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METHOW MADE Don Nelson, publisher/editor Joe Novotny, design Ryan Edwards, design Sheila Ward, advertising Tera Evans, office manager CONTRIBUTORS Ann McCreary Malcolm Griffes Ashley Lodato Steve Mitchell Julie Tate-Libby A publication of the Methow Valley News P.O. Box 97, 502 S. Glover St., Twisp, WA 98856 (509) 997-7011 • fax (509) 997-3277 www.methowvalleynews.com On the cover: Top left photo courtesy of Emily Post Bottom left photo by Ashley Lodato Bottom right photo by Steve Mitchell,

4 6 10 Middle Pages 14 17

An unprecedented year TwispWorks and community unite to cope with COVID and its effects

Mask force

Methow Made is more than a brand – it’s a way of life

Thrown into it

Three Methow Valley potters talk about passion for their art

Methow Made Guide Methow miscellany

BLooking for something you can’t find elsewhere? Check these out

Methow Made business directory

As we all cope with the coronavirus pandemic, the creative forces of the Methow Valley continue to work – adapting to shifting production, marketing and distribution challenges that will likely continue for some time. In some respects, they are already used to responding nimbly to changing conditions. Our local producers are small companies, in many cases single-proprietor operations. To survive and thrive in our rural economic base, they must offer things that are original, creative and especially representative of our community – now more than ever. They appreciate your continued patronage. The Methow Made program was created by TwispWorks, the small-business development campus in Twisp that is also home to many local artists. Methow Made, a marketing and branding program, was designed to help our producers develop and reach their markets, here and outside the valley (visit http://methowmade.com for more details). You’ll also find their products at farmers markets, galleries, studios and retail outlets throughout the valley. Look for the Methow Made displays in many local stores. For a quick overview of local producers, please peruse our business directory. Don Nelson

An unprecedented year for TwispWorks and the Methow Valley TWISPWORKS AND COMMUNITY UNITE TO COPE WITH COVID AND ITS EFFECTS of going under. Within three weeks we received 63 applications and raised more than $40,000 to fund 25 businesses with grants to pay for rent, utilities and other immediate expenses.

By Julie Tate-Libby Director of Programming, TwispWorks

S summer unfolds in the Methow Valley, 2020 is shaping up to be a year like no other. Amid a global pandemic, three months of shutdown, and a contentious upcoming election, tourists are returning to the valley, construction is resuming and parts of life are returning to normal – almost.

C O V I D -19 RESPONSE After Gov. Jay Inslee announced Washington state’s shelter-in-place policy on March 23, TwispWorks launched a major outreach to the 525 small businesses throughout the Methow Valley. Calling, texting and emailing, TwispWorks staff members contacted individual business owners to help navigate the federal programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Small Business

G R AT E F U L FOR HELP

All photos courtesy of TwispWork

Robin Doggett’s True North Letterpress was sustained by a Small Business Emergency Grant.

Association’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), and unemployment for business owners, sole proprietors and their employees. Within the first two months TwispWorks made over 1,000 contacts with businesses throughout the community. As our outreach continued, we realized that some businesses were falling through the cracks. While the PPP and SBA’s EIDL targeted businesses with employees, here in the Methow we have a substantial population of self-employed individuals with few to no employees. Sole proprietors like hairdressers, massage therapists, small restaurants, tourist-based retail stores, auto mechanics, housecleaners, landscapers and artists

of all kinds did not qualify for existing programs. Additionally, because most of the PPP’s funding must be spent on payroll, business owners had no capital to buy summer product while continuing to pay rent and utilities, or pay for advertising dues. By mid-May, according to our Small Business Survey, 80 percent of nonessential businesses reported that they would close their doors forever if the shutdown continued for more than three months. In partnership with the Methow Valley Long Term Recovery Organization and Okanogan County’s Economic Alliance, TwispWorks launched the Small Business Emergency Grant to give $1,500 to those businesses most at risk

Among the businesses funded was Robin Doggett with True North Letterpress, a small press business based in Twisp. Just beginning her second year of business, Doggett did not qualify for the PPP. While March is always a slow time of year, this year was especially hard. “I had a couple of print and design jobs fall through due to closure and canceled events … I was at a real risk of closure by May,” Doggett said. When she heard about the Small Business Emergency Grant, Doggett applied immediately. She was thrilled when she received the grant. “Establishing a business in an economy as small as ours takes time and without this little bit of help we may not have been able to see our vision through after such a major setback,” Doggett said. Another business owner, Terry Marchiney of Terry’s Appliances, who specializes in in-home appliance repair, was immediately out of work. People quit calling for repairs, and at 79 years old, Marchiney

holiday tradition since it launched in 2017. Open every December, Valley Goods offers visitors a unique shopping experience featuring a curated selection of the best the valley has to offer. Valley Goods looks forward to becoming a year-round retail destination in 2021.

‘I received this grant just in time.’ –Hillary Ketchum

ME THOW INVESTMENT NE T WORK said he didn’t feel good about going into people’s homes. The bills piled up for two months with no income coming in. “I had obligations to creditors, utilities and suppliers,” Marchiney said. With the help of the Small Business Emergency Grant, Marchiney was able to pay his bills and eventually return to work. Another Small Business Emergency Grant went to the Thrifty Fox, a thrift store in downtown Twisp that sells used clothes, furniture and dishes. As news of the epidemic spread, owner Hillary Ketchum became increasingly concerned. “We had just made it through a slow winter, and were gearing up for spring when we had to close,” Ketchum said. She had no idea how long the shutdown would last. “My small savings completely ran out,” she said. With the Small Business Emergency Grant, Ketchum was able to pay a late water bill, rent and power for the month of June. “I received this grant just in time,” she said.

THIRD ROUND OF FUNDING With funds from the federal CARES Act contributed from the towns of Winthrop and Twisp, the Small Business Emergency Grant program will run a third round of funding in

mid-September. With businesses now open at either full, or limited capacity, we know that having enough cash flow to get through the rest of year may be difficult for some businesses. To address needs going into the future, we plan to offer a virtual workshop on cash flow strategies for the winter in conjunction with the next Small Business Emergency Grant outreach. Stay tuned for more information!

