horsemanship.

“I’ve had horses my entire life, it’s generational. My mother started showing horses at nine and my father rodeoed, as did my grandfather,” she said. Shannon, the owner of Custom Equine Horsemanship, has taken her skills and experience to Wyld Thistle Stables in Tecumseh, owned by Shawn and Alicia Mitchell, to pass along her knowledge to those interested in learning all about horses. “I teach the basics to first time riders,” she said. “I show you where the horse can see you, how to lead, grooming. If someone excels, we move on. I am a firm believer in knowledge and safety.”

Shawn added, “You don’t have to own a horse to get lessons, as Wyld Thistle has horses on site that they lease if you want to know how to care for a horse before you actually buy one.”

While owning this stable is a new venture for the Mitchells, Shawn isn’t foreign to being out in the country. “We were coming out of Covid, and we were looking for a business out of the city, and looking for something with more space,” he said. “I grew up in Montana and wanted to get back to my roots.” They purchased this as an already operational stable with established clients, and they do have a couple horses leased out. “They ride them, clean stalls, and they enjoy that option. It is a bit of an investment of time,” said Shawn. Wyld Thistle Stables has 38 acres with trails for riding through pastures and wooded areas that the Mitchells will continue to develop.

Shannon teaches breaking and conditioning and specializes in offering lessons to children who otherwise wouldn’t have access to horses. “I am training individuals how to ride horses and care for horses, how to show horses. I can help find the right horse for someone,” she said.

She teaches both English and Western riding, with Western being her specialty. While English riding is what someone would expect to see at something like the Olympics, Western is more what someone would expect on a working ranch, and, said Shannon, “What you would see at the rodeo.” But you have to start with the basics of riding. “Once you start there, you can ride any discipline.” n

309-265-1749 

1300 E Monroe Rd, Tecumseh

Shannon Fouty - 517-920-8159

Mother/daughter, Cathrine and Clara Krosnowski are frequent clients

MIND, BODY, SPIRIT HEALING STONES

New! Quartz is helpful for communication, channeling and spiritual awareness. Also just in... Agate slices, often called the “Earth Rainbow” can increase concentration, honesty and memory.

Lenawee’s Largest Crystal/Rock Shop offers jewelry, chakra photography, crystals, metaphysical tools...

DNA SALES 2100

406 N Pearl St Tecumseh 517-424-2903

W-Sat   DNAsales2100.com

No Place Like Gnome

This home decor shop is new to Tecumseh. Selection is unique, vast and ever-changing. You’ll find treasures you can’t find anywhere else with a price that can’t be beat. Wide range of products like farmhouse decor, candles, clothing and more!

TWIGS & TWINE

123 S Ottawa St, Tecumseh

Corner of Ottawa and Pottawatomie 517-301-4079 • twigsandtwinellc.com 

Spring Styles

Bringing you the latest in fashion and accessories. You will love the variety and styles offered at both downtown Tecumseh and Dexter boutiques. Also order online anytime. Gift cards too!

THE EVE AND ANNIE BOUTIQUE

102 W Chicago Blvd Tecumseh | 517-438-4290

Also in Dexter • T-Sa   theeveandannieboutique.com

Take Flight This Spring

The original Tim Bird kite! Great for ages 7 and up. Flies up to 50 yards. Wings flap like a real bird too! Offering an array of Wacky wigglers, puzzles, retro toys, games, books, lighthouses and more!

J Bar Hobbies

117 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh 517-423-3684 • T-Sa jbarhobbies.com 

Luxurious Lather

Pamper your skin (or even wash your dishes) with Savon de Marseille. This timeless classic soap has been crafted in the south of France for 600 years. Perfect for people tired of toxic soaps and detergents.

ANTHRO APOTHECARY anthroapothecary.com 

128 E Chicago Blvd Downtown Tecumseh 517-798-1732

MichiganWARES

MICHIGAN-MADE GIFTS

Year ‘round craft shop located inside Grey Fox Floral. Great gift ideas - full of many one-of-a-kind, handcrafted items; decorative pillows, hats, scarves, mittens, quilts, jewelry, blankets, seasonal decor, greeting cards, knit animals, toys, gift baskets, local art and more. Over 30 local vendors.

