September art and craft fairs can flourish because they offer a festive transition into autumn.
Vendors and attendees often have two area events in mind the weekend after Labor Day.
The Little Falls Arts & Crafts Fair is an enormous, two-day regional event with nearly 600 vendors. The newly named Fall Craft Show is a smaller, intimate community event in Rice.
Beautiful weather greeted attendees who gathered outside of LeeAnn’s Main Street Diner in Rice Sept. 12-13 to visit artisans’ tents and ask questions about their work.
Downtown visitors also found vendors inside of Rice’s Old Village Hall.
The Benton County Herald’s foray into the Fall Craft Show included Q&A visits with a trio of vendors. Here is what they had to say about the show, their hobby or business, and visiting Rice.
Amanda Weinzetl, Sunny Bees Collective owner, currently lives in Hartford, South Dakota, but graduated from Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in 2007. This year was Weinzetl’s first visit to the Fall Craft Show as a vendor.
When did you first start crafting? I’ve been crafting ever since I’ve been little.
Why do you craft? I needed a hobby after I became a mom with two kids. This is my creative outlet to relieve some stress and just to have some fun. I love nature and love the freeness of it. There’s many different nature perspectives to capture. I produce most of my products with 3D printing, including birdhouses and novelty clips to seal pet food packages.
What does your spouse say about your crafting? He really doesn’t have a choice.
Wes Konsor, owner of Konsor Woodworking in Holdingford, has been a Rice craft show participant for 16 years. His wife, Jeanne, also attended the fair and staffed a booth filled with hand-assembled, wooden products mainly made from local barn wood and refurbished wood as well as candle holders, seasonal signs and ornaments.
When did you first start crafting? Wes said his first craft effort was a small bench he produced for his sister-in-law. After he made all of his sisters-in-law benches one Christmas, the group suggested he should start attending craft shows.
Why do you craft? Wes said about 75% of what he produces in his woodworking shop uses old barn wood as material, including exterior boards aged after 110 years hanging on a barn.
What does your spouse say about your crafting? Jeanne said visiting art and craft shows supports Wes’ hobby business, and she doesn’t mind being more involved than she initially had planned.
Michelle Kiffmeyer, owner of MK Designs based in Foley, celebrated her sixth year as a vendor at the annual Rice event. Kiffmeyer’s booth was filled with a variety of seasonal signage.
She launched MK Designs on a whim via Facebook in 2019, and it quickly expanded from a hobby into a full-time endeavor. In addition to being a business owner, Kiffmeyer is a practicing pediatric occupational therapist.
When did you first start crafting? I started crafting in first grade and painted rocks for my aunt, who sold them at her craft sale.
Why do you craft? I’ve always been a pretty creative person, and I just really enjoy making things in general. My favorite part is helping people find and make gifts for an important person in their lives. I use a laser cutter to produce signs after I design them. I enjoy hearing people laughing as they’re walking through my booth and they read the signs with humorous themes.
What does your spouse say about your crafting? He’s a huge helper! My entire family, my husband and both my kids were here at 4:45 yesterday morning helping me set up tents in the dark because of the weather on Friday. He’s been my biggest supporter since I started.