ME THOW MADE For the past eight years, through good times and bad, the Methow Made program has provided sales, marketing and retail support to local producers, makers and artists. From organic apples to custom yurts, the Methow Made brand represent the breadth of entrepreneurship and creativity of our Valley and helps amplify the reach of members regionally. Initially made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, TwispWorks continues to manage and grow the Methow Made program both in the number of participants in the program and in the benefits available to members. One of the newest and most exciting benefits delivered by Methow Made is Valley Goods, a pop-up store showcasing over 40 local makers and artisans, that has become a treasured

In other news, January was a busy month for the Methow Investment Network. Between the fourth-quarter’s pitches in November 2019 and early 2020, the Methow Investment Network funded several new business acquisitions, including Cascade Pipe and Feed Store, an insurance billing service, and further renovations for Blue Star Coffee, which plans to open a new facility later this year.

WE ARE IN THIS TOGE THER Many of us remember the devastating fires of 2014 and 2015 and the lasting impacts from those events. We know

that COVID-19 is not over yet. Undoubtedly the impacts of this pandemic both socially and economically will be felt for the next few years. Here at TwispWorks, we are grateful for our partnerships during this time with Methow Valley Long Term Recovery Organization, Room One and the Little Star South Collaborative, Economic Alliance of North Central Washington, our relationship with Washington State’s Tourism Authority, the Methow Conservancy, Methow Trails, Methow Arts, Methow Valley Citizens Council, The Cove, and all the individual business owners and community members who have stepped in to help guide our efforts and contribute to the Small Business Emergency Grant Fund. Thank you to everyone who has supported us and the small businesses of the Methow Valley! We cannot do this work alone. We know that everyone has been impacted profoundly during this time and the future is yet uncertain. How grateful we are for our beautiful valley, our trails to recreate on, and our gracious community that, once again, has proven that we are truly in this together.

Valley Goods, a “pop-up” retail outlet on the TwispWorks campus, will go from seasonal to year-round operation. 5

MASK FORCE

EQPD ADAPTED QUICKLY TO A SUDDEN DEMAND FOR FACE MASKS By Ann McCreary

ONATHAN Baker, owner of Twispbased eqpd, recently mailed one of his new protective face masks to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. Baker’s sense of good product design was offended by the masks he saw the governor wearing in public appearances. “He’s been wearing terrible masks during his interviews on television. And he knows Twisp, he knows the Methow Valley,” Baker said. Baker is proud of the new face masks eqpd (pronounced “equipped”) has developed to meet the demand for facial coverings to help curb the spread of coronavirus. Without question, he’d rather focus on making his trademark reusable “LastBag” tote bags as he did in the pre-pandemic era. But Baker, like so many small business owners, has had to adapt to a new reality. It became clear in early spring

Jonathan Baker converted his bag manufacturing operation to mask production to meet marketplace needs. All photos by Steve Mitchell

that coronavirus was changing the world, a fact that that hit Baker hard when his bag-making business at TwispWorks was determined to be non-essential and was shut down in early March under the governor’s stay-at-home orders. Baker had been watching trends in the fabric and manufacturing industries as the coronavirus spread across the world in early 2020, and recognized a skyrocketing demand for protective face masks. “There was no inventory, there wasn’t even elastic available,” he said. So Baker made a big pivot in his business. An experienced product designer, with a team of talented sewers, he decided eqpd was in a position to help address the critical shortage of face masks. “I had a 1,200-square-foot facility sitting vacant. When the whole thing started, the hospitals were asking for three-pleat surgical masks, which made our job easy. We put our heads down and made them,” he said. Eqpd was allowed to open as an essential business when it transitioned to making masks in March. Baker

launched a GoFundMe campaign in early April to purchase materials and pay eqpd’s sewers. The goal of the campaign was to make 10,000 fabric masks to donate to emergency and medical workers, hospitals and clinics, law enforcement agencies, social service organizations – wherever there was a need.

COMMUNIT Y TE AMWORK Baker teamed up with dozens of local volunteer sewers, providing them kits of pre-cut fabric and elastic prepared by eqpd to complete the masks at home. The fundraising campaign drew more than $28,500 in donations and by early July eqpd, along with the local sewers, had met the goal of producing

10,000 masks, which were distributed for free throughout Okanogan County and further afield. But Baker was ready to transition again, this time to producing and selling his own mask, designed to be more comfortable and effective than the three-pleat masks that eqpd’s team of sewers churned out to meet the initial push for masks. “We had to wear them while we were making them. We were looking at each other, touching our faces all the time, moving them up our noses, watching our ears fold over. I thought if we were going to make something with an eqpd logo on it, we should make something that works really well,” Baker said. So Baker did what comes naturally, and while producing the pleated surgical face masks as part of the 10,000

masks campaign, he worked on prototypes for a different mask in conjunction with his lead designer, Anna Dooley. “Anna came back to work three weeks after the business shut down, and spent the next month prototyping dozens of

designs,” Baker said. Dooley would be surrounded by scraps of fabric and elastic and string as she worked on perfecting a design worthy of eqpd’s logo. “We usually just start working in three dimensions, to build ideas as fast as possible. Our

attitude is the only thing that matters is the object you make. The more you prototype, the more chances you have,” Baker said. “Anna and I are both industrial designers,” said Baker, who worked for 15 years as a sporting and outdoor-industry product designer before founding eqpd in 2014. “One of the principles of eqpd is to look at history and move it forward. There’s a reason everything was designed the way it was. As designers, we try to dissect what’s out there. We went all the way back to the Black Death. We said, ‘Oh my gosh, this is how it started.’” One of the challenges in designing a new mask, Baker said, was the lack of standards for cloth facemasks. The only existing government standards apply to the high-filtration N95 masks used by medical workers. “It’s kind of a free-for-all,” Baker said. “We had to impose a bar for ourselves. We used the CDC [Centers for Disease Control]

website. That became our bar and that’s how we developed and chose our materials. We followed their guidelines and reverse engineered our product to fit.”

