PRODUCE

MEATS, POULTRY, EGGS, DAIRY

PLANTS

BAKED GOODS & PROCESSED FOODS

FINE ARTS & CRAFTS

PRODUCE:

Ackerman Certified Organic Farm and More (Angie and Ron Ackerman--Chenoa):  Angie and Ron Ackerman met many years ago in Vietnam.  From that begining we have developed a Certified organic farm on the present Ackerman farm that was purchased in 1924.  We became Certified organic in1987 and have been continuiously since.  We have expanded our vegetable and farmers' market gardens to include 5 acres and soon to be 3 hoop houses for extended seasons.  We are grateful to our loyal customers and hope others will find our produce of extra quality.   We have the following produce in season:  herbs; most common edible herbs,leafy greens, green beans, peapods, beets, green onoins and garlic, sweet corn, cucumbers, green peppers, hot peppers, summer and fall squash, lemon grass,Yukon Gold potatoes, Edamame soybeans and at times apples, peaches, cherries, and apricots.  In addition, have whole wheat flour, corn meal, whole soybeans and soy flour, oat groats and oat flour.  On our farm acreage we raise corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, barley and mixed alfalfa, red clover, orchard grass and timothy hay. 

Amaranth Acres (Andrew Zeal--Minonk): Amaranth Acres is a brand new small farm and market garden located in El Paso, IL. It is dedicated to integrating sustainable and traditional practices to grow a very wide variety of vegetables. It will provide a good mix of heirloom and exotic varieties from around the word, along with tradtional farmers market staples everybody knows and loves.

Appleridge Produce Farms (Keith Kuerth--Gridley):  Appleridge is located 2 miles East of Gridley, Il. We are a defercified produce farm with 16 acres currently under production growing: Asparagus, Lettuce, Spinach, Radishes, Herbs, Bedding plants both annual and perrinial, sugarsnap peas, pod peas, snow peas, green beans, beets, sweetcorn,broccoli, cabbage, summer squash, zuchinni, fall squash of all kinds, pummpkins of all shapes and sizes and much more. We also offer CSA's for $350.00 per year for more detials eamil us at keithappleridge@aol.com. The Bloomington Farmers Market has the most variety of any of the markets that we participate in. I always say this market is one we as growers love toi come to, because of the customers, all of the people who donate their time and effort to make the market happen, and our fellow farmers. Our goal at Appleridge is to bring you fresh, healthy produce a a great price. Come see us at the market. You may also set up a time to come see our farm and see how your produce gets to you on those Saturday mornings.

Brown's Fresh Produce Market (David and Kathy Brown--Bloomington): Browns Produce was established in the mid 1950's, and is now in its 4th generation.  Our produce is grown on our 20 acre vegetable farm in west Bloomington.  Our famous "Peaches n Cream" Sweet Corn has become a summer favorite of many in the area!  We have expanded our business into doing a CSA program and are now growing many varieties of bedding plants and cut flowers. Our family is dedicated to bringing you the freshest and tastiest produce!  Our retail market is located at:  304 Brown St. Bloomington, IL and is open 7 days a week May thru October. For the latest news, visit our Facebook page!

Dearing Country Farms (Brad and Jackie Dearing--Bloomington): Dearing Country Farms is a family farmstead located just 3 miles west of Bloomington and provides a wide variety of vegetables, melons, fruits, flowers, trees and honey.  Specializing in fresh eggs, chicken, turkeys and goat products, we follow Organic Program standards and are members of Certified Naturally Grown.  Sustainability, wildlife habitat and humane livestock management are all key aspects of our agricultural plan.  For the latest news, visit our Facebook page!

Dignity Farms LLC (Jon Fiebelkorn--Eureka): Dignity Farm LLC is located amidst the rolling hills, deep bottomland soil, and organic farms of Woodford County. Our farm is small and still young, but is unusual among local farms in the variety of fresh, naturally-farmed fruits we grow in addition to the vegetables from our chemical-free garden. In 2011 we hope to supply the Downtown Bloomington Farmers' Market with blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, currants, aronia berries, elderberries, table grapes, and a selection of tree fruits from our young orchard. This year we are fortunate to feature fine produce from new market gardener Andy Zeal's Amaranth Acres Farm. Andy spent time working in Africa with the Peace Corps and raising chemical-free produce at Henry's Farm in Congerville before starting his own naturally-farmed produce operation on 4 acres in El Paso. Expect dozens of unusual varieties of vegetables and herbs and heirloom produce of the highest quality all season long, we know you will appreciate having fresh flavors that will make for many memorable meals.

