Shop Local this holiday season and support independent craftspeople. It’s a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and get packages more quickly! This post comes from Jennifer Ladd, aka jenniferladd, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. That’s her in the photo above. Where is she? Read on to find out!
If it’s a lazy morning in Milwaukee and you’re trying to find me, chances are I’ll be here: the Milwaukee Art Museum. My two-year-old daughter and I will be strolling through the galleries on a treasure hunt for triangles. Or maybe we’ll be counting the circles we see. Or searching for dogs and cats hiding in the paintings. The Milwaukee Art Museum is one of my favorite places in our city and we both love to come here for inspiration. I look for color combinations and shapes to use in my purses and bags, and my daughter is always inspired to come home and draw her own colorful masterpieces.
Our museum is not huge — it’s definitely not the Louvre or the Tate or even a very large museum by most standards — but its beauty comes from the diversity of pieces it has from all different genres of art. In fact, the reason I love the art museum so much is the same reason I love Milwaukee so much. Our city is not as large as Paris, London, or New York, but our beauty comes from our diversity. We are one beautiful city made up of so many different, unique neighborhoods. You can still get delicious plump Italian olives in the old Italian neighborhood. I love the chrusciki pastries from the Polish bakery at the end of my street. And of course, German beer flows all around our city. Each neighborhood in Milwaukee is like a small town with people who know each other, maybe even grew up together, and work together to preserve their uniqueness. Each neighborhood has its own feel, its own specialties, and its own character. And as Milwaukeeans, we are proud of our own neighborhoods, and also proud of how they each contribute to the beauty of Milwaukee. We make it a point to celebrate all of our cultures with dozens of ethnic festivals each year —T Bastille Days, Polish Fest, Festa Italiana, German Fest, Asian Moon Festival, Irish Fest, African World Fest, Mexican Fiesta. Milwaukee may not be a huge city, but it is a masterpiece in my mind, and each part of my town adds the splash of color that makes Milwaukee as beautiful as it is.
I hope you enjoy these colorful finds from Milwaukee. Their uniqueness — and the diversity of the artists who create them — is a part of what makes Milwaukee beautiful!
Ken Neitzel of UrbanTurn: “I’m fortunate to live near a gem of a county park, Grant Park. This part of the park is known as ‘Seven Bridges.’ It’s an area that was developed as a Works Progress Administration project during the 1930′s. They built lannon stone stair cases, paths and foot bridges over ravines that leads through the woods to Lake Michigan.”
Susie of Mooi Bags: “This is one of my favorite places close to home, Whitnall Park Botanical Gardens. My family and I love to take walks here in the summer to enjoy the most beautiful variety of roses and in fall to see the gorgeous colors, or we ride bikes through the park. As you can see from my photo, we are in the throes of winter here in Wisconsin. What can you do at the gardens this time of year, you might ask? How about a delicious brunch every Sunday? Yum-o!”
Dana of Magical Pony Farm and Tom of Oh Yeah Studios: “Here we are on our snow covered balcony in Milwaukee. We put a candleholder on the balcony so that when friends have trouble finding our house we just start singing to them ‘Candle in the Wind.’ Sorry Elton. Our singing doesn’t exactly do that song justice.”
Rebecca Cook of RosyBird: “Here I am on my block in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Milwaukee. Even though I am in the city, I seek out all the nature I can find to enjoy. I watch the birds at my bird feeder and the squirrels running around like crazy chasing each other on tree branches and power lines. There are woods and trails near my house that I bike and hike regularly. When I am out there I take in the rich, constantly changing colors and shapes of my environment. This feeds my soul and nourishes my creativity. It is truly amazing what fresh air and sunshine can do for you everyday.”
Tara Scheuerman of Cracked Designs: “This picture is taken of me by the lakefront in Milwaukee. I’m lucky enough to live close to the lake in Bayview, so I frequent here often, especially in the summer. Milwaukee has a beautiful lakefront and there’s always tons of events going on down here in the summer.”
Papavier: “At the local diner in my neighborhood.”
Tracy Renner of trcreations: “Milwaukee is an amazing city, a place that inspires me every day and I’m proud to call home. The picture is of our River Walk near Old World Third Street, a quaint few blocks in downtown Milwaukee with old red brick roads. I love our city’s history and revitalization of downtown neighborhoods developing old buildings and warehouses into new urban homes, retail boutiques, great restaurants, lounges and brew pubs. This is one of those areas!”