T H E D A I LY M A S K The result is what Baker named the “DailyMask.” Most people aren’t accustomed to wearing masks, and find them uncomfortable, Baker said. The goal was to create a mask that fits well and is breathable, which will encourage people to comply with recommendations

or mandates to wear them in public to prevent the spread of coronavirus. “If people don’t enjoy using it, they’re not going to use it,” Baker said. The DailyMask has a cotton exterior and a polyester/cotton lining. “We designed a mask that maps the contours of your face and chin, allowing you to speak and breathe easily without experiencing mask slippage,” according to eqpd’s product description. “Because the mask fits well, you will touch it less to make adjustments, further improving its efficacy.”

As the mask design was being refined, Baker recruited an array of local residents to test it. “I’ve designed helmets and eyewear and know how challenging it is making something for your head or face,” he said. “It’s very sensitive. People worry about their skin, their hair. We wanted to put our masks on people in the health care industry, laborers, people stocking grocery shelves. People were happy to participate, and we were happy to draw them into the design process.” “We pride ourselves on prototyping and coming up with original solutions. This is how you do that, you get your community wrapped into it,” he continued. Baker said he was encouraged by the response. “The No. 1 comment we heard from people is, ‘Wow, these things stay on your face.’” Orders for the masks are coming in from local businesses including contractors, restaurants, the school district,

Willow Brook Farm

emilypostpottery.com emilyapost@gmail.com 509-341-4710

Real Food for the People Grown in the Methow Valley www.willowbrookorganics.com

‘When you come to the Methow Valley you come to a source of creativity.’ –Jonathan Baker

and from the Mazama Store for masks with the store’s trademark goat logo.

SHIF TING MARK E T In July, eqpd began testing a prototype for a new “featherweight” mask, made of a one-micron filtration fabric that is used in the medical industry. Concern about safety of agricultural workers prompted Baker to look into the lightweight material, which is more comfortable to wear while working in summer heat. During his foray into the mask-making business, Baker

has seen a dramatic shift in the fast-developing market. “What’s really been interesting is we went from a supply-anddemand moment where there was no supply and an immense demand,” he said. “To this point in time, where there are more mask choices and more product available than I ever would have imagined … including fashionistas making a statement at $75 apiece.” Eqpd is doing well enough with its new products that the company was able to add two people to its five-person staff. “I feel lucky that we were able to move toward a little bit of growth,” Baker said. The new additions include a full-time production person and a parttime marketing person, “to promote the message outside of the valley,” he said. “We’re super proud this message is getting out and that we can contribute to our valley pride,” Baker said. “When you come to the Methow Valley you

Naturally dyed yarns, sustainably raised meat.

M c F arland c reek l aMb r anch www.thelambranch.com • 509-923-1916

come to a source of creativity. We can do things here – grow our own food and take care of our elders, have our own local newspaper and recycling center.” As restrictions on businesses were eased over the summer, eqpd resumed production of its primary merchandise, the LastBag reusable tote bags, designed to reduce the waste from single-use plastic and paper bags. About 70 percent of eqpd’s

production remained dedicated to masks as of mid-summer, but Baker was happy to be making his trademark product again. “Local stores were sold out of our bags and we couldn’t replace them. What a terrible feeling for me. The racks were empty,” Baker said. “I love making masks, we’re really proud to make masks,” he added. “But honestly, we hope this goes away and we can go back to making bags.”

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Thrown into it

THREE METHOW VALLEY POTTERS TALK ABOUT PASSION FOR THEIR ART

By Ashley Lodato

OTTERY was one of the first creative crafts that the Methow Valley became known for. That tradition continues as established artists are joined by talented newcomers. Following are profiles of three successful pottery makers. Photo courtesy of Emily Post

E M I LY P O S T POT TERY Creating things with her hands has long been in potter Emily Post’s blood, from her three years working on an organic farm up the Twisp River in the early 1990s, to her co-founding of the Cinnamon Twisp Bakery in 1994, to what has become her enduring career as a potter. “I went into [pottery] knowing it would be my life’s work,” Post says. Post learned her craft from longtime valley potter Jim Neupert. “When my twin babies turned 2, I started taking Jim’s bi-weekly night classes,” Post says. “With Jim’s excellent

teaching and my determination I learned quickly, and it wasn’t long before I borrowed a wheel and bought a kiln on Craigslist to set up my own studio in my basement.” Since her first clay class, Post says, being a working artist was always her goal. “I have always been drawn to handcrafted pottery both old and new: the big antique bread bowls and crocks and the Native American coil pots from the pueblos,” she says. “I have always loved how clay pots are some of the oldest artifacts found from ancient cultures.” Post is also inspired by the shapes of nature: “the rocks, the way wind shapes things, sand,

File photo by Don Nelson

Becoming a working artist was always Emily Post’s goal.

and beaches.” For Post, “Ceramics is a way I can attempt to mimic the patterns of nature.” Because her pottery designs change constantly based on new inspirations, once she is in her studio working Post often finds it hard to stop. “There are not enough hours in the day for me to accomplish all the goals I set for myself,” she says. “Much to my husband’s chagrin, I often crawl into bed at midnight.” Post also works as the garden manager at Classroom in Bloom, which consumes energy seasonally, but she says that this feeds her pottery work. “Because I love my pursuits, I am energized to work harder to create beauty – in clay and in the soil,” she says. Photo courtesy of Emily Post

Pandemic closures of galleries and markets have been hard on Post’s sales. “I sell my pottery through many Methow Valley shops and galleries and to Crow Valley Pottery on Orcas Island. Most of these shops – with the exception of Glover Street Market and Rocking Horse Bakery – were closed,” Post says. “The Farmers Market was also closed to non-essential businesses and only open for crafters [later in the season]. I also make prizes for Methow Trails races, which were all canceled. I worked hard to improve my website for online shopping and had a big upswing in business that way, but still nothing like my normal sales.” Post says she is grateful to

PULL OUT THIS HANDY GUIDE AND TAKE IT WITH YOU WHEN YOU SHOP

Methow Made makes it easy for people who love the Methow Valley to experience local products and flavors and to support our local economy. This 2020 Methow Made Guide connects you to the manufacturers, farmers, artisan food and beverage producers, artists and craftspeople who make their products with ingredients and/or labor from right here in the Methow Valley. For more information, visit MethowMade.com or call us at (509)â&#x20AC;&#x2030;997-3300.

