Do you have a story behind your company name?

The emotional experience of scent, occurs in the right side of the brain, often referred to as the "psyche". The psyche, another word for "soul", is the realm of emotion and imagination.

When olfactory stimulation engages the total brain, a mental dance begins between feelings, thoughts, associations, and desires. Our brand's purpose is to bring this joyous experience to life through our candles and carefully curated fragrance collections.

Very cool, how did you get your start?

My candle making journey began in 2020. What started out as a stress-relieving diversion, became an all-out obsession within weeks. Prior to this time, I had been working in product development for 20+ years with a focus on apparel. The experience of building brands from the ground up, and being an expert in project management, has been key in creating my own brand.

I will be the first to admit that I do have a candle addiction. I am drawn to scents that are inspired by nature and the more complex and layered, the better. I really do not care for fragrances that smell, in any way synthetic, fake, or plastic-like. I could not find these candles in a price range that I was willing to invest in, so I started creating them myself. I spent months experimenting with fragrances, materials, and vessels. In January of 2021, I founded Scent and Psyche, LLC. and applied for the brand trademark.

That is very admirable. Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

I love the creation of scents and the blending of fragrances to get something unique and true to the experience I would like the user to enjoy. The process takes multiple iterations of testing and refinement, but I love every minute.

That sounds fun.What inspires you to create?

The overall end experience is what inspires me. I love to create scents that will brighten and enliven living spaces, inspire memories, and sometimes even change your mental state. I am also inspired by unique scents. I gravitate to fragrance blends that are grounded in nature, with earthier tones but have a refined complexity. I love to find the notes that really pull me in and grab my interest and then blend them to create

Candles are great for evoking emotions. Do you have a favorite item you have made?

I’m really excited about my Fall candle collection and some new signature scents that I will launch this Fall. One of those scents I am totally addicted to is Heirloom. A mixture of sandalwood and black cardamom, very earthy and woodsy yet feels very elevated. I’ve been burning that in my home on repeat. Another scent that I’ve worked on for over a year is called Embers. A new take on a Fireside or bonfire feeling scent with notes of charcoal and black pepper, grounded with creamy woodsy notes. It’s really cozy warm, like sitting by a fire.

That sounds amazing. What’s a typical day like for you in the studio?

I am usually creating or making early in the morning or later at night…which I find the most relaxing time of day to work. During the lunch hour, you can also find me around lunch time running to UPS with a stack of square boxes artfully balanced. On the weekends I’m usually at markets or getting ready for them!

What do you love most about living in Minnesota?

I’ve called Minnesota home for 16 years. I love raising my kids here. I love the variety of everything to do throughout the state, and especially the change of seasons. I think what I love best is the unique community of creative artists and the amount of local support we receive, it’s amazing.

The seasons are the best, and I bet there is a candle for each! What will you be bringing to Jackalope?

I’m excited to be bringing some amazing new fragrances that I feel are some of my best yet. This is my official kick-off to candle season!

Anything special you would like to add?

I’m opening up more opportunities for private, in-person, candle making workshops for groups of 10-16 people. It’s so much fun to connect with others and share my passion of candle making!

Awesome! We can’t wait to see you in person this September 10th & 11th for Jackalope Minneapolis!

Where to see more of Scent and Psyche:

Website | https://scentandpsyche.com/

Instagram | @scentandpsyche

Tell us how you got your start?

I’ve been doodling, drawing, and designing everywhere and anywhere for as long as I can remember. My mom is also very artsy and creative, and she always encouraged my interest in art. When I was little, I loved to take “commissions” from my friends to draw portraits of their pets or favorite toys in exchange for play money. So, it’s really no surprise that I ended up here! In 2017, I graduated with a BA in Graphic Design and Studio Art, and that’s when I started Lauren Alane Design LLC. 

So cute! What is your favorite part of the maker process?

Nothing brings me greater joy than to lose track of time as I work on an art piece. To me, art is an escape from the everyday, similar to the magic you feel when you’re enthralled in a great book or caught up in a favorite movie. I love the moment when an artwork really starts to come together on the page – when the vision I have in my head begins to take shape, and I can tell it’s going to work out. This “ah-ha!” moment doesn’t always happen – I have so many abandoned sketches and half-finished pieces! – but when it does, it’s such a great feeling. 

What inspires you to create?