Epiphany Farms Enterprise (Nanam Myszka--Downs):  Epiphany Farms Enterprise Inc. is a freshly new, “Farm to Fork Concept,” that practices sustainable, beyond organic, and environmentally friendly techniques.   Our goal is to bring a better understanding of food, health, and well-being to your life while insuring to leave the land a better place for the next generation. We are working towards opening a farm fresh restaurant in the local area.  For the latest news, visit our Facebook page!

Green Acres Herb Farm (Donald R. Schertz--Lowpoint): We grow and sell pesticide and chemical free plants, produce, and flowers.  Plants include herbs (largest selection in downstate illinois), vegetable plants in season, and unusual flowering plants.  We specialize in Heirloom varieties.  We grow over 500 varieties of plants.  All produce is grown without chemical based fertilizers or pesticides.  We specialize in Heirloom Tomatoes, Cut Herbs, Unusual Vegetables, and Edible Flowers.  We grow and sell squash blossoms and baby squash of several varieties.  We sell seasonal flowers by the stem and in bouquets.  Come to the farmers market to pick up free recipies and growing information.

Hartz Produce (Lyndon Hartz--Wyoming):  I started my farm shortly after graduating from college and have spent the last eight years building it to what it is now.  I have three hoophouses which I grow all year long, selling to restaurants and individuals during the winter months.  I grow strawberries, raspberries, asparagus, blueberries, corn, greens, tomatoes, green beans, spinach, squashes, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and almost any other crops you can find in a seed cataloge.  Last year the weather had a big negative impact on my crops, but I will come back this year even better then before with more variety of crops to sell at market.

 Harvey Homestead (Karen Harvey--Ellsworth): This will be the 11th year particiapating in the Downtown Bloomington Market, providing local, good for you, farm-fresh fruits and vegetables. We plant a wide assortment of tomatoes (13 varieties), peppers, squash, pumkins, cucumbers, eggplants, potatoes, sprouts, broccoil, onions, spinach, lettuce, peas, carrots, beets, green beans etc.  Our sweet corn is a market favorite.  We also offer herbs, perrenials, ornamental edible peppers, and foral arrangements.

Merrick's Produce Farm (Frank Merrick -- Danvers): Honey, popcorn, relishes, salsas, etc.  Assortment of veggies.

Mitchell Farms Produce (Bill Mitchell--Bloomington):  Mitchell Farms Produce is committed to growing the highest quaility, best tasting, and freshest produce available. This will be our 11th year at the Downtown Bloomingon Farmers and we have been growing vegetables on our farm for over 30 years.  We trial new varieties every year to make sure we are bringing you the best tasting produce possible. You can taste the difference, we guarantee it.  We are well known for our gourmet sweetcorn, extra sweet cantaulope and watermelon.  We also grow a wide variety of tomatoes, peppers, egg plant, cucumbers, zucchini, and summer squash.  In addition we grow a wide variety of head lettuce,  cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and almost any other vegetable you can imagine.  Stop by and see us on Saturday morning...! For the latest news, visit our Facebook page.

O'Rourke Family Gardens (Mark & Rita O'Rourke--Downs): Located in rural Downs approximately 7 miles east of Bloomington - family owned - raising home grown small fruits & vegetables.  Fruit crops include strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. We grow several different colors & types of potatoes including blue, red, and sweet!  Also produce onions, okra, cucumbers, tomatoes and several different pepper varieties.

Olive Berry Acres Inc (Michelle Weber--Mazon): Olive Berry Acres was established in May 2005 by berry enthusiasts Nik and Michelle Weber. The original raspberry farm was planted on three acres of the Reiter Farm and from there has grown to about seven acres and now includes asparagus, strawberries and rhubarb. We are pleased to be able to offer farm fresh produce and look forward to where the adventure will take us. Olive Berry Acres offers over ten varieties of raspberries in a rainbow of colors which includes: red, purple, black and yellow. The varieties of raspberries that are grown have been selected based on flavor and immediate fresh consumption. An interesting fact about two of the strawberry varieties is they were developed by Nik’s brother, Dr. Courtney Weber, Cornell University. A unique strawberry variety that is available for harvest is a PURPLE (wine colored) strawberry. Finally, three varieties of asparagus are grown, traditional green and an exotic purple.