A program of TwispWorks Learn more at TwispWorks.org

MethowMade.com LOOK FOR DISPLAYS OF METHOW MADE PRODUCTS AT VARIOUS RETAILERS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY

ARTISAN GOODS

GARDNER GARDENS

MCFARLAND C

Beekeeper Dave Sabold harvests beeswax from his 10 backyard colonies to create Gardner Gardens Beeswax Skin Cream, using all-natural coconut and almond oils and vitamin E. Available at Methow Valley retailers.

Bill Tackman an flock of sheep in They sell sustain customers, and products can be and their online

(509) 996-2522 www.gardnergardens.com

(509) 923-1916 www.thelambra

HOTSPOT FIRE PITS

MCIVOR WO

Textile/surface design Artist Sara Ashford uses solely natural dyes for her one-of-akind wearable & fine art pieces. Visit Sara’s studio and dye garden at TwispWorks and learn about her many classes.

Tim Odell’s fire pits are locally made by craftspeople and skilled metalworkers dedicated to quality and longevity, with many of the fire pits made from recycled scrap steel.

TwispWorks (Twisp) (509) 341-4042 Follow her on Facebook!

1211 Cascade Dr. (Twisp) (509) 997-4766 www.hotspotfirepits.com

Sustainably harv sourced wood m accompany you bowls to furnitur at the Winthrop Gallery, or by com

CULLER STUDIO

(509) 997-9456 www.mcivorwo

DOG PAW KNIVES

INTERTWINED DESIGNS

METHOW MU

Career bureaucrat turned knife maker Phil Millam handcrafts custom hunting and kitchen knives for clients, using a range of materials and designs.

Intertwined Designs produces highquality, eco-friendly clothing & re-usable face masks from our home-based studio in Mazama. Find us locally at my Studio Shopping Room. Appt. necessary, Covid19 protocols in place. Visit us online . (360) 319-0342 www.intertwineddesigns.com

Three decades o Schneider to be o embrace the joy to create. Using a and stones such pearls, and agate same pair of earr

Retailers throug

EMILY POST POTTERY

KIKENDALL’S WOOD TURNING

METHOW PH

Emily’s distinctive “sgrafﬁto” carved mugs, plates, large mixing bowls, tumblers, vases and other handmade vessels are a reﬂection of her love of clay, nature, cooking and the Methow Valley. (509) 341-4710 www.emilypostpottery.com

Utilizing wood salvaged from dead trees around his home in Carlton, Washington, Duane Kikendall works on the lathe as a hobby, turning items from bottle stoppers to peppermills, all from the local woods that surround his home.

Sherry Malotte h all her life specia and mixed med work at the Win Gallery and onli

Available at Methow Valley retailers.

EQPD

LUCID GL ASSWORKS

At eqpd (equipped) we take everyday objects and make them better. Our LastBags and DailyMasks embody our commitment to good design and manufacturing functional, reliable, practical products. Visit us on the TwispWorks Campus Open Mon-Sat 10-4 www. eqpdgear.com

Custom, handblown, functional, drink ware made by Samantha Carlin. Available at select retailers, markets and on her website.

FIREWEED PRINT SHOP Artist Laura Gunnip helps students of all ages engage in the radical act of creative self-knowledge through letterpress and printmaking classes. Fireweed Print Shop is a community printing resource as well as a retail space of Laura’s hand-printed items. TwispWorks Campus (509) 449-1789 fireweedprintshop@gmail.com

Cell/text (509)- 341-9102. lucidglassworks.com

(360) 303-2076 www.sherryma

MOLLY’S SO

Keeping the Met Molly’s Soap ma lasting soaps. Tim homegrown her nothin’ nasty. De to retailers valley

www.mollysoap

info@mollysoap

LUCINDA’S BOTANICAL SALVES Healing salves and oils from local plants including perfumes from downed pine branches, moisturizing antiseptics from cottonwood, nerve renewal from St. John’s Wort, muscle relief from Arnica and more. Available at the Mazama Store or by contacting us. (206) 550-3666 www.reﬂexologyandsalves.com

NEVEWEAR

Creating fashion wool, leather and known for its on Wool is a resilien medium that ca cozy and casual. stores throughou (509)423-0788

FOXTAIL POTTERY

MARCIA IVES POTTERY

NICE NESTS

Foxtail Pottery’s distinctive dark-colored stoneware clay body contrasts with lush glaze colors to highlight Mandy Shoger’s bold pattern designs. Her work is primarily functional and designed for everyday use.

Marcia encourages you to Eat, Drink and Be Merry with a piece of beautiful pottery in your hands! Her work can be found at private viewings in her studio, on Instagram, and at Methow Valley galleries and shops.

Nice Nests are s crafted from salv funky found har be found on the

TwispWorks campus (Twisp) www.foxtailpottery.com

instagram.com/marciaraeives/ (206) 719-2389 MarciaRaeIves@gmail.com

502 S. Glover St. (509) 699-0349 www.nicenests.

CREEK LAMB RANCH

nd Katie Haven raise a small n the lower Methow Valley. nably raised meat direct to their naturally dyed fiber e found at local retailers e store.

anch.com

OODWORKS

vested and locally made into functional art to ur daily life—from serving ure by Don McIvor. Available p Gallery, the Conﬂuence mmission.

oodworks.com

PINETOOTH PRESS We make awesome clothing. Every Saturday from July through August we’ll be doing it live! Drop in to shop and maybe even print your own shirt! Glover and 2nd Ave. (Twisp) Insta: @pinetooth www.pinetoothpress.com (541) 337-5107

SAWTOOTH RIDGE WOODWORKS Noelle and Jeff create beautifully crafted, functional home décor from their woodshop in Twisp. Known for their contemporary mantels, rustic floating shelves and vanity mirrors Sawtooth Ridge also handles custom orders.