My inspiration changes pretty often, but some of the constants in my artwork are nature and animals. I’m a huge animal lover – I never get tired of drawing dogs, cats, foxes, and other critters! The unique beauty in every animal inspires me. Besides animals and nature, I also love working with themes of outer space and life on other planets. I enjoy creating a juxtaposition between the everyday and the surreal to create playful, otherworldly scenes. 

Very cool. Do you have a favorite item you have made?

That’s a tough question! I think my favorite series to make so far has been my “Space Life” screen print series, which explores a whimsical, surreal vision of life away from Earth. Within the series, “Astronaut Neighborhood” is my favorite. It’s a quirky piece portraying a lone astronaut in a very ordinary-looking neighborhood on Mars, with the Earth and the moon floating in the distance. I think I like it because it feels playful, surreal, but also a little lonely. Living in an environment where you couldn’t go outside without wearing a full space suit would be very isolating. 

What’s a typical day like for you in the studio?

After I get home from my job as a graphic designer at a publishing house, I hunker down in my home office / studio to reply to emails, check on inventory, manage my webstore, or any other non-art tasks that need to be done. I like to work outdoors when possible, and I often take my laptop out on the deck or to a coffee shop for a change of scenery. Once that’s completed, the fun can begin! I’ll usually turn on some music, an audiobook, or a TV show while I draw or screen print. If artist’s block strikes, I’ll take my dog, Finnick, out on a walk, or do some gardening. Sometimes a short break outdoors is all it takes to see an artwork with fresh eyes and solve any problems I’d been having with it. 

Stepping away is definitely necessary at times. What do you love most about Minnesota?

The lakes! I would spend all day every day at the lake if I could. I’ve lived here in Minnesota my whole life, and despite the brutally cold winters, I couldn’t imagine calling anywhere else my home. 

Lake life is the best! What will you be bringing to Jackalope?

I’m excited to be bringing my hand-pulled screen prints, giclée art prints, and framed prints. Keep an eye out for my Jackalope-themed print as well! 

That is exciting! Anything special you would like to add?

Besides art and design, I have a huge passion for animals and animal rescue. My hairless Chinese Crested dog, Finnick, can usually be found sitting right by my side as I work. I’ve illustrated two children’s books – Don’t Mess with Mama by Don Deline, about a protective mother loon who saves her chicks, and Flying V: The Alphabet Takes Flight by Jane Stavem, about a very innovative baby Canadian goose. I’m also the author of a book called Saving Foxes: Portraits of Rescued Foxes and Their Stories, written to bring awareness and raise funds for foxes rescued from fur farms. The profits from this book go to Save a Fox Rescue in Minnesota. 

That is great! We can’t wait to see you in person this September 10th & 11th for Jackalope Minneapolis!

Where to see more of Lauren Alane Design:

Website | laurenalanedesign.com

Instagram | @lauren.alane.design

Tell us how you got your start?

Kobi Co. was founded in 2020 by 17-year-old Kobi Gregory as a self care ritual to help her cope with the stress of distance learning during the pandemic. (2020 was a lot.) When her candles started selling, we decided to use a portion of the profits to start a college fund—which has since expanded into an annual scholarship we offer to young BIPOC women.

A few months into the pandemic / Kobi’s hobby turning into a full-on business, it was time for Momma to step in and regulate. 😎

Tasha Harris had recently quit her career in corporate finance after nearly two decades, feeling burned out and ready for a reset. She poured herself (get it?) into Kobi Co., helping secure partnerships and retail spots throughout Minneapolis, and growing the company into what it is today. 

Throughout every step of our growth, we’ve stayed intentional. 

We support independent, Black-owned businesses. We give back. We believe self care is non-negotiable in these crazy and upsetting times, and we want our candles & music to foster a calming, restorative vibe. We want you to be your best self, do your best work, and be the best friend, steward, and ancestor you can be. We are Minneapolis born-and-raised, and you can feel the hometown pride throughout all of our products, our relationships, and our dope taste in music. 

Love a young entrepreneur and female founded business! Kobi, what is your favorite part of the maker process?

Seeing and experiencing people's reactions to my finished product.

What inspires you to create?

The need for self-care, our wanting to share our message of self-care and mental health wellness to others.

Love that! Do you have a favorite item you have made?

Kobi- My favorite item I created so far is our #Chillaxin'candle, because the candle playlist is such a vibe.

