to inspire and bring joy wherever people tread. Based in Saint Paul, Carrie creates chalk pieces, digital download prints, and stickers

Best friends Alex Harker and Taylor Soukup have a shared passion for spicy food, especially hot sauce. Like Goldilocks, they couldn’t find one that was just right. Everything was too mild, too heavily flavored or hot just to be hot.

Foxcroft French by Zanielle Foxcroft is a creative celebration of how there is always something more to learn. Her intricate line drawings of insects, dogs, birds and the handsome profile of the state of Minnesota make elegant prints, postcards, and greeting cards.