PrairiErth Farm (Hans Bishop--Bloomington): PrairiErth Farm is a USDA Certified Organic family farm, offering Beef, Chicken (Meat and Eggs), Vegetables, Cut Flowers, and Row Crops (corn, soybeans, oats, wheat, hay).  Katie and Hans Bishop manage the vegetable and flower production while Dave oversees the entire farm's operations and manages the meat and egg enterprises.

Samara Farm (Zack Metzger--Shelbyville): Samara Farm grows Certified Naturally Grown produce and chickens in season. We grow the full spectrum of produce, with over 120 varieties (mainly heirloom) in the 2011 season. We provide organically-grown, delicious fruits and veggies for our local Shelbyville Farmer's Market, the Bloomington Farmer's Market, and a small CSA. For the latest news, visit our Facebook page!

 

Shofner Family Farm (Alan Shofner--Batchtown):  We sell Peaches Apples Tomatoes Backberries

Trailside Gardens (Kim and Jeff Thomas, Bloomington):  AT TRAILSIDE GARDENS WE START EVERYTHING FROM SEED.  WE HAVE 20 DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF TOMATOES & 10 PEPPERS ,WE WILL ALSO HAVE LETTUCE & SPINACH & CUCUMBERS. WE ALSO GROW LOTS OF ANNUAL FLOWERS FROM SEED WE HAVE HANGING BASKETS AND LOTS OF MIXED CONTAINERS BEAUTIFUL COLOR ALL SUMMER LONG.WE HAVE LOTS OF HOUSEPLANTS, A GOOD SELECTION OF PERENNIALS, AFTER WE SELL PLANTS FOR ALL THIS PRODUCE, WE ALSO PLANT APPROX. AN ACRE TO BRING OUR FRESH PRODUCE TO THE MARKET. WE WILL HAVE TOMATOES, PEPPERS, LETTUCES,& SPINACH PLUS MORE EVERY WEEK. WE NEVER USE CHEMICALS . WE HOPE TO SEE YA AT THE MARKET! 

MEATS, POULTRY, EGGS, DAIRY:

Catalpa Grove Farm (Trent & Jackie Sparrow --Dwight):  At  Catalpa Grove Farm we raise purebred dairy goats and sheep.  Our breeds of goat include Alpine, Nubian, and LaMancha.  We raise Suffolk and Dorsett sheep.  We raise the animals without using growth  hormones or anti-biotics.  During the summer months the animals are on pasture. The animals are also fed a combination of corn,oats and protein.  Our animals are processed at Chenoa Locker in Chenoa,IL and flash frozen to insure the best taste.    We also have a large garden of heirloom vegetables.  We grow many varieties of tomatoes, including green zebras that are quite tasty!  We also grow green beans, onions, peppers and potatoes and melons.  We do not use any chemicals on our garden..      We have lots of milk from our goats so we make soap.  We have many different scents which include lavender,eucalyptus, spearmint, vanilla, cucumber melon, lemon, anise,patchouli and others.  The goat milk soap is good for your skin because it is very moisturizing. It won't dry out your skin like regular soap will.

Dearing Country Farms (Brad and Jackie Dearing--Bloomington):  Turkeys, eggs, chicken (broilers & fryers)

Huelskoetter Pork (Vicki Huelskoetter, Beason): Huelskoetter Pork is your source for locally grown and processed pork.    All of our pork products are USDA inspected, steroid, animal by-product, and growth hormone free, natural and 100% guaranteed.    Huelskoetter Pork is Pork Quality Assured III certified.    We sell pork products by animal quarters, halves, whole and special cuts.    We offer free delivery to residents and businesses in DeWitt, Logan and McLean Counties.    Since 1972, Huelskoetter Pork Farm has been farm family owned and operated by Larry and Vicki Huelskoetter, and has offered quality pork products.    We invite you to get to know us and try our delicious pork meat products.    Email us at:  huelskoetterpork@gmail.com  Call us at:  217.737.4051  Look us up at:  2322 - 2000th Street, Beason, IL   62512    KNOW WHERE YOUR FOOD COMES FROM! 