DRINKS BLUE STAR COFFEE ROASTERS Artfully roasted coffees, including the awardwinning Espresso Blend, available at their coffee bar and roasting plant just off Hwy 20. 3 Twisp Airport Rd. (Twisp) (509) 997-BLUE (2583) www.bluestarcoffeeroasters.com

www.sawtoothridgewoodworks.com.

SHE LOVES PRETT Y

L ARIAT COFFEE ROASTERS

of teaching taught Boo open to new ideas, to of life-long learning, and a jeweler’s grade of copper h as labradorite, moonstones, es. Boo never designs the rings twice.

She Loves Pretty is a handcrafted accessories business founded by Olivia Cronin. From her studio located in Pateros, she designs and creates beautiful earrings and necklaces that embody her personal motto, “just make something pretty that you love.”

Award-winning coffees roasted in Winthrop. Try our fan favorites: Cowboy Mud, Barrel-Aged Limited Reserve or Black Colt Cold Brew. Visit our Winthrop store or order online and we’ll ship to your door.

ghout the Valley. (Twisp)

www.SheLovesPretty.com

HOTO ARTS

SMILING WOODS YURTS

LOST RIVER WINERY

Smiling Woods is a family-and-friendowned business in Winthrop, offering solutions for people seeking to live in the round. Their yurts are durable, energyefficient and aesthetically appealing while using environmentally friendly materials.

Lost River Winery produces high-quality wines at excellent prices. Visit their tasting rooms in Winthrop or in Seattle near Pike Place Market.

USINGS

has been a photographer alizing in abstract, fine art dia work. You can view her nthrop Gallery, Confluence ine.

alotte.com.

265 Riverside Ave (Winthrop) (509) 996-4240 www.lariatcoffee.com

26 Highway 20 (Winthrop) (509) 996-2888 www.lostriverwinery.com

509-996-9878 www.smilingwoodsyurts.com

OAP

TRUE NORTH LETTERPRESS

OLD SCHOOLHOUSE BREWERY

thow clean since 1982. akes gentle, versatile, longme-tested recipes use rbs, natural ingredients and elivered fresh from the farm y-wide.

Purveyors of handprinted cards and stationery that showcase the sumptuous, tactile qualities of letterpress printing. Find original art, books, prints, and cards at the True North studio shop.

Award-winning beers, created with the choicest hops, perfectly malted grains, and the Methow’s famously delicious unfiltered, North Cascades water.

p.com • (360) 420-8132

p.com

ns from cashmere, merino d buttons, NeveWear is ne-of-a-kind garments. nt, rugged and colorful an look classy and crisp or . NeveWear can be found in ut the Methow Valley.

117-B W 2nd Ave (Twisp). (509) 449-1081 www.truenorthletterpress.com

WATERSTONE WOODWORKS

SINCL AIR ORCHARDS & CIDERHOUSE

Nils Knudsen creates custom furniture and cabinetry showcasing the natural beauty of locally-sourced wood. Waterstone’s pieces are made to order, working with clients to create designs to fit their needs. Find Nils in Winthrop and on Facebook!

Organic hard ciders farm-crafted in the Methow Valley. Available at retailers throughout the Methow. Our Taphouse in Winthrop is currently closed until we can assure the safety of our employees and customers, but deliveries by the case or keg are available. Leave a message at:

6 Horizon Flat Rd. #2 (Winthrop) (509) 683-2009

WILD ROOTS DESIGNS

species-specific nest boxes vaged scrap wood and rdware. Patrick’s studio can e TwispWorks campus.

Cindy Ruprecht, the creative force behind Wild Roots Designs, is an artist, poet, and teacher. Cindy works in numerous media including painting, beadwork, basketry, pottery and leather work. Her iconic notecards can be found at local retailers throughout the Valley.

(Twisp)

.com

155 Riverside Ave. (Winthrop) TwispWorks (Twisp) (509) 996-3183 www.oldschoolhousebrewery.com

CindyRuprecht13@gmail.com

(509) 996 3862 or askknot@sixknotcider.com

SWEET RIVER BAKERY

FOOD & GROCERY

BCS LIVESTOCK

A sweet spot at the confluence of the Columbia and Methow rivers — Sweet River Bakery. Using fresh local and regional ingredients, we make all our bread, pastries, sandwiches & pizza from scratch! Espresso too!

Using a holistic approach to farming, BCS Livestock produces high quality 100% grassfed lamb meat and wool products. BCS’s regenerative grazing methods make the lamb meat very nutritious and delicious. Their colorful and cozy wool hats and blankets come from happy, healthy sheep.

203 Pateros Mall (Pateros) (509) 923-2151

www.bcslivestock.com

TEX AS CREEK PRODUCTS

BLUEBIRD GRAIN FARMS

Texas Creek’s award-winning fresh salsa and hot sauces are produced from locally grown peppers and tomatoes. Their Pure Evil Capsaicin Drops add heat to any food without changing the ﬂavor.

Bluebird Grain Farms is your source for the finest 100% certified organic ancient grains, fresh-milled flour, and whole-grain handcrafted blends. CSA monthly deliveries, gift boxes, and more are available through their online store and local retailers and bakeries.

(509)997-5420 www.purevilproducts.com

(509) 996-3526 info@bluebirdgrainfarms.com www.bluebirdgrainfarms.com

T WISP RIVER ORGANIC APPLES

CINNAMON T WISP BAKERY

We grow 30 varieties of organic apples. They are selected for full-flavored, treeripened qualities. Our fruit is available at the Methow Valley Farmers Market in Twisp or by phone.

Celebrating over 25 years in Twisp! Traditional pastries, vegan delights and savory sandwiches all made with local, organic and wholesome ingredients. Espresso, smoothies & shakes too!

(509) 997-2819. Find us on Facebook.

