FROM POTTERY TO DYED CLOTHING and much more, creative works filled tents and spaces lining a paved path through Trailside Park during Pequot Lake’s recent Bean Hole Days.
While beans, baked in massive kettles in an underground pit, highlight this festival, the Arts & Crafts Fair adds another appealing dimension. I always enjoy meandering among vendor booths, occasionally chatting it up with these creatives.
A time existed when I, too, created with my hands. As a teen, I sewed nearly all my clothes. I also stitched dresses for my paternal grandmother. I loved sewing. But college, life as a working professional and then motherhood ended that. Perhaps some day I’ll return to sewing and embroidery, two favorite hands-on crafts. For now I keep my hands primarily on my keyboard and DSLR camera.
I admire the creative work of others, including those vending in Pequot Lakes. Like the pottery of Alice Harris and Dale Goodhue, Minnesota residents in the summer, Georgia residents in the winter. They create out of their When Pigs Fly Studio in Nisswa. Alice crafts the pigs while Dale creates more practical pottery pieces like mugs and plates. What a difference in approaches to pottery.
Perhaps the most unusual art I discovered are the Puzzle Boxes crafted by Ken Spurlin of Nevis. He takes a chunk of wood and then saws it into a puzzle with a hidden space inside. It’s magical.
When I spotted crocheted panels in the Spun A Yarn booth, I engaged in conversation with the artist, who, as it turns out, is also a freelance fiction editor and writer. Miranda Darrow (her pen name) creates “crochet with character.” Her crocheted loon panel caught my eye given the northwoods location of the Arts & Craft Fair. Loons are common on area lakes.
A creative backdrop and vendors dressed in dyed clothing caused me to stop and peruse the art of Shea J Maze and Diaspora Textiles. Memories of tie dying in the 70s flashed back. But unlike the chemicals I used to dye tees, these items are dyed naturally. A jar of dried flowers sitting on the table proved that. Beautiful, soft hues define this natural dying method.
Farther along the trail, the bold colors of mega blocks drew kids (and me) to the booth of Wondertrek Baxter Children’s Museum. The museum is an in-process undertaking.
Across the park, inflatables splashed color into the landscape in temporary, interactive public art.
I can see art most anywhere, including in the striped sweater worn by a preschooler wandering the fest grounds. Handcrafted or not, I don’t know. But I found it visually appealing, albeit seemingly too warm for the hot and humid July day.
While I’ve only shown you a sampling of the arts and crafts featured in Pequot Lakes, I hope this entices you to attend Bean Hole Days next summer. Not only for the delicious baked beans but also for the art.
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Please check back for one final post (of three) on Pequot Lakes Bean Hole Days.
© Copyright 2021 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
A Bean Festival sounds delightful and with all of the great arts and crafts to boot. Definitely a winner. Thanks for the tour — I feel like I am right there.
Oh, Beth Ann, you would love Bean Hole Days.
This looks like so much fun. Thanks for sharing this adventure with your readers (I think I can speak for more than just myself…). It has been way too long for me not to be enjoying MN in the summer!!!
Oh, Paula, I know how you miss time in your home state. If it’s any consolation, the weather has been incredibly hot and humid. Plus, we’ve dealt with a lot of poor air quality due to wildfires in Canada and elsewhere.
I loved all your postings on Up North Bean Hole Days thanks for noting the efforts of the community who work hard to make these events happen.
Thank you and you are welcome. I know you work hard in Hackensack on arts/book events. The community is blessed to have you there organizing and leading.