PrairiErth Farm (Hans Bishop--Bloomington): PrairiErth Farm is a USDA Certified Organic family farm, offering Beef, Chicken (Meat and Eggs), Vegetables, Cut Flowers, and Row Crops (corn, soybeans, oats, wheat, hay).  Katie and Hans Bishop manage the vegetable and flower production while Dave oversees the entire farm's operations and manages the meat and egg enterprises. 

Prairie Fruits Farm (Leslie Cooperband--Champaign):  We are Illinois' first farmstead and artisan cheese making facility. We're now in our sixth season, and we make fresh and aged goat and sheep milk cheeses. Our herd and our cheeses are "Animal Welfare Approved." We have a small organic orchard and we have several bee hives that produce farmstead honey. We will sell fruit and honey as it is available. Visit our Facebook page for the latest news! 

Ropp Jersey Cheese (Carol Ropp--Normal): On-farm, all natural cheeses made with milk from registered Jersey cows.    

Vermilion Valley Meats (Jon Freed--Fairbury):  Vermilinon Valley Meats sells all natural beef.  We offer steaks, roast, hamburger and a wide variety of specialty products.  We dont use any animal by products or hormones in our feed.

 BAKED GOODS & PROCESSED FOODS:

Aleece's Pita Chips (Alice Anthony--East Peoria): Aleece grew up making pita bread with her mother and grandmother.  she carried the tradion to East Peoria, IL.   Aleece's pita chips made from pita bread the bdear is made of whole grain wheat bread,  and whole white it is very important to use nothing but the best of ingredient we make more than a bag chis.  To differentiate ourselves from all of the others, we stress quality and authenticity of the ingredients, and the heritage of the family recipe.   We sell more than a bag of pita chips. We sell high quality ingredients, carefully put together in a masterful blend that can't be matched in taste or true authenticity.   These are simple products that must be presented in a way that encourages the consumer to just give us a chance. Once they try our product, we have a long-term relationship with them.  For the latest news, visit our Facebook page!

Central Illinois Event Catering (Susan Shaw--Elkhart): Baked Freshly Made From Scratch Breads, Specialty Breads, Sweet Breads, Pies, Buttercake (10 Flavors) and so many other items.      Let me introduce myself to you I’m Susan Shaw the proud owner of Central Illinois Event Catering, located in Elkhart, IL . My husband, Ernie and I have been in Elkhart Illinois since 2001 and have raised a family. I am a graduate, with honors, from LinconLand Community College with an Associates Degree in Hospitality Management Services. In addition to catering large and small events and farmers markets, also provides other services such as teaching cooking classes, makes meals for individuals as well as intimate anniversary/special occasion meals.  For the latest news, visit our Facebook page! 

Coffee Hound (April Fritzen, Bloomington): Bloomington-Normal's premier coffee shop and micro-roaster, The Coffee Hound proves it's worth with every sip of espresso and every bite of home-made bakery goods.  Owned and operated by United States Barista Champion Finalist Steve Fritzen and his wife April, you can count on superior quality. Their well trained staff can make you the most beautiful latte you have ever seen or simply help you pick out specialty craft roasted coffee for home. 

Crow Ridge Farm Ice Cream (Rae Ann Maupin--Elliott):  flavors per week. We will have a wide variety of fresh seasonal flavors such as mango,lavender honey,pineapple,raspberry fields and many more.The ice cream will be served on homemade waffle cones in regular and petite size for the young and "mature" population. I was brought up making homemade ice cream nearly every Sunday with my Grandpa and have always treasured those memories. We look forward to serving our market with a treat for all ages.

Great Harvest Bread Co. (Anita Ashley, Bloomington): Great Harvest Bread Co. is a locally owned, made from scratch bakery featuring breads, cookies, and sweets.  We fresh mill 100% whole wheat flour for the freshest baked goods possible.  For the latest news, visit our Facebook page!

