Global/Local Holiday Gifts

There is much rhetoric about buying “local.”  The idea is to support our neighbors in order to keep our corner of the world thriving. I agree with this to the extent that it is important to support our neighbors, I just think our neighbors can be farther away than our postal code. We have connected with wonderful folks all over the country who are sharing their creative talents and striving to support their families in small business. So, this holiday season if you are looking to support the local market I have a few ideas to send your way.

I spent about three hours gathering all of their links. So, CLICK AWAY! 🙂

Art, Craft & Photography: There is nothing quite like an original piece of artwork. Commissioning an artist to take the sketch of your mind and make it 3D is a beautiful process. These folks all have fantastic skills, creative minds and most of all they are good listeners.  Bloom Photography, Out/Back Design,  Heidi Keys, Jason Seiler Illustration, Josh Kufahl,  Little Lace Lady, Off the Wheel Pottery, Photos by Beth Ann, Popelka Trenchard Glass, Richard Steinberger Photography, Nik Arnoldi Fine Art

Clothing & Accessories: These friends don’t shy away from a market driven by the mass desire for generic design. They are gifted and talented seamstress, treasure hunters and fine crafted jewelers, you want unique and beautiful check out these sites…  VillageBaby, The Brass Owl, ShoveIt Design, Refab, Larky Park, Gracie Designs, CityMade, Billy & Co., Wild Prairie Silver, If you are looking for name brand, check our our friends at Altrec

Food & Drink: Yum!  Authentic Feather Farm, Kabum, Parallel 44 Winery, La Java, Dos Chiles, Green Plow Roasters, Kavarna

Body & Healing Arts: Great resources for body, mind and soul. Good Earth Soap, Terry Naturally,  Kristie Lee Guns, Mardi Halvorsen Yoga, Peninsula Chiropractic, More Married, Shaping Her, Jerry Price Counseling, Mazzara Midwifery

Support non-profits & servant minded folks: These projects are both spiritual and practical, they are all run by individuals who have a desire to make this world a better place. They are trustworthy and supporting them would bring great joy this Christmas season.  Cornerstone Community Outreach, Timberline Lodge, Hungry Hearts United, Of Scars, Seven Loaves Project, The Suitcase Sideshow, Operation Elf Box, Bethany Erickson, Leadership Lab, YoungLife, Foundation Skate Ministry, Vapor Sports, The Fall Out Creative Community, Tribe of Judah School

Music: If you are looking for some great tunes try ordering directly from the musician. We have lots of favorites but these are some of our dearest friends. They are professional and creative musicians and I think you’ll love them.

Folk: Sammy Horner,  John Statz,  Patchouli,  Bill and Kate Isles,  Seth Martin, Galynne Goodwill,  The Brothers Burn Mountain,  Beki Hemingway

Folk/Punk: Hillfolk Noir,  Men as Trees Walking,  Insomniac Folklore,  Destroy Nate Allen                                                                                                                                          

Indie: Nick Jaina, Soil and the Sun, Rick Beerhorst

Electronic: Optimus Prom, Wreckless Music,  Cloudburst

Jazz: Jana Nyberg Group, The Unfortunate

Metal: The Eternal, Southside Stranglers

Funtimes: Magic Mama, Canon Ball

If you have other ideas to add, please feel free to comment.

Merry Christmas and Happy 2012!!

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Pocketful of Sunshine in Northern MN

Terrapin Station and Green Scene

There’s a pocketful of sunshine in Northern Minnesota and the host is Brother Brian of Terrapin Station, Nevis, MN. I met Brian via our friends Patchouli.  Talk about a local connector. Brian is passionate about bringing original music and culture to his community. He is a local/global thinker and we absolutely enjoyed our time in his neck of the woods.

Nevis, MN is not the sort of place you’d expect a thriving indie folk venue to exist. But Brian and his wife, Stacey have been tilling that soil for sometime now and the garden is in full bloom. The venue itself is a very modest but handsome building with a beautiful mural on the side of the building (Painted by the fabulous, Bruce Hecksel) 

Inside is a feeling of warmth and community. The stage/sound quality was fantastic. Probably one of the best we’ve played on. And, to top it all off Brian’s darling daughter, Jenna, shared her handwritten songs for the first time in public. Such a gifted young lady with a servant’s heart. It felt like home the moment we arrived.

Being a bit of a hike from anywhere, Brian worked hard to hook us up with more venues and introduced us to the Legends and Logging Festival in Park Rapids, MN where we got to meet a long time web friend, Tom Feldmann. That boy can play!

Then there was the Green Scene Farmers Market in Walker, MN.  The Green Scene is a homegrown business offering whole foods and a quality experience. Owner, Erin Andrus, is a delight. She is motivated, smart and kind. Her desire to bring good food to her community is paying off and this June she opened her doors to the public at the Green Scene. It is a neat little market/deli with a eco-friendly feel. The food is amazing and the staff, equally amazing. We were met with smiles and a cup of cold water on a hot day. A handful of venders, local farmers, bee keepers, craftsmen, music by The Hollands! and wool spinners made for a beautiful afternoon. If you are ever in the north woods of MN. Stop in and visit Erin and her staff. …Read more about Erin’s story