Tasha- My favorite is #PurpleRain. I love #PurpleRain because it pays homage to Prince one of the greatest artists of all time. And he just so happens to be from our hometown!

What’s a typical day like for you in the studio?

Kobi- A typical day for me is filled with production (embellishing candles, mixing bath salts, etc..., shipping order and fulfilling orders.

Tasha- A typical day for me is handling all the back office responsibilities: responding to customer emails, cultivating new partnerships.

Love the delegation of tasks. What do you love most about Minnesota?

4 seasons, just when you're tired of one of them, another one can show up at any given time!

So true! What did you miss most about in person events now that events are picking back up again?

The energy we receive from our customers! The oohs and ahhs from them smelling our products to discovering there is a curated playlist that comes with each candle!

Such a fun surprise! What will you be bringing to Jackalope?

We will be brining a candle curated just for the event - something mythical and magical to match the Jackalope theme!

That sounds awesome! We can’t wait to see you in person this September 10th & 11th for Jackalope Minneapolis!

Where to see more of Kobi Co:

Website | https://www.lovekobico.com

Instagram | @lovekobico

How did you come up with the name Muddy Mouth?

The cards started out *not* dirty (because my mom wasn't on board with profanity) so they were slightly watered down versions of what I truly wanted. Watered down dirt = mud, which turned into Muddy Mouth Cards.

Clever! How did you get your start?

I previously worked at a scrapbook company as a designer and had TONS of supplies I wasn't using. I started using them up to make snarky cards and eventually sold some on Etsy.

Great idea. What is your favorite part of the maker process?

Love the writing. Especially when I get time to tackle a new subject that I don't have content for yet. Pride, Minnesota, Pet Death, Covid...all categories I've had to work hard at making funny. The challenge is fun and rewarding when others think they're funny.

What inspires you to create?

Customers sometimes request new material but usually it stems from me personally needing a card in my own life and realizing I don't quite have the right one in the assortment..

Do you have a favorite item you have made?

So hard to pick one fave but I like the card that says "Another year of being pretty fucking awesome. Happy Birthday" because I like profanity and kindness together.

What’s a typical day like for you in the studio?

I do everything from writing and designing, shipping wholesale orders, accounting, marketing through emails and social media....so there isn't a lot of typical days. They're all different and I love that. I'm grateful to have a team of 5 moms that help hand make each card, help with shipping customer orders and graphic designing, so I also spend time communicating and prepping work for my team as well.

What do you love most about Minnesota?

The people. The community here has been so wonderful in supporting small businesses. I love to see more women and minority-owned businesses thriving in the community too.

Yes we agree! What did you miss most about in person events now that events are picking back up again?

Not being able to hear people laugh at the cards was a major bummer. It helps me gauge new content when I see it out in the world and it just feels good to hear groups of people laughing in the booth.

Yes a great way to confirm your work! What will you be bringing to Jackalope?

Cards. So. Many. Cards. Plus some koozies and tote bags and stickers and a few other surprises.

Anything special you would like to add?

We are proud to have invested in being eco-friendly. All our paper and envelopes are recycled and locally sourced. Plus the sleeves each card come in are plant-based and compostable. We also use recycled shipping boxes and envelopes!

FUN! We can’t wait to see you in person this September 10th & 11th for Jackalope Minneapolis!

Where to see more of Muddy Mouth Cards:

Website | https://muddymouthcards.com/

Instagram | @muddymouthcards

Do you have a story behind your company name?

At the close of 2016, when darkness fell across the land, we felt compelled to start a social action fashion sock brand that could empower people invested in making real, positive change. The company’s name then really just kind of fell in our lap so to speak.

Tell us how you got your start?

We already had a rudimentary knowledge of knitting which turned out to be pretty crucial. We then spent about a few thousand hours on Google. Took a crash course in Adobe Illustrator and here we are!

Just goes to show that it is never too late to learn a new skill! Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

Seeing things come full circle. From the initial brainstorm, to sock drop, and then finally seeing our customers faces light up. Priceless.

What inspires you to create?

We definitely view the sock as our canvas. We are inspired by the social causes themselves but a premium is placed on creating something entirely unique. Sometimes entirely unique can be completely bizarre. Our dog’s bad behavior is pretty inspiring as well.

Too funny! Do you have a favorite item you have made?

That’s a toughie. Can you really have a favorite child? But if we had to choose I think we’d pick “Poppysock” and “Blue”.