Java & Co. (Brian and Jamie Knoll--Henry):  JAVA & Co.'s Coffee Infused Syrups. Handmade Specialty Caramels, i.e., TiRUMisu (caramels infused with coffee and dark Jamaican rum), JAVA JAX - Dry Pancake Mix, Granola Nibbles, JAVA Spice, Handcrafted Gift Crates showcasing popular JAVA & Co. specialty food combinations, Biscotti, JAVA Snack Bars.  For the latest news, visit our Facebook page!

Katic Breads (Dusan Katic, Urbana): Katic Breads is a bakery invested in the recovery of traditional European methods and standards (contrary to the present day industrial/mechanical method) concerning bread, and the culture that is intertwined with such bread.  Whether it is the baguette or the croissant, we are looking at what the competitors in Europe is achieving, and we are passionately aiming to emulate that degree of quality. Our business is in serving you, the customer, with the best QUALITY of bread that we can, along with the best relationship that you can have with such a product.   Our breads will be Baguettes, Herb Focaccia, Ciabatta, Sourdough, Semolina, Pain de Campagne, Harvest Bread, Brioche, Croissants, Chocolate Croissants, Almond Croissants, Apple Danishes, Cherry Danishes, Cream Cheese Danish, Ham and Cheddar Croissant, Portabella Mushroom and Swiss Croissant, Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Croissant, Turkey and Swiss Croissant.

Kelly's Bakery & Cafe (Kelly Mathy--Bloomington): We opened in 2005, nestled in downtown Bloomington.  We serve a variety of foods and baked goods.  We focus on using as many local products as possible, even growing some of our own at our Community Garden plot.  We specialize in quiche made from local eggs..  For the latest news, visit our Facebook page! 

Lost in Time Inc. (Sally Goembel, Fairbury): We are located in downtown Fairbury in a restored Bank Building that was originally built in 1893.  Lost in Time Inc. features a restaurant, Bakery and a small retail section.  ALL items on our menu for the restaurant and bakery  are homemade from scratch.  We get many of our food items from local growers in our area.  We take pride in doing everything the old-fashioned way.  All consignments in our retail area are hand crafted by local artisans.

The Medici Restaurant and Bakery (Michelle Wilbur--Normal): Medici made fresh baked goods with no preservatives added, and made in the heart of Uptown Normal.  For the latest news, visit our Facebook page!

Pasta Alley (Rae Ann Maupin--Decatur): Pasta Alley is a small pasta buisness that employees adults with developmental disablities in Decatur, IL. Several individuals help with the production of mixing, bagging, packaging, labeling of our unique pastas, soups, breads and sauces. We carry 18 flavors of Fettuccine and Linguine which include garlic and herb, sundried tomato basil, habanero, spinach, lemon pepper, sweet basil champagne and many more. 5 flavors of Angel Hair, 4 flavors of Whole Wheat, 4 flavors of Gluten-Free Rotini, 10 Gluten-free sauce flavors, 14 differant soups and breads and 7 differant dipping oils. Our company continue to employ more and more individuals as we grow from year to year. Each individual takes great pride in their work and learning new task within Pasta Alley. Please stop by our booth and try one of our products. Almost all of our customers are repeat buyers. Once you try our pasta, soups, bread or sauces you are hooked!!! For the latest news, visit our Facebook page!

Plow Creek Bakery (Louise Stahnke--Tiskilwa): We are a small, locally owned bakery and enjoy providing a wide range of good, healthy products.  These include 7 kinds of whole wheat breads, using organic flour; pumpernickel rye bread, pita bread, bagels, several varieties of crackers.  Other not quite so healthy products include 10 varieties of cookies, 4 kinds of sweet rolls, dinner rolls, black bottom cakes, angel food cakes (all of our products are made from scratch), and our own specialty of dessert rolls, using a sweet roll dough, a mixture of cream cheese and egg, and a sauce made from blueberries or red raspberries that are gown on our own farm.  No preservatives or other chemicals used in our products.  We can provide special orders if folks contact me ahead of time, to be delivered at the Sat. market.

Senior Honey (Maggie Wachter--Urbana): Senior Honey produces a variety of local honeys, honey sticks and honey-sweetened dark chocolates.  Our bees are raised on farms and prairies in the Bloomington and Champaign areas, and we practice sustainable, natural and mindful beekeeping.  We  offer discounts on honey to seniors over 55 and free honey delivery to seniors' homes in the Bloomington area.