116 N. Glover Street (Twisp) (509) 997-5030 www.cinnamontwisp.com

WILD PLUM FARM

DOUBLETREE FARM

Wild Plum Farm is dedicated to producing happy bacon, breeding and nurturing heritage Tamworth pigs. Local farmer Deb Jones-Schuler and her family care for their drift of 60+ Tams, raising them in open fields and paddocks free from antibiotics and hormones.

Doubletree Farm employs dairy methods that have beneficial environmental impacts and humane animal husbandry at the root of its actions. Their vat pasteurized, nonhomogenized whole milk is available at stores throughout the Methow Valley and Okanogan.

www.TheWildPlumFarm.com

(509) 997-7494

HIGHWAY 20 HONEY Each of the queens is known by name at this small family-run apiary in Mazama, where the kids help to harvest beautiful, golden honey made from pristine wildflower nectar. Found at Methow Valley retailers.

METHOW GOLD HONEY Blane has been producing his Methow Gold Honey for 40 years. From his apiary on the banks of the Methow River, Blane’s bees are free to enjoy the wide variety of wildflowers that are native to the Methow. Visit Blane at the Methow Valley Farmers Market or get his honey at local retailers.

SUNNY PINE FARM Sunny Pine’s organic goat’s milk chevre, feta, and yogurt is produced on the upper Twisp River, and includes both traditional and unique ﬂavor proﬁles. Find Sunny Pine at various Methow stores and at retailers throughout the northwest. (509) 997-4811 www.sunnypinefarm.com

Methow Made is a program of TwispWorks, whose mission is to increase economic vitality in the Methow Valley through programs in agriculture, education, technology and art. Learn more at TwispWorks.org, or visit our campus at the intersection of Highway 20 and Glover Street in Twisp. RETAIL PARTNERS UPPER VALLEY

Sun Mountain Gift Shop Twisp Daily Business

Mazama Store

The Winthrop Store

Aspen Grove

Glover Street Market

Methow Cycle & Sport

Hank’s Harvest Foods

Methow Valley Thriftway Rocking Horse Bakery

MID & LOWER VALLEY Sweet River Bakery

customers who make an effort to buy from her and to “Spend a Ben” (an awareness campaign designed by the Methow Conservancy and TwispWorks to promote and support Methow Valley businesses). “The Methow Valley has been extremely helpful in supporting my work by buying my pottery,” Post says. Despite uncertainties, Post is keeping her hands in the clay, whenever they’re not in the soil. “I absolutely love making pottery,” she says. “It is so satisfying for me to create, with my hands, vessels from clay. It gives me huge satisfaction knowing that something that I poured so much love into is being enjoyed by people all over the world.” Learn more about Emily Post

Pottery at www.emilypostpottery.com.

M A N DY S H O G E R , F OX TA I L P O T T E R Y As a kid, Mandy Shoger was always making things. “Paper, fabric, play dough – you name it, I loved working with my hands,” Shoger says. “I always told my mom that I wanted to be an artist and a grandma.” “I’m not making much headway on the grandma part,” she adds. Shoger attended art school for oil painting and graduated with a degree in fine arts. Afterwards, she worked at an art gallery but became disillusioned. “This gallery made it seem like art was just for the affluent,” she

Photos courtesy of Foxtail Pottery

Mandy Shoger now works solely as a professional artist.

says. “I wanted to help people. I went to school for interventional radiology and worked in the field for many years.” When the life-or-death pace of interventional radiology and the ethical dilemmas with experimental treatments caused stress for Shoger, she began taking pottery classes at the Ballard

Community Center. “It became a way for me to deal with my stress,” she says. “I could center and meditate. It helped my mental health; I never intended to sell anything.” As Shoger began to amass inventory, however, her husband, now a teacher at East Omak Elementary School, suggested

foxtail pottery STUDIO & SHOWROOM TwispWorks 502 S. Glover St, Twisp

foxtailpottery.com

Lucinda’s Botanical Salves and Potions 206.550.3666

Winthrop, WA 98862 www.reflexologyandsalves.com

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Selling pottery during a global pandemic has been challenging, Shoger says, not so much from a sales perspective but from an interactive one. “Online sales are still good,” she says, “but I love meeting my customers in person and I’m missing that. I love hearing from people that they use my mug all the time, that my pieces are special to them.” Shoger has had trouble sourcing her clay in recent months: a direct result of coronavirus shutdowns. “I haven’t received any new clay all year,” she says. “I’m making do with what I already had in stock, and recycling scraps.” Shoger addresses what she calls the “rich lifestyle” that she and her husband enjoy in the Methow Valley, where they moved in 2017 after visiting the valley for recreation for years. “We have fewer material resources, but that was never our priority,” she says. “We appreciate this place for the community, the outdoors, the working artists and craftspeople. These are our people.” Learn more about Mandy Shoger and Foxtail Pottery at www.foxtailpottery.com.

MARCIA IVES POT TERY Marcia Ives never planned to be a working potter. In fact, she says, “I was never even remotely artistic as a kid. There was not a

(509) 997-7011

that she sell some of it on Etsy. “I asked him, ‘Who is going to buy it?’” Shoger says. But to her surprise, her work sold. A decade after she sold her first work, Shoger is now working solely as a professional artist, throwing mugs, bowls, and other pieces in her home studio and selling them online and from her TwispWorks retail space. About clay Shoger says, “I love the feel of it, all the directions you can go. There are so many possibilities with clay; it’s such a magical medium.” Shoger takes inspiration from fabric, from architecture, from nature. “I play around with geometric shapes and patterns,” she says. “It’s fun to see what your eye can be attracted to with shape, positive and negative space, with dark and light glazes.” When Shoger looks at patterns on fabric she says she feels “an energy,” and hopes that her customers will feel the same way when they see and use her pottery. Most of Shoger’s work is functional: mugs, bowls, serving pieces, cake stands. A large percentage of Shoger’s business is selling complete dinnerware sets – often to clients who buy a single mug or bowl upon visiting her studio and then return to order a custom set. “It’s very intimate,” Shoger says. “You’re making functional art that people will eat and drink out of. They’ll hold these pieces in their hands. You’re part of their day, part of their ritual.”

