Our first Artist in Residence!

This May, we are hosting Sarah Mandell, a talented artist from Greenville, South Carolina. Sarah will be in Leland for a week in May, creating art, exploring the area, and teaching two felting classes. We are thrilled to host her, and hope you can join us for one or both classes. They will be held at Dune Bird Winery, located just north of Leland, in a fun and casual space.

Here are the details for both classes:

WORKSHOP: 3D Needle Felted Cactus

DATE: Friday May 16th, 2025, 10am to noon (2 hours) TICKETS

LOCATION: Dune Bird Winery, 5620 N. Manitou Trail, Northport MI

PROJECT: Each student will create one medium-sized needle felted cactus in a 1.5” flower pot. Students may choose the flower pot color and style of cactus. 

WHO CAN TAKE THIS CLASS: Anyone! As long as you have good hand-eye coordination, you will be able to needle felt. This is a very forgiving medium to learn and no prior felting experience is required. The felted cactus is a beginner level project and will take the full 2 hours to create. 

WHAT’S INCLUDED: All needle felting supplies (wool fiber, needle, foam felting surface) as well as a flower pot, pipe cleaner, and stuffing. A printed list of needle felting resources, supplies, and a basic overview of needle felting terminology is also provided. Students will be able to take home their supplies at the end of the class. 

WORKSHOP: 2D Needle Felted Landscape

DATE: Sunday May 18th, 2025, 1pm to 3pm (2 hours) TICKETS

LOCATION: Dune Bird Winery, 5620 N. Manitou Trail, Northport MI

PROJECT: Each student will create one needle felted landscape that will be framed in a 6” embroidery hoop once complete. The scene we will be studying & creating will be a beach landscape, and colors provided will be inspired by views from the shores of Lake Michigan, but students are free to use their creativity to make a different scene if they wish using those colors. 

WHO CAN TAKE THIS CLASS: Anyone! As long as you have good hand-eye coordination, you will be able to needle felt. This is a very forgiving medium to learn and no prior felting experience is required. A small felted landscape is a beginner level project and will take the full 2 hours to create. 

WHAT’S INCLUDED: All needle felting supplies (wool fiber, needle, foam felting surface) as well as an embroidery hoop and background fabric. A printed list of needle felting resources, supplies, and a basic overview of needle felting terminology is also provided. Students will be able to take home their supplies at the end of the class. 

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Sarah Mandell is a self-taught fiber artist and owner of Once Again Sam, a small handmade business in Greenville, South Carolina. She learned needle felting in 2009 by trial and error, and has since become totally addicted to the medium. Sarah has exhibited her fiber art in many exhibitions and galleries, including a current display at Two Fish Gallery in Leland, MI, where she will be visiting as artist-in-residence from May 14-21st. She has taught several hundred people to needle felt in the last decade and has also published a DIY workbook to help spread the joy of needle felting to anyone who will sit still long enough. 

Kristin MacKenzie

I met incredibly talented Kristin MacKenzie when she answered our Artist Call in 2020. I was immediately drawn to Kristin’s use of color, the playfulness and happiness of her work, her creative portrayal of the everyday. Kristin’s ability to transform anything into a work of art led to the creation of our Leland Alphabet. Micheal and I came up with a word to correspond with each letter, and Kristin painted all of the artwork and created the layout, resulting in a beautiful, versatile piece that can hang in any room of the house. We couldn’t be happier with the way it turned out and credit Kristin’s expertise and talent to its success.

In addition to being an amazing artist, Kristin is kind, funny & interesting too! I loved reading her story on her website, so I’ve included it below for your reading pleasure!

Hi, I’m Kristin.

I’m the lady behind the scenes of Kristin MacKenzie Design. I’m an extroverted introvert, a recovering perfectionist, a musical-loving sing-talker, and a bit of a weirdo goofball who really wants to share my art with you guys.

I’ve spent the last 7 years in the wedding industry being creative, but I was ready to start something fresh and new and fully ME. This is my space to do just that.

These products are a reflection of my love of art and all things colorful. This curated collection of pieces, featuring my hand-painted artwork, are all designs that I am very excited about and can’t wait to share with you!

Thank you for being here, for supporting my art, and for allowing me to do what I love every day. Let’s keep dreaming big, colorful dreams.

Cheers,

Kristin

A bit more about Kristin

Kristin currently works out of her art studio in Leland, Michigan, which is a small fishing village on the coast of Lake Michigan. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Environmental Design from North Carolina State University in 2011, and has pursued different avenues of design work since that time. Her work has been featured in noteworthy publications including Southern Living, The Knot, Buzz Feed, and Style Me Pretty.

In her free time Kristin enjoys spending time with her husband and two little girls, taking her dog for hikes in the woods, looking for beach glass on the shore, and drinking many, many lattes.

I’m thrilled to have Kristin’s as part of the Two Fish Gallery family of artists and look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. To see more of Kristin’s work be sure to follow along with her on social media at @kristinmacdesign.

Gail Pipenburg

We are absolutely delighted to welcome artist Gail Pipenburg to the Two Fish Gallery family. Gail’s fairy houses adorn the front of our gallery and we can’t help but admire them whenever we pass by. Each design is wonderfully unique and magical, and we love to hear the joy they bring to our customers both young and old.

The story of how Gail’s began making fairy houses is almost as lovely as the creations themselves. Read on to find out how she became a fairy house designer.

“Sometimes gardening takes us in directions we never would have anticipated. I have been an artist and art teacher as well as a gardener for most of my life. The unifying thread in these life passions is design. As a ceramic artist, I have focused on sculptural works. It was when my garden was featured on the Ann Arbor Garden Walk that my personal style of fairy houses was born out of a request from visitors to my studio. I was delighted to make houses for the garden and I envisioned them popping up from among plants. I have been making them for just a couple years and as they have evolved I have truly enjoyed sharing them with others.”

Gail received a degree in illustration from Kendall College of Art and Design before taking B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees from Eastern Michigan University. Her works