FINE ARTS & CRAFTS:

Art to Wear (Phil Krumholz--Mapleton):  Phil Krumholz was born in Peoria in 1949, and now lives in Peoria County near Mapleton with his wife Jeanie. Phil began metalsmithing as a hobby in 1991, learning the arts of blacksmithing, metal casting and fabrication. After building his own rock sawing and grinding equipment, Phil began lapidary work in 2004. At first, Phil’s work was enjoyed by family and friends, but starting in 2006 a small quantity of his work was made available for purchase by the public. He uses no patterns or dies for his mountings - each piece is made from scratch, one at a time, each piece is unique. He prefers using the materials of nature in his designs, especially the enduring beauty of gemstones and fossils. He hopes that you enjoy wearing his jewelry as much as he enjoyed designing and creating it.

Artjools (Martha Brown--Heyworth): Silver, Bronze, and Copper jewelry, necklaces & pendants, rings, brooches, & more. Original designs using fine gemstones and glass. Miniature oil paintings of midwestern landscapes, birds, and the southwest desert.

Bags N More (Marsha Nagy--Bloomington): Bags N More has unique felted wool accessories for fiber lovers, including bags, hats, flower pins, and unusual scarves.

Barbara Hartnett (Tremont): Bold, inspiring jewelry made from natural materials. Each piece is one-of-a-kind.

Big Smile Designs (Deborah Zilm--Danvers): My favorite jewelry to make is wire-wrapped, but I also enjoy stringing, precious metal clay, and some metalwork. I love trying new designs, techniques and ideas, so I'll always have some unique pieces. I mainly use semi-precious stoneswith sterling silver, copper, brass or gold-filled. Occassionally I use Swarovskcrystal, Czech glass, or wood. But NEVERplastic! I'm a retired soldier and my "day job" is in social service, as a drug and violence prevention worker.

Dep-Art Gallery (Dylan Punke--El Paso): Original photography from a McLean County native that combines the life of color with the mystery of monochrome. Most works were created in McLean County and Central Illinois.

Gathered Illusions (Brock E. Eddleman--Bloomington ): I have been working with glass since about 1998. I started with lamp work using borosilicate glass down in Carbondale,IL in the late 90's. I moved up to Bloomington, IL in the early 2000's. My wife found a place that offered classes infurnace work soft glass in Monticello, IL called Prairie Fire Glass. I have been going over there to work since about 2003or 2004. I first started to get serious about selling my glass in 2005 and started doing so at our Farmers' Market inBloomington. From there I started to learn from other artists and community people about different art shows I couldattend and have been going strong ever since. I do a variety of work from bowls, vases, paper weights, flowers and jarswith my furnace work skills. I make beads, marbles, pens, pendants and sculptural work using my lamp wrk skills. For the latest news, check out my Facebook page!

In The Great Design (Philip Gangler--Normal): "In The Great Design" provides nature, floral, landscape and architectural photography at a reasonable price. Their inventory includes blank photo cards, matted prints along with matted prints that are framed. The "Orbs Series" of 12'x12" prints along with floral collages are unique to "In The Great Design". All prints are archival quality with a life expectancy of 100 years. We also offer unique painted garden containers along with a selection of fused glass jewelry.

Julie Williams (Bloomington): I create hand woven baskets, decorated gourds and some small woven items which could be worn as jewelry.

Land of Lincoln Basketweavers: (Rose Grampp -- Bloomington):  Handwoven baskets made from natural materials, such as bark, ash, spruce roots. Handcrafted gourds using mixed media materials. 

Lee Hahn Art (Leland Hahn, Lincoln): I live in Lincoln, Il and paint acrylic paintings, primarily on canvas. All of my work is original, using photos taken by me as the source for my work. Most of my work are landscapes from central Illinois. It is a goal of mine to show people the rural beauty of central Illinois.

