Where are you from and how does that affect your work?
I grew up in New Jersey near Philadelphia so we had the opportunity to go to the Philadelphia Museum to see art. My dad made it a point to take us and talk about art. He’s an artist and so was my grandmother.

Who/what are your biggest artistic influences?
I am a big fan of traditional artists like Van Gogh and Mary Cassatt. And more contemporary artists like Shepard Fairey, Barbara Kruger, Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol.

How do you define success as an artist?
Being successful to me is being authentic and creating work that brings me and others joy.

We love that! Does your art help you in other areas of your life?

Art is definitely an outlet for me that helps with my mental well-being. I enjoy using my voice in street art and contemporary art for things that matter to me. I hope I can create work that inspires others and creates a sense of unity overall.

How have you developed your skill at your craft?
Being self-taught I love trying new things through trial and error. That’s how I’ve discovered my style along with finding mentors throughout my journey.

What is the hardest part of your creation process?
The process has evolved over time and since I’ve started to take my own photos, adding photography to the mix adds another layer of time to the process.

Loving the mix of mediums! How has your style changed over time?
I started creating digitally and moved into physical work. So it’s been using all my tools to create work and challenge myself throughout the process to find what I really want to focus on.

What’s the best thing about being an artist?

I love the art community and meeting collectors. People that really get what you’re doing and support it.

What’s your favorite item that you’re created, and why?

The Maya Angelou mural that I created part of the protests in 2020 in Hollywood.

Beautiful! We can’t wait to see you in person this November 19th & 20th at Jackalope Pasadena!

Where to see more of Amy Smith:

Website | https://www.amysmith.art/

Instagram | @amysmithart

How did Stray Cat Alliance get its start?

Stray Cat Alliance started 21 years ago with one homeless kitten named Chloe. One cat needed care and support in a time when none was easily found. One cat was the catalyst of over 150,000+ lives saved over two decades. Today, we are still going strong and saving more lives than ever before. Every cat we save is a reminder of a time when cats and kittens were overlooked and is a recommitment to our mission of ensuring every cat is safe, healthy, and valued.

Where and how does the rescue get involved when saving a cat? 

Stray Cat Alliance has many programs that focus on lifesaving. One of the most successful programs is Safe at Home. Safe at Home empowers community members to serve as foster care givers, playing an integral part in saving animal lives. At the South Los Angeles shelter, Stray Cat Alliance community engagement counselors intercept people, before kittens and cats are impounded, and mentor and support them as fosters, providing training on all aspects from bottle feeding through adoption. We also supply all food and medical care. This is one of the few programs of its kind in the United States. It shouldn’t be. We would like to expand to as many communities as we can.

That is amazing. What is a typical day like working with the rescue?

Stray Cat Alliance is an incredible lifesaving team, from cat care, through the clinic, to our admin and program staff. Each day is full of hard work, dedication and lots of love that helps us achieve our lifesaving goals. We are very grateful for our donors, supporters, fosters and volunteers, too!

How do you define success as a non-profit?

Success is being able to save a furry life everyday and finding them a forever home.

Yes, love that! Does your work with Stray Cat help you in other areas of your life?

You learn so much about rescue, spay/neuter, cat care and medical care while working at Stray Cat Alliance. It's wonderful to be able to provide this experience, knowledge, and support to friends and family.

What is the hardest part of your job with Stray Cat Alliance?

Refraining from wanting to take home every cat and kitten that we save!

That would be hard! Can you tell us more about the process behind adoption and fostering?

Stray Cat Alliance Adoption Program:

Stray Cat Alliance's adoption program provides foster and forever homes for cats and kittens found on the streets through their Trap / Neuter / Return (TNR) program, impounded at the shelter, or from hotline requests for support when cats are faced with being taken to shelters or abandonment. Many cats from their other programs feed into their adoption program. Each cat and kitten receives veterinary care (spay/neuter, vaccines, testing, check-ups, microchips) until a permanent, loving home is secured.

Stray Cat Alliance Foster Program:

Whether your home is small or large, you live alone or have other animals, we have cats and kittens who need your help and will thrive under your care. We rescue nearly two thousand cats and kittens every year and rely on our fosters to help us care for them until they’re adopted. The more fosters we have, the more lives we can save.

Website page for adopting and fostering with Stray Cat Alliance: https://straycatalliance.org/adopt-and-foster/ 

Do you have a favorite story or moment from the rescue?

We recently rescued the cutest 8 week old kitten who we named John Belushi. He was on IV fluids, antibiotics and in oxygen for sever upper respiratory infection and pneumonia. After several weeks of critical care with our team, our litte fur-angel made a full recovery. He began walking, eating and breathing on his own. We never gave up on believing in little John Belushi. That is our lifesaving mission.

Any additional success stories we can share?

THIS STORY REALLY WARMS OUR PAWS! 💜

A big-hearted ❤️ community member went to the local shelter looking for help and guidance with two kittens that he found.

He had zero kitten supplies and purchased cat food from the closest store in order to put a little food in their bellies.

We told him that we would provide him with supplies and food if he was willing to foster the kittens 😻 until they are adopted, so he wouldn’t have to worry about purchasing supplies.

This is a photo of the community member holding our @CatalystPet donation because it is lightweight, and he was already carrying a few other cat supplies home on the bus. We asked him if the donations were too heavy for him to take, and he said, "He would manage!" What a sweetheart!