What’s a typical day like for you in the studio?

When we’re working on a design it's definitely a team process. Digitizing a handmade drawing can be thrilling but it is a slow process. Socks are not created quickly.

I would believe that! What do you love most about Minnesota?

That’s easy! Sub-zero temperatures. We’re kidding, of course. It’s the people! We have a quirky, offbeat sense of humor that seems to resonate with Minnesotans.

What did you miss most about in person events now that events are picking back up again?

Our customers! We’ve found that not only are FGS customers passionate, they are a wisecracking lot. They most definitely get the joke. We have heard too many cat vomit stories to count.

What will you be bringing to Jackalope?

Everything we have. Our entire line currently consists of 10 unique designs.

We can’t wait to see you in person this September 10th & 11th for Jackalope Minneapolis!

Where to see more of For Goodness Socks:

Website | www.forgoodnesssocks.com

Instagram | @4goodnesssocks

Do you have a story behind your company name?

P&TY is Granola Bars that say Please & Thank You! Our name and the names of all our products are just little reminds of the power of manners.

Love that! Tell us how you got your start?

My name is Brit Williams, I live in beautiful Minnesota with my husband (Trevor), two kids (Oakley and Lennox) and our dog, Tillie. I started making these granola bars in 2015 from our home. I didn’t like the ingredients in the bars my husband, Trevor, was eating and I wanted a new snack that was nutrient packed without all the additives. So, I developed my own recipe for a bar that he would eat, and I knew was good for me, while tasting good.
For the next few years, I made them for our home and brought them to all my events (I’m also a full-time event manager) to share with the staff as a piece of homemade energy goodness.
At one of my events earlier in 2019, for a nationwide natural food store, the staff raved about them and said I should sell them! So began this little journey of creating granola bars for all of you in hopes that you like them as much as I do!

That is awesome! Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

The customers, hands down, the people make this all worth it. I love the business side of things and putting my energy into a product that has a purpose, but when a customer loves what I do and really resonates with it, it gives me so much energy!

What inspires you to create?

The mission of our company - I want to remind people the power of manners and respect. I want to remind us all that even when we don’t care for someone we can still show them respect and through that respect we can strengthen our community. Granola Bars are a fun, easy, daily way to share an important message. My products are specially crafted in a way to be inherently good for you - whole ingredients, well-balanced, and packaged in an earth-friendly way. It’s full circle: take care of yourself, be mindful of your community, think about your earth. They are simply a daily reminder of that.

Do you have a favorite item you have made?

The Pardon Me granola bar - it was the original granola bar and how this all started. It's by far the favorite in our house, my husband and son eat one every day. It is also one of our best sellers. It has great balance, nutrition and can be eaten any time of the day.

What do you love most about Minnesota?

The four seasons! I love that the weather changes and there's different things to look forward to in each season.

Anything special you would like to add?

Our products are made with gluten-free, whole ingredients, including nut butters that we make ourselves. They are the perfect snack for kids and adults that are on the go. When you bite into one of our chewy bars, it will taste delicious and fill you up with all the right nutrients. Beyond how good they taste; our products are an invitation to act with respect. We name all of them after manners to spread kindness and remind people that even though we may not agree with each other we can still respect each other as humans. Our mission is to make loyal fans who eat our products every day and in turn, every day invited to act with respect and make a difference.

We can’t wait to see you in person this September 10th & 11th for Jackalope Minneapolis!

Where to see more of P&TY Granola:

Website | ptygranolacompany.com

Instagram | @ptygranolaco

Do you have a story behind your company name?

Yes! HINDES is the Old English spelling of my married name, Hynes. Historically, the name was given to families responsible for tending deer and it means "female european red deer.” You'll see a subtle nod to this within our logo, an H with deer ears.

That is so cool! Tell us how you got your start?

I've made my own skincare products using minimal, natural ingredients nearly my entire life. My products have been well-loved by family and friends. During the 2020 pandemic, I added CBD to my products for enhanced wellness and mood-boosting. By October 2021, I decided to make a business out of it!

We love what CBD can do for the body. Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

My favorite part is creating new aromatherapy blends! Essential oils have tons of uses and layering them in different proportions can really change the scent profile. Testing new blends is my creative outlet.

Fun! Can you tell us what a typical day is like in the studio for you?