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Methow Valley News 12

Photo by Ashley Lodato

Marcia Ives turned a hobby into a successful business.

creative bone in my body.” But one seems to have been in there, waiting to provide the foundation of what has turned into a second career for Ives. Ives took a few pottery classes in college and throughout her 20s, 30s and 40s, but it was in

her 50s that her work really began to take shape, while she took classes at the Kirkland Arts Center. “I immersed myself,” she says. “I was so tentative artistically, very timid about decorating, about glazes. It took me a while to loosen up.”

METHOW GROWN A director y of Methow Valley farms & ranches www.methowgrown.org A project of the

Methow Conservancy

Ives set out to create a round bowl, to build confidence. She threw bowl after bowl, and once she had mastered that, she says, “I great more bold. I wasn’t afraid to make mistakes. When made mistakes I asked myself, ‘what can I do to funk this up a bit?’” When Ives and her husband moved to the Methow Valley in 2014, she built a home studio where she now works – and recently hosted her first open studio (a percentage of the proceeds of which resulted in a $575 donation to the Movement for Black Lives). Fairly quickly, Ives’ shelves filled up with her work. “What am I going to do with all this stuff?” she asked herself. Newcomers to the valley, Ives and her husband didn’t know many people yet. “Before we moved,” Ives said, “I would give things away to friends. Now my stuff had nowhere to go.” Ives invited another couple over for dinner and one of them, a Room One board member, noticed Ives’ pottery. “What if you made some of these tumblers for the annual Room One Soup Dinner?” the friend asked. “That’s how people found out about my work,” Ives says. “They saw it at the Soup Dinner.” Ives’ pottery is brightly colored; her glazes seem to provide almost a candy coating. She

paints confidently on her pieces: dots, patterns, leaves, vines, blossoms. Birch trees feature prominently in her recent work, white bark stark against brilliant backgrounds. Ives also creates her own stamps to add texture to her pottery. “I had as much fun making the stamps as making all of the pottery,” she says. Ives talks about the role the Methow Valley community has played in sustaining her work. “I feel like I have huge support in the valley,” she says. “The stores where I sell my pottery have been amazing. I wouldn’t have had the confidence to sell my stuff without shop owners and artistic people in the valley encouraging me.” Ives adds that Methow Made has given her an avenue for promoting her work that she wouldn’t have on her own.

Photo courtesy of Marcia Ives

Photo by Ashley Lodato

“I never thought of myself as an artist. I couldn’t draw, I couldn’t really do anything creative,” Ives continues. “But I found my happy place in pottery. Now there are endless things I want to create.” Learn more about Marcia Ives Pottery at www.instagram.com/ marciaraeives.

Using the principles of Industrial Design we create local manufacturing jobs building durable, practical, universal goods.

come visit us at

Unique fine art with a photographic element Image licensing • Commissions • Location photography On Display at Winthrop & Confluence Galleries

502 S. GLOVER ST. TWISP, WA

eqpdgear.com

Open M-F 10-4, Sat 10-2

Methow miscellany

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING YOU CAN’T FIND ELSEWHERE? CHECK THESE OUT By Malcolm Griffes

REATIVITY and variety go hand-in-hand in the Methow Valley, where you can find unique, high-quality products that are ideal for personal use – or one-of-a-kind gifts. Whether you’re tracking down custommade knives, sturdy iron fire pits, whimsical woodworking, or even craft hot (really hot) sauce, the Methow Valley has you covered. Following are a few examples.

M C I V O R W O O D W O R KS Don McIvor, owner and operator of McIvor Woodworks, comes from three generations of woodworkers, a historical lineage which he brought with him to the Methow Valley. “It’s just something that I grew up around,” said McIvor, who’s primarily self-taught, having picked up a variety of woodworking skills here and there, and has worked building furniture and restoring log cabins using traditional techniques. McIvor now focuses primarily on producing gallery-ready wooden sculptures – from smoothly polished wooden bowls to abstracted forms that look almost like archeological artifacts, he’s taken woodworking to a heightened level. McIvor creates his pieces in a workshop he built on the edge of his property between Winthrop and Twisp. The workshop is often covered in sawdust, but is outfitted with all the equipment any modern woodworker would need. And perhaps most importantly for McIvor, the shop has large windows which look out over pastures towards the Methow River. “It’s a pretty inspiring space,” said McIvor. “I think a lot of artists, particularly in this valley are inspired by the natural world, and I’m no acceptation. The setting is why 14

Don McIvor’s wood-crafting skills are primarily self-taught.

Photo courtesy of TwispWorks

we moved to the valley.” With a professional background in ecology, McIvor has an eye towards sustainable practices, and often looks to procure wood locally, sometimes even sourcing salvaged tress that have fallen throughout the valley. However, soft woods are prevalent in these parts, and woodturning often calls for hardwoods, so McIvor also hunts down more elusive varieties from farther afield – like Mountain Mahogany, a rare shrubby hardwood tree which can be found in the dry desserts of Arizona. The combination of McIvor’s craft, and his knowledge of the natural world, allow him to take advantage of the wood’s natural grain.

D O G PAW K N I V E S Up valley at Dog Paw Knives, owner Phil Millam works out of his private studio producing handmade custom knives. From rugged hunting knives to refined kitchen knives, Millam has sharpened his knifemaking skills for the past 15 yearsInspired after returning home from a multi-day sea kayaking trip, Millam – who was

Photo by Steve Mitchell

Phil Millam intends his knives to be functional as well as artistically pleasing.