MICHIGAN WARES

116 S Evans St, Tecumseh 517-423-3735 • M-F 9-5, Sat 9-2 michiganwares.com 

By Christine MacIntyre

FRI, MAY 12, 6-9pm

The annual Tecumseh Art Walk, featuring local artists who will display their artwork throughout downtown businesses, is scheduled for Friday, May 12 from 6-9pm.

Attendees will be able to purchase the artwork, as most will be for sale, including media such as pottery, oil and acrylic paintings, textile art, jewelry, and wood carvings. Some artists will also demonstrate their skills for the public to enjoy. Artists will be present to answer questions, explain their techniques, and mingle with the public.

Rhonda Nowak, Tecumseh’s marketing and event coordinator, said, “Collaborative events like this are a great way to showcase our wonderful community and how we can support each other.” An example of such support and collaboration is that many downtown businesses host the artists, providing them with a place to display their work.

Nowak said that this year’s Art Walk is gearing up to be a great event, and they are working on securing musicians who will play during the event – another fantastic art form. Maps featuring the participating locations and artists will be available at downtown businesses as well as at downtowntecumseh.com and the Downtown Tecumseh Facebook page.

Adrian Center for the Arts MINI CAMP

Local artists and teachers founded the community-based art center Adrian Center for the Arts (ACA) in 2015 to further arts education for all ages. Along with welcoming their new director, Valerie Herr, who started in July 2022, ACA is hosting a Spring Mini Class Open House on Saturday, April 8. ACA has also expanded its scholarships for youth and adults, added more class offerings, hired additional teachers, and continues building new community partnerships.

The variety of classes offered at ACA allows people to submerse themselves into an art medium of choice under the direction of experienced teachers who will guide them in their creative endeavors. Herr said the Mini-Class Open House “is a way for ACA to introduce ourselves to our community at affordable prices.”

With 15 different classes offered, each 30 to 45 minutes long and costing either $5, $10, or $15 each, people will be able to try things they might be interested in without a huge time commitment or expense. “Have you always wanted to take a clay class? You can take our mini class and see if it’s something you’d like to do,” said Herr. The mini-class series includes clay projects, glass pieces, drawing, metalsmithing, raku, and more.

An exciting variety of ACA full-length spring classes include the Spring Kids Club series, Spring Break Drawing Intensive, Spring Teen Club, letterpress, clay throwing, Mexican Market Mosaic, various drawing and painting classes, jewelry making, and more. Signups for spring are currently open and can be found on their website.

Herr has more than 20 years of experience working for nonprofit organizations in various roles. She was born and raised in Jackson County, where she lives with her husband. She has two grown sons, both of whom are Eagle Scouts. Her passion is “ensuring accessibility for everyone to participate in the arts.” She chose to come to the ACA because of those who came before her. “[They] did such a great job starting it. I’m excited to build and expand upon that,” she said. n

Valerie Herr Director

Mini Classes: Drawings

Clay Projects Glass Pieces Metalsmithing

TThere is a dizzying amount of displays in the new Classic Cabinets and Interiors showroom. Shiny drawer pulls, sparkling cut-glass knobs, and frosted backsplash tiles catch the eye’s attention before it wanders upward to warm lighting spilling out from dozens of fixtures. A staircase leads to a second story with more designs, including a full-size kitchen with a large island and a small sitting area with an electric fireplace.

Amie Pelham and Brian Renaldi aren’t identical twins like Jonathan and Drew Scott or married like Chip and Joanna Gaines, but this local home improvement team gives its clients every measure of the kind of expertise, hands-on attention to details and sound advice they might see on HGTV. Possibly more.

Classic Cabinets and Interiors opened in December off North Adrian Highway in a newly constructed building adjacent to the former Tecumseh Gymnastics studio. The spacious showroom has plenty of square footage for cabinet and flooring samples, accessories, and some pretty remarkable state-of-the-art design ideas, including builtin kitchen storage, kitchen islands, and trendy decor. The warehouse formerly housing the gymnastics club now is a workshop for the six full-time carpenters and tradesmen who bring the projects to life.

Photos by Nanci Bridget

Story by Renee Lapham Collins |