Notebooks galore! I make note of product recommendations and favorite scents that people have mentioned. From there, I review the healing properties of ingredients that would be best suited for the product I'm interested in creating. I'll write up several recipes to test. The fun part is the product testing! I'll fine-tune a recipe over several weeks until it is just right.

What inspires you to create?

Thinking of useful applications of ingredients, such as essential oils and CBD, inspires me to create. There's lots of room to play with aromatherapy profiles, types of products, and even how to use or apply certain products. My goal is to go beyond traditional avenues and to think differently!

Do you have a favorite item you have made?

My favorite product is the HINDES Skin Soother Body Spray. It's heavenly! While it's great throughout the year to moisturize dry, dull skin, it is specifically designed for after-sun skincare. It smells amazing - a mix of rose, lavender, and a hint of peppermint. The Skin Soother eases inflamed and irritated skin while adding a ton of moisture and it's light enough to layer under serums and lotions.

A must have for the lake days! Speaking of lakes, what do you love most about Minnesota?

Minnesota is an absolutely gorgeous state year-round, including all the lakes, hiking and biking trails, and even ice caves to explore!

What will you be bringing to Jackalope?

There are so many HINDES products available on our website, but I'm just not able to bring them all to market. You'll see our best sellers, such as Essential Oil Rollers, Extra Strength Body Oil for pain relief, Soaking Salts for relaxation, Diffusing Oil for aromatherapy, and plenty more!

We can’t wait to see you in person this September 10th & 11th for Jackalope Minneapolis!

Where to see more of HINDES:

Website | shopHINDES.com

Instagram | @shopHINDES

Do you have a story behind your company name?

“Cheesecake” is really symbolic of my journey in life! Before I found my love for polymer clay I was baking all kinds of sweets for friends and family with plans to become a pastry chef. The timing wasn’t right then so I never pursued it wholeheartedly. Baking polymer clay is very similar to baking cookies and cakes, so when I was dreaming up names for my company it felt very natural to marry these two versions of myself. Cheesecake is my favorite dessert and when it's my birthday I always ask for cheesecake instead of cake! Cheesecake brings feelings of decadence, celebration, sweetness, and complexity to mind and these are all vibes I want my company to embody.

Love that! Tell us how you got your start?

In 2019 I left my job to become a stay at home foster mom and raise two sweet little girls with my husband. Then the pandemic began and life got a little wild. It was incredibly traumatic and difficult and I felt lost and depressed. My mom gave me some solid advice: find a creative outlet for all those feelings. Then she handed me some polymer clay and a 10 year old box of beads. Cheesecake started that day as just me finding myself again in the middle of chaos.

I bet that was a great outlet, mental health is so important. Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

My favorite part is always when I’m playing with clay. I love mixing colors and cutting shapes. I think of this part of the process as the “daydreaming” phase because I’m thinking about what it’s going to be. I’m paying attention to light, movement, texture, and what feelings I want to evoke in these early stages of a design and it’s really fun!

Can you tell us what a typical day is like in the studio for you?

Well, my studio is in the corner of my living room and I am also a stay at home mom, so my personal life and my studio life are woven together! My day always starts with breakfast with my daughter and watering our flowers outside together. Then I start my studio day with product photography because I get the best natural light in the morning. Then I pack orders, answer emails, and plan out my social media strategy for the day. After I get all those things out of the way it’s clay time! I don’t typically plan my art unless it’s a commission. I create what brings me joy in the moment and focus on colors and feelings. Finished clay pieces go in the oven for an hour and that’s when I plan structures for jewelry pieces, beading, and assembly. At night I cycle between drawing on baked clay pieces, designing ideas on my iPad, and watching true crime documentaries. Once or twice a week when the rest of my family is gone for the day I open all the windows, get in my safety gear, and resin all completed clay pieces so they are ultra shiny!

What inspires you to create?

Lots of things! Random things! The shade of green in my mother’s eyes. A perfect curl on my daughter’s head. The yarrow that grows in my garden that is an incredibly bright pink! A stranger’s awesomely bold outfit. A beautiful sunrise on a morning vacation. I think what I’m trying to say is life. Living inspires me to create. It’s a compulsion!

Do you have a favorite item you have made?

My favorite piece I’ve made has to be these rainbow 2 tiered princess cake earrings. These were one of the first times I had attempted a 3-dimensional sculpt that was so intricate! I had to figure out how to make the sculpt hollow so they would appear heavy but weigh very little as well as make sure every individual piece was secured to the base. They were a big success and something I’ll never forget creating!