The Slag Works Custom Iron Work

Barry Stromberger 341-4189

File photo by Don Nelson

Hotspot Firepits are sturdy, sculpture-like, and great for outdoors use.

unimpressed by the knives he brought with him – decided he could do better. So, he began learning the craft, by reading books and talking to other knife makers about the process. Millam crafts knives at his workshop perched in the Upper Rendezvous area of the Methow, where he grinds down raw metal into blades. He then heat treats the blade at 2,000 degrees to harden the steel, and then affixes a handle crafted out of a variety of rugged materials like natural wood or polished animal bones. Each of his knives comes with a custom leather sheath, which is practical, since his knives are very sharp. The process of creating a knife is hot, loud and dirty. “It is chaos until it comes out the other end,” said Millam. But, on the other end is a piece of art that is customized in a way that only Millam can create, resulting in a knife that is recognizable for its precise functionality and hardened beauty. While Millam says he designs for function, his knives are certainly elevated beyond the act of slicing. A new owner would not be wrong in asking the question, “should they be used, or should they be hung on the wall?” Millam’s advice: “If it doesn’t cut, it’s not worth a damn!”

HOTSPOT FIREPITS Up in Twisp, Tim Odell is also focused on aesthetics. For close to a decade Odell has been producing Hotspot Firepits – custom-welded firepits which are influenced by Odell’s industrial and architectural background. While he didn’t set out to re-invent the wheel, Odell did reinvent the fire pit. Hotspot firepits are available in a variety of sizes, but they all start out the same way, as a disc plate of thick steel. The steel disc is heated and pressed into a large bowl shape, and then steel legs are welded to its underside. A piece of round tubbing is welded around the rim of the firepit. The result is a steel firepit that could easily be mistaken for a sculpture, with a design that is concept-driven, an aesthetic that is both rugged and sleek, and functionality at its core. A variety of add-ons are available, like custome-built spark screens that keep embers at bay, solid steel covers to protect the firepit during the rainy or snowy seasons, and even detachable grills. The grills are what prompted Odell to create Hotspot Firepits. Having sat around many fires, Odell noticed that he was always having to work with ad hoc ways

97.5 fm 15

of fire cooking. So he set out to create a grill that is made for cooking on an open flame. Hotspot firepits all have a steel rod which is welded to the side and runs perpendicular to the firepit, allowing for the custom-made grills to hover over the open flame. The grill can also be lowered or raised allowing for backyard cooks to fine-tune their cooking. Odell’s other inspiration in creating Hotspot firepits is to get people outside. That’s an important aspect for Odell, who moved out to the Methow to be closer to nature and the beauty of the valley.

Simmons has even dabbled in growing her own peppers in the Methow, noting that the peppers grow well in the hot, dry summers of the valley. But mostly, she focuses on creating sauces which she makes in her kitchen. The process requires safety equipment, so Simmons can be found wearing gloves, and a full-blown respirator, when she’s cooking up a new batch. For those who like the heat, Simmons also produces Pure

Evil Capsaicin Drops, which is less of a sauce and more of an additive, as the drops don’t impart any flavor, only heat. The Pure Evil drops are available in a variety of heat levels, topping out at 13 million on the Scoville Scale, a measurement that is equivalent to pepper spray. However, for Simmons, it’s the medium-heat hot sauces that she reaches for. In her kitchen she’s been branching out into fire-roasting tomatoes – a

technique she first implemented for her spicy steak sauce, which the company has received numerous awards for. Hot sauce is really a labor of love for Simmons, who also works a day job as an electrician. And, staying true to the roots of Texas Creek Products, Simmons always brings a bottle of hot sauce to her job sites. Simmons also makes a point to leave a jar of salsa for the homeowners – as a “housewarming” gift.

It’s time for WHOLE GRAIN SUMMER SALADS

PRODUCTS FOUND IN ALL LOCAL GROCERY STORES For recipes visit BLUEBIRDGRAINFARMS.COM ANNE ACHESON PHOTOGRAPHY

File photo by Don Nelson

Texas Creek Products promise to bring the heat.

TE X AS CREEK PRODUCTS Down valley, Ann Simmons’ kitchen is hotter than the Methow on a mid-summer day. Simmons, who owns hot sauce maker Texas Creek Products, has been brewing up fiery sauces since the early 1990s, when she would send her husband to work with her homemade salsas – which became so popular on his job sites that she decided to turn it into a business. Since then, Simmons has developed a variety of salsas, hot sauces and steak sauces, which all pull their heat from a variety of peppers including jalapeno, habanero, chipotle and the notorious ghost pepper, to name a few. 16

GRAND OPENING!

December 3rd

OPEN EVERY DAY IN DECEMBER, THROUGH CHRISTMAS EVE MON – FRI 10 A.M. – 6 P.M. SAT. & SUN. + CHRISTMAS EVE 10 A.M. – 3 P.M. IN BUILDING #10 ON THE TWISPWORKS CAMPUS CHECK WWW.TWISPWORKS.ORG FOR 2021 HOURS FUNDED IN PART BY THE OKANOGAN COUNTY HOTEL/MOTEL LODGING TAX FUND

Made brucemorrison.com

(509) 429-7726 ovalpeak@gmail.com 402 Bridge St, Twisp

confluencegallery.com

(509) 997-2787

info@confluencegallery.com 104 Glover St, Twisp emilypostpottery.com

(509) 341-4710 foxtailpottery.com

(206) 304-0696

foxtailpottery@gmail.com 502 S. Glover St., Twisp, WA PonderosaStudio-GingerReddington.com

(509) 997-2721 (509) 995-2471 SherryMalotte.com

(360) 303-2076

BRUCE MORRISON Handcarving & rustic furniture SEE AD, PG. 20

CONFLUENCE GALLERY For 30 years, Confluence has brought artists, students and viewers together to enrich the lives of all. Featuring artists of Okanogan County & beyond. SEE AD, PG. 7

EMILY POST POTTERY Handcrafted ceramic wares inspired by nature. For yourself, and for your home. SEE AD, PG. 8

FOXTAIL POTTERY Handmade pottery. Eye-catching, but functional and suitable for everyday use. Showroom at TwispWorks. Dinnerware sets available.

foxtail pottery

SEE AD, PG. 11

GINGER REDDINGTON Working out of her home studio in Twisp, Ginger's paintings have a depth, movement, and jewel-like quality to the color that make them truly unique. On display at Twisp River Suites. SEE AD, PG. 2

STUDIO & SHOWROOM

Artists & Artisans

emilyapost@gmail.com