Jox and Eliot of Daisuki: “Eliot and I are standing inside the Golda Meir Library (the UW-Milwaukee library). I’ve worked there for the past two years, and Eliot works there as well. As UWM students, it’s one of our favorite places not only at the school, but in Milwaukee. It’s comfy and it’s home. We took this picture in the Art Book section, where I spend way too much time.”
Thank you to jenniferladd for scoping out these Milwaukee based Etsians!
Shoppers, get your holiday gifts this season with Shop Local and meet your talented neighbors (shrink that carbon footprint too)! Find sellers belonging to the local Wisconsin Street Team!
57 comments
Sign in to add your ownwastenotwhimsy says:
These are all the reasons I miss Milwaukee!
3 years ago
ballandchain says:
wow, look at all that snow! Looks beautiful there though!
3 years ago
pickleberries says:
Thanks for this great article about Milwaukee! Such an interesting, eclectic place. It's a quick, fun trip for us from Minneapolis. There are so many cool things to do there. Great museums, love the zoo, excellent feasting and lovely scenery. The fact that I'm a Packer fan probably helps make me feel right at home too. :)
3 years ago
kilsook says:
go team milwaukee! thanks jennifer for including me, the article is great. there are so many great shops and milwaukee artists. proud and privileged to be one of them.
3 years ago
glamasaurus says:
OHh I just found some new favorites!
3 years ago
Papavier says:
woo hoo! what happened to my paragraph? awesome though!!
3 years ago
phydeaux says:
Great article! It's so fun to meet our colleagues around the world this way.
3 years ago
Papavier says:
Little confusion, my info got left out so I'm Jessica Franzen of Papavier and my picture was taken outside of Fuel Cafe in riverwest. A place thats been a must hangout, creative space, and cozy coffee hotspot for a LONG time. Always holds a near and dear spot in my heart <3
3 years ago
kmwatkins says:
Hey! Milwaukee! I used to live there. Cool. Great shops and photos.
3 years ago
MagicalPonyFarm says:
Yay! Milwaukee! Thanks for putting our photo in!
3 years ago
SuperiorStones says:
That's a great feature!
3 years ago
ohyeahstudios says:
Hey thats me! Awesome. Thanks for putting us up.
3 years ago
TheCottageCheese says:
I have a friend who lives north of Chicago, and she prefers to take trips into Milwaukee over going to downtown Chicago. Great to see such an art scene, can't wait to check it out on my trip up there this spring!
3 years ago
prettypeardesigns says:
Oh my gosh! Thank you so much for sharing this. I grew up just outside of NYC and now live in Elkhart Lake - up here in Sheboygan County. I have yet to explore Milwaukee, and I am so excited to do so now. You painted a beautiful picture of how great Milwaukee is. Glad to be here and a part of Wisconsin!
3 years ago
EviesToolEmporium says:
Milwaukee is a wonderful place to visit! I have spent many fun days there exploring the city! Nice recognition of the local artists! Congrats!
3 years ago
littlepapoose says:
oooh! i just miss milwaukee by miles.... some amazing talent!! and so close to home!:)
3 years ago
suili says:
Cool, one day I will be there...:)
3 years ago
daisuki says:
AWESOME! We're pretty ecstatic right now - thank you so much for putting us in here, we're both very happy the hard work is paying off!
3 years ago
MissKoa says:
hi Milwaukee!! i miss you and send you blessings ... so awesome to see all the creativity there ... and thanks for the Fuel pic!! Brings back poignant memories.
3 years ago
rosybird says:
Very Cool!! Whoo-hoo Mil-town, great people, great beer, great art....what more can you ask for??
3 years ago
jodieflowers says:
Awesome artists in Milwaukee! Way to go!
3 years ago
picklevalentine says:
Jennifer, thank you for showcasing my hometown and some of the people and places that make it such a wonderful place. I am feeling awfully homesick.
3 years ago
stellaloella says:
Big love for my city! This is a great spotlight on local Milwaukee Etsians and some of the great places that help make Milwaukee so wonderful. Thanks, Jennifer.
3 years ago
ThePeachTree says:
Oh, my midwestern peeps! How I miss you all so :)
3 years ago
kittygrrlz says:
yay milwaukee!! great pics everyone, wish i could have had time to take one!