Lone Peak Woodworking and Design (Duane DeMay--Normal): I have spent my entire career in the construction industry as a cabinet maker and finish carpenter, 30+ years. I draw my design inspiration from the many areas I have worked in. These include: Montana ski resorts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, Denver, Colorado. I grew uo in a small farm town in west central Illinois, but spent nearly 18 years in the areas mentioned above. I have always created unique gifts and crafts for my friends and family and hope to take this great opportunity at the Farmer's Market to enter the world of craft and art shows. I did leatherworking as a young man and went to local shows such as Galena Arts Festval, however this was decades ago. The current theme in my work is incorporating various species of wood with burled cork and natural stone. Items will include small tables, wall hangings, mirror frames, etc. I have built large items such as a home bar area using cork and maple in the bar top. Obviusly these large items would be difficult at the market but I will bring pictures.

Michael J McNeil Artist (Michael J McNeil--Bloomington): Completed an Art Major with an emphasis in painting at Southeast MO State College in Cape Girardeau, MO. Attended Washington University in St Louis MO and took graduate classes in drawing and painting. Paintings in private collections in: AZ, CA, FL, IL, IN, IA, LA, MO, NE, TX, & WA. Corporate Collections include: Pinnacle Actuarial Resources, Heartland Bank and Trust, Harmer and Associates, Iowa School Board State Headquarters, Guthoff Mehall & Allen and Company, Perdue University, Abraham Lincoln Hospital, and University of Nebraska Library. My primary media is water based; however I use almost anything available in the studio. Acrylic, water color, Oil paints, pencil, shoe polish, chalk, markers. If it works for the effect I’m after, it’s on the canvas. As with most other artists, I am seeking a broader public validation of my artistic view. Most of my work is about Edges, Frames, & Filters. Frames because the act of recording something, music, painting, a script, are all methods of "framing" an idea. Edges because all edges are artificially imposed, the painting edge along with the field edge, house edge, the edge of the automobile window, etc. and Filters from both a communication perspective and because I have the beginnings of cataracts which make things seem bluer to me than they really are. I have also been experimenting with tissue applied over the paint on wet varnish and then varnished again. Sometimes the tissue is flat and other times folded and wrinkled. Landscape and farm scenes with many edges and frames with me as the first filter and the viewer as the second. For the latest news, check out my Facebook page!

Nathan's Spray Monay (Nathan Basset -- Atlanta):  Watch this exciting and relatively new-to-the-area artform LIVE! Spray paint art is created using canned spray paint, lids, & newspaper being manipulated on a poster board medium. Paintings range from landscape (lighthouses, mountains, ocean), spacescapes (moons, planets, galaxies, comets), to cartoon/fantasy.

Ourglass (Levi Lawrence--Bloomington): Live Glass Blowing! Pendants and other jewelry, small affordable sculptures.

Through The Looking Glass, Inc. (Amy Furgiuele -- West Peoria):  I am inspired by the way nature influences all its elements and wanted to develop a line of jewelry that reflects the visually graphic manner in which shapes and forms in nature interact with one another. For each piece of jewelry I imagine and invent, every flower, leaf and vine is an individual glass bead I create using the lampwork process on a hot, flaming torch. Once released from the flame and the glass kiln, these floral components are gathered together one by one and arranged together like glass bouquets, accented with Swarovski crystals for just a touch of sparkle. Clusters of glass flora are then intertwined or attached to my hand-wrought or woven sterling silver leaf shapes and forms, producing one-of-a kind bracelets, necklaces, earrings and pins. I love the way they "grow" off someone's wrist or "climb" around a neck, and I see it as a unique way art meets botanical beauty! I also produce other lines of exceptionally unique jewelry featuring my handmade lampwork glass beads and sterling silver w rework. I work tirelessly on producing pieces that are artistically original!  For the latest news, check out my Facebook page!

yellowdragonfly designs (Amanda Bell, West Peoria):  yellowdragonfly designs creates one-of-a-kind peices using semi-precious stones, sterling silver and borosilicate glass. We strive to provide not only beautiful earrings, necklaces and bracelets, but amazing customer service. Our gorgeous display trees have become so popular that we now offer those as well. No matter the item, choose from already finished pieces or feel free to custom order exactly what you want. Custom orders and bridal jewelry requests are always welcome. Shopping for yourself or as gifts is easy and rewarding with our frequent customer card. We look forward to seeing many of you again and helping some of you for the first time.