Posts by Kelly Loija

Meena Mangalvedhekar is a MN-based artist and woodworking instructor passionate about sharing the craft as a tool for creativity, mindfulness, and connection. Meena’s teaching practice focuses on empowering students of all backgrounds to explore woodworking fundamentals. Her approach blends tradition and innovation, encouraging hands-on learning and fostering community through craft. Meena’s classes emphasize the meditative…

Sue Gavin is a retired physical therapist with over 30 years of experience in the field. She draws on her deep understanding of anatomy and movement to teach an accessible-for-all style of yoga that supports students of every level. With more than 35 years of experience leading movement and exercise practices, Sue is dedicated towards…

Steven Van Houten is a longtime bluegrass musician with a deep love for folk, Americana, and traditional bluegrass music. He brings years of performance and songwriting experience to his teaching, guiding students through the craft of writing songs in the folk tradition. Steven is a returning instructor, having previously taught one of the community’s favorite…

Michael is the author of Untamed Mushrooms and an educator with over 30 years of experience exploring the world of fungi. A passionate forager, there’s no place he’d rather be than in the woods searching for mushrooms. He is a member of both the North American Mycological Association (NAMA) and the Minnesota Mycological Society (MMS),…

Alex Schmelig, originally from Warsaw, Poland, has lived in Stillwater since 1998, where she works at River Market Co-op. Her cooking blends old-world Polish flavors with a modern appreciation for seasonal, local, and sustainable foods. Whether preparing pierogi by hand or simmering a pot of bigos, Alex shares not only her recipes but also the…

Margo Novak has been creating and professionally selling jewelry for over 20 years. What began as a creative outlet during her career as a school counselor and teacher has grown into a deeply fulfilling craft in her retirement. She enjoys working with all types of metals and gemstones to design one-of-a-kind pieces for clients who…

Stephen Mickolajak is a 41-year-old self-taught greenwood carver who specializes in carving mugs, spoons, and small bowls. While this will be his first time teaching in a formal setting, he has shared his skills through demonstrations and one-on-one carving sessions. Stephen brings a passion for traditional handcraft and a love for working with wood to…

Petra Guenthner Johnson is a fiber artist who lives and works near the Kinnickinnic River in River Falls, Wisconsin. She studied art at the University of Wisconsin–Superior from 1998 to 2001 and earned her Bachelor of Science in Visual Arts from North Dakota State University in 2003. Petra believes that art has the transformative power…

Megan Connors is an Early Childhood and Special Education teacher with a deep passion for the outdoors and early childhood development. She currently leads nature-based parenting classes on local trails and in outdoor spaces, helping families connect with the natural world. Megan’s goal is to support parents and encourage time spent outdoors with young children,…

Hannah Frick is a Minneapolis-based artist who loves working with reused and repurposed materials. Through her art practice, CATS ARE READY, she creates custom collaged pet portraits and leads workshops where others can explore the joy of collage-making. Each of her pieces is composed of vibrant colors, shapes, lines, and patterns cut and torn from…

Kate and Laila are knitters with a shared love of whimsy and tradition. Together, they founded Knit & Gather to teach others the craft they cherish. Both have been knitting for over twenty years and enjoy experimenting with a variety of materials and techniques. With Norwegian roots, they feel deeply connected to folk art and…

Eva Adderley is a Minneapolis-based artist, writer, and teacher whose work brings stories to life through puppets, lanterns, and interactive installations. Their creations have appeared in the Barebones Halloween Extravaganza, Art Shanty Projects, Open Eye Theatre, and other community festivals around the Midwest. With over a decade of experience teaching art and writing, Eva has…

Through drawing, painting, and printmaking, Lindsey Reyes explores the magic inherent in our world, how people interpret this magic through our stories and art, and the creation of art as a human act. Lindsey graduated with a BFA in Integrated Studio Arts at Iowa State University and has taught students through ArtistYear, an AmeriCorps program.

Emily May is a Minneapolis-based social dance coach who runs Howdy Partner Dance. They have fifteen years of social dance experience and love to help folks discover their own personal style. At Howdy Partner, we believe that any floor is a dance floor with the right attitude. Dancing is for everyone, everywhere.

Josie is a weaver, focused on creating locally sourced, ecologically friendly, ethically produced textiles. She believes traditional crafts provide a connection to the feeling of a life well lived, and teach regularly to share this joy with others. Josie can be found teaching and demonstrating at Folk Schools and Gatherings across Minnesota. She is looking…

Laura Brown is a printmaker and textile artist who works with salvaged materials to make community-oriented artwork with a colorful and graphic sensibility. This takes the form of postcards, prints, quilts, and many other things that make people ask “is it art or is it a craft?” Laura holds an MFA in Studio Art from…

Rachel Payne of Saga Bookbinding, trained at the North Bennet Street School as a bench trained bookbinder and returned home to be a studio bookbinder in the Twin Cities, MN. She makes and repairs books and boxes,  loves do-it-yourself projects, figuring out puzzles, organizing, being in the classroom, and amateur nature photography. 

Lacey Prpić Hedtke is the founder of The Future, a shop in Minneapolis for witches and weirdos and artists working with magic. She has been studying astrology for 30 years, and offers astrology readings and workshops especially for artists and creative people. She is an artist, arts organizer, librarian and lover of astrology.

Coralette Damme works primarily as a printmaking artist and has a BFA in studio arts. She blends her passions for nature and the unusual into her work and believes creativity can be part of daily life.  Her classes offer hands-on experiences that can easily be replicated at home. www.craftyhag.com

Michelle Greenhouse leads textile workshops throughout the Twin Cities, including at Textile Center. She studied at Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science and graduated with a master’s degree in weaving, then worked in the corporate design industry for 20 years at Calvin Klein, Jack Lenor Larsen, and Target. Michelle also has a master’s degree in…