Those are so fun, I bet your daughters loved how they turned out! What do you love most about Minnesota?

Every inch of Minnesota is so beautiful and I love that we have a great balance between nature and city! The scenery here is pretty incredible and it’s a great place to live if you love the outdoors. I also really love how supportive Minnesota is of local small businesses and specifically artists. There are so many cool events to check out full of daydreamers like me!

What did you miss most about in person events now that events are picking back up again?

I missed the thrill of watching people bond over my work! You know what I mean? Like when you walk up to a booth with a friend and discover a new piece of art that brings you joy, you start making happy noises and chattering about how it makes you feel? Then suddenly everyone nearby joins in on the good vibes and it’s this tiny, perfect moment of strangers smiling at each other. That moment makes in person events so worth it to me! If you walk by my booth there is a good chance you will hear me cackling and being rowdy with my customers and I wouldn't have it any other way.

That makes us smile! What will you be bringing to Jackalope?

I will be bringing so much colorful clay in many different forms! I will have a lot of jewelry and home decor. I’m working on some special sun catchers, trinket boxes and dishes, as well as some larger original art pieces to hang on your wall!

We can’t wait to see you in person this September 10th & 11th for Jackalope Minneapolis!

Where to see more of Cheesecake Art & Design:

Website | https://shopcheesecake.co

Instagram | @pieceocheesecake

Do you have a story behind your company name?

The name Here’s the Deal came from a saying Tom’s dad would say up at the cabin. It was always ok “Here’s the Deal Tom if you want the chores done right the first time this is what we need to do.” So we latched onto it as well and say Here’s the Deal if you want chef quality premium taste…use our spice blends to have your meals brought to a new level and have them done right the first time!

Please tell us how you got started?

It all started on our wedding day. We served Crusted Ribeye Roasts with our signature 127 Blend®. As a special gift to our guests, each was given a bottle of our special spice.

​Weeks later, we began receiving refill requests from friends who wanted more of it. That’s when we realized we were onto something and have since created four more hand-crafted blends. Hence, Here's the Deal Spice Company® was born.

That is such a great idea for a wedding favor! Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

Blending the multi / complex layers of spices together in a specific order to create the perfect flavor profiles.

Lots of taste tests I imagine! What inspires you to create?

Tom has more than 20 years in the culinary industry, his love for cooking and passion for food led to a lifetime of experience. This is the main driver of inspiration….applying the dynamic knowledge he has gained over the years into each jar.

Examples of experience: Butcher shops, Executive catering, Executive sous chef, Grill chef at the 2009 PGA Championship & 2016 Ryder Cup, Venison processing extraordinaire and managing the meat department at Minneapolis’s premier restaurant, Travail Kitchen, to name a few. All of which led up to this!

Do you have a favorite item you’ve created and why?

Our Organic 127 Blend® This blend is truly universal ….our most popular and the blend that started our company.

Any new items since the last time we had you join us?!

We do have a some new items since the last time we saw you!!

• Taco Blend: Authentic and Exquisite –

• Fun Facts: Medium Heat, 9 Different Chiles, we use Dehydrated Sweet Corn vs Sugar, Porcini Mushrooms, Hand Ground.

• Individual spices:

• Roasted Cinnamon Stick from Sri Lanka

• Toasted Cinnamon Ground from Vietnam

• Roasted Garlic Minced from USA

• Ground Sumac from Turkey

• Whole Black peppercorns from Vietnam

What do you love most about Minnesota?

The seasons & the wonderful foods that go along with each. We also love going up to the cabin and spending time on the lake.

What will you be bringing to Jackalope?

Organic 127 Blend - the blend that started the company.

• Universal savory blend with garlic / shallot / rosemary/ Basil/Thyme

• Good on any protein / roasted veggies / eggs /avocado toast / flavored mayo / seasonal dishes

 Organic Wing Blend 

• Our sweet heat dry rub – coriander / mustard seed / fennel / cumin / turbinado sugar / red pepper flake

• Good on any kind of chicken / pork / bacon / grilled pineapple

• Wing Blend – Sweet Heat – Bacon (heresthedeal.co) (sweet heat bacon recipe)

 Organic BBQ Rib Rub

• Intriguing and gnarly

• Dry rub – good for anything cooked low & slow

• Earthy flavors such as Juniper Berry / Allspice / Mace / Anise

Organic Bloody Mary Rim 

• Yields ~45 pint rims

• Folks have also been using this spice blend to flavor various dishes and folks are loving it – ultimate dipping sauce / fried chicken / roasted veggies

• $1 of every tin sold donated to local MN hockey!

• Thankful for Mark Parish & Northland vodka for helping us launch this product. He signed that back of the hockey puck shaped tins. They sold out in 30 min!

• *Looking for a team to support for fall of 2021….please email heresthedealspice@outlook.com with team request now through Sept. 15th.

Togarashi 

• Zingy & zesty

• Hand peeled oranges / hand cut nori / toasted sesame seed / hand sifted Szechuan peppercorns (tongue numbing sensation)

• Good on baked salmon / steamed rice (put in the water from the start) the flavors will open up and “bloom” like tea does when it steeps / ramen / sushi

Plus our new additions!

 Catch Here’s the Deal at the Downtown Minneapolis Street Art Festival this August 10th & 11th!

Where to see more of Here’s the Deals Spice Company

Website | heresthedeal.co

Instagram | @heresthedealspice

Please tell us how you got started?

I come from a long line of artists and musicians, so it was only natural to follow suit. I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember, but only began sharing my artwork with the public over the last couple of years. Once my walls and every family member's/friend’s walls were covered with my paintings, I knew it was time to branch out and sell my work to anyone!

Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

While it is so difficult to pick just one part of my maker’s process, I would have to say delivering my commissioned pieces to their forever home has to be at the top of my list. Helping turn a client’s home into their haven by filling their walls with my artwork is incredibly rewarding and I'm so fortunate that I can help my clients make their spaces feel complete with my work.

What inspires you to create?

Creating and sharing art is like opening a window into an artist’s soul. I use art as an outlet for anything and everything I'm experiencing in each moment. Inspiration can look as simple as looking out the windows of my property or experiencing something new and translating those feelings/experiences into a canvas.

Love that! What’s a typical day like for you in your studio?

In this current season of my life, “typical” is such a hard word to describe my day to day! I am very lucky to have a studio nestled into the center of our home in Prior Lake, Minnesota, where I can work and help raise my family. I am married to my husband Wesley and together we have three beautiful children- Finn 6, Eli 4, and Lulu 1. Having an established studio in my home makes it possible to work and create while still enjoying time with my family. My favorite time to paint is once the kids are asleep- I can throw in my headphones (usually tuned into a mix of Bon Iver, Billie Eilish, Santana, or Ludovico Einaudi -depending on my mood!) and immerse myself completely into my work.

Do you have a favorite item you’ve created and why?

After the unexpected, traumatic death of my father, I painted only using black and white for a few years. The first time I painted with color, I created one of my favorite pieces to date- “Jessica Stoodley. Untitled, 36x48, 2018. Acrylic on Canvas.” The painting marks a pivotal moment in the journey of my ongoing healing from the grief of his sudden loss. It’s a reminder of how far I’ve come as a person and artist, and I look at it as the start of the next chapter in my life as an artist.

That is beautiful. What do you love most about Minnesota?

Minnesota is such a uniquely beautiful place to live and create. The memories and connections I’ve made while living here will always bring me back to this place I call home. Minnesota has such a unique assortment of people and experiences- the vibe of the ever-changing Twin Cities can be so inspiring, all while the backwoods of Northern Minnesota’s incredible landscapes and adventures are a rock’s throw away. Inspiration is everywhere in Minnesota, and the possibilities to create here are endless.

What did you miss most about in person events during this past year?

There is something to be said about the way human connections are made at a time when attending in-person events is unsafe. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from the shifting from in-person to virtual and back to in-person events, it’s that making human connections can be done whichever way suits you. We’re all in this together, and I'm looking forward to safely meeting and speaking face-to-face with other people and vendors at these events.

What will you be bringing to Jackalope?

I will be bringing some of my collection pieces that can be found on my website- www.jessicastoodleystudio.com along with two new collections that I've created uniquely for the fall and winter artisan markets coming up (anyone interested in getting a sneak peek can check out my Instagram page @jessicastoodleystudio) !

We can’t wait to see you in person this October 2nd & 3rd when Jackalope makes our debut in the Twin Cities!

Where to see more of Jessica Stoodley

Website | www.jessicastoodleystudio.com

Instagram | @jessicastoodleystudio