He was so grateful for our help and left confident that the kitties would be cared for with our support. We are never not amazed by how resilient and kind our community members can be. They go above and beyond to seek help for the kittens and cats, and we are very grateful to help!

Mellow & Alaska 😻 are available for adoption! Apply to Adopt from Stray Cat Alliance: https://bit.ly/adopt-sm

This is why your generous donations to Stray Cat Alliance are so important. Please consider donating from our Amazon or Chewy wish lists:

Amazon: https://a.co/a3MAeMQ

Chewy: https://bit.ly/3lcKhy6
Donate to our current lifesaving campaign, Kiss a Kitten this Season: https://bit.ly/kissakitten-ig23  

That makes us smile! We can’t wait to see you in person at Jackalope Pasadena!

Where to see more of Stray Cat Alliance:

Website | straycatalliance.org

Instagram | @straycatalliance

Where are you from and how does that affect your work?

I am proud to be Mexican American and I feel deeply rooted to my Mexican culture. My family is from Jalisco Mexico where I have been able to travel since I was a child. My love of leather and design combines my Mexican culture with the artisanal art of leather tooling.

I think your work definitely speaks to your heritage and we love that. Who/what are your biggest artistic influences? 

I have a specific love of Chicano art and the beauty of the bright colors used in Latino art pieces.

How do you define success as an artist?

Success is being able to provide pieces that are enjoyed and appreciated by others.

That is a great perspective. Does your art help you in other areas of your life?

It brings me joy in supporting the artisans that we work with and efforts to keep this art form of tooling alive.

Very cool. How have you developed your skill at your craft?

By connecting with artisans and collaborating and sharing ideas. 

What is the hardest part of your creation process?

Sourcing the raw materials and creating enough product to meet demand. Inventory issues.

How has your style changed over time?

The designs of the handbags have changed to keep up with trends but the tooling has remained traditional to keep the cultural authenticity.

What’s your favorite item that you’re created, and why?

My latest design! See below:

What do you love most about Pasadena?

The transformation of how the city has invested in making old town better and their support of the arts.

We can’t wait to see you in person this November 19th & 20th at Jackalope Pasadena!

Where to see more of Ciselè Handcrafted Leather:

Website |www.cisele.net

Instagram | @Cisele2019

Where are you from and how does that affect your work?  

I am originally from Italy.  I was brought up with a strict Catholic background, and though not religious now, I do use those images to represent spirituality, irony, and faith.  I was raised by a single mother. Having moved from a small town in Italy to a large city with so much diversity, I was struck how multi-cultural Los Angeles is and how that move changed my worldview, and continues now to help shape my art.

Who/what are your biggest artistic influences? 

My art is how I see the world and situations around me. They come from my worldview, and flashes in my dreams. I have always studied artists in all genres and throughout history. I do not have a particular artist that influences me, I think all art and all artists influence artists, and that is how it is with me my art. 

Love that! How do you define success as an artist?

I believe it is being able to move people with my art. The greatest pleasure I get as an artist is watching people talking about my art and discussing the meaning and what it evokes in them. Success is stopping people in their tracks and them reacting to the piece. 

That is a great perspective. Does your art help you in other areas of your life?

It is therapeutic and extremely rewarding. It allows me to put on paper my emotions, my thoughts and my point of view. 

How have you developed your skill at your craft?

I have painted since I was a child. As an artist by nature, I have dabbled in all mediums, and have explored many different styles.

How has your style changed over time?
I started doing oil on canvas, and my style was surreal and dark body images. Now, my art is how I see the world and situations around me. They come from my world-view, and flashes in my dreams. I find mixed media collage is the best medium to express myself now.

What is the hardest part of your creation process?

Finding time in my extremely busy life. There is nothing hard about the actual process, it’s the business side, the marketing side and the promotion that is hard for me. I love all aspects of creating art and sharing with others.

What is a typical day like in the studio for you?

I spend hours finding images that match my imagination, train of thought or dreams. Then I find colors that compliment the images, and spend hours rearranging, gluing and painting over and around those images to create the final image I want. Sometimes it takes days, or a week, and sometimes a full day, but I do not rush it, but let it flow naturally.

What’s the best thing about being an artist?

The best thing about being an artist is the ability to show anything you want. With every person that sees it will have a different reaction to it, and I love seeing the different reactions and interpretations of it.

What’s your favorite item that you’re created, and why?

Holy Cow is my favorite piece. I am an animal rights activist, and this piece represents how sacred, pure, spiritual, gentle, and kind a cow is, and it expresses that it is a sentient being, and should be revered, rather than exploited. 

What will you be bringing to Jackalope Pasadena and Burbank?

I will be bringing some of my original work, some limited editions, open editions of my most popular art pieces, as well as products such as greeting cards and tote bags of my art.

Anything special you’d like to share? 

My goal is that my art sparks conversations about diversity, women's issues, fame, community and hope for our planet, fellow humans, and animals. 

Love that. We can’t wait to see you in person this April 29th & 30th at Jackalope Pasadena AND at The Downtown Burbank Arts Festival this June 3rd & 4th.

Where to see more of Laura Ward Art:

Website | www.lauraward.art

Instagram | @lauraward.art

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