3 years ago
KellesKitchen says:
Yay for Milwaukee and the frigid north in general! We've got a great community of artists and crafty folk and it's so awesome to see a special article just for the Brew City! Jenniferladd, you are actually what brought me to Etsy a few years ago (under my former buyer account). I don't even remember where I saw your ad or items but I clicked and ended up looking around Etsy a bit and fell in love! And now here I am selling my soaps...crazy! And Ken Neitzel - that is our FAVOURITE park to take our dog to in the summer - he loves to swim on the beach in frigid Lake Michigan! So cool, guys :)
3 years ago
oceanavesilks says:
I so miss Milwaukee and all my relatives that still live in and around there. Thank you for making me homesick for the holidays! LOL!
3 years ago
theseawithin says:
Great story!
3 years ago
NatashaDesigns says:
Love your picks :)
3 years ago
amysfunkyfibers says:
I really like seeing the artists, and then their work. It is funny how you associate the name of a shop with a face, but it is really nice to see the real people. I may have to change my avatar!
3 years ago
jenniferladd says:
These artists are so talented - and there were so many more from Milwaukee I wanted to include! Please check out everyone's shops - you'll find some awesome stuff!
3 years ago
nfall2rt says:
Looks chilly! Lovely work too:)
3 years ago
elizabethwren says:
great article- I grew up in the Milwaukee area and still live nearby. the diversity is wonderful,there is an amazing park system and you can't beat the shore of Lake Michigan. lots to inspire an etsy artist!!!
3 years ago
JDWolfePottery says:
Hello, Milwaukee!
3 years ago
papermichelle says:
Yay Milwaukee...oh how I love you. Beautiful crafty items from brew city. Bravo.
3 years ago
meeabee says:
Oh I just love these series, seeing the artists!
3 years ago
jewelryinfusions says:
Thanks for giving us a look at some artists close to my home! I'm going to start looking at what all my talented neighbors create.
3 years ago
BluCille says:
I love UrbanTurn's photo! And the coat looks nice as well.
3 years ago
f2images says:
Yeah!! I'm so excited to see my fellow Milwaukeeans get the press!! Congrats!! ~Emiko BayView (Milwaukee)
3 years ago
MineFull says:
Great to see Milwaukee represented! Love to see my StepDad Ken's shop (UrbanTurn) featured too!
3 years ago
Leelinau says:
Home is where Milwaukee is! ^__^
3 years ago
kellyvanhook says:
I found some new favorites too! Thanks Jennifer for such a great article and your contribution to Etsy! I loved looking at the artists and their work too!
3 years ago
margoam says:
It's nice to see some of the artists from Milwaukee!!
3 years ago
timesandchimes says:
Looks cccccccold there! Great items! Great folks!
3 years ago
christinececelia says:
sooooo much snow!
3 years ago
olfactorycandleco says:
Ol'factory is right in Milwaukee, too....we make all our snifferific candles in the Third Ward.......couldn't ask to call a better place home. :)
3 years ago
ElementLux says:
Now I'm homesick. Grew up in Riverwest neighborhood. Shout out to alumni of St. Mary's Czest! Love that town and all it's character filled neighborhoods. Lake Michigan shore in winter is amazing! Stay warm and cozy.
3 years ago
glorygifts says:
Great article on Milwaukee! Thanks!:)
3 years ago
stellaloella says:
Hey Milwaukee folks! This piece was re-blogged in the Journal-Sentinel's Art City blog today. Check it out: http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/entertainment/36173024.html
3 years ago
Papavier says:
thanks for posting that stellaloella thats great!
3 years ago
Valleycreations says:
Woot Milwaukee!!!
3 years ago
spittingimage says:
Hey 1/2 of spitting image is in Milwaukee. the other half misses the people there.
3 years ago
Beautyconnesuier says:
I was raised in Milwaukee and went off to school in DC and now I am back visiting for awhile...this article makes me very proud to be an artist from Milwaukee :)
3 years ago
kricketbee says:
i LOVE Milwaukee! Great picks & cute stuff! :)
3 years ago
VisualConcepts says:
I'm homesick!
3 years ago
HappySolez says:
A while ago, I asked this wonderful etsy seamstress where to find cool shops while on vacation to Milwaukee. She gave me such great advice and was really helpful. Glad to see this article was written by Jennifer Ladd.
3 years ago
KasheaIntl says:
Always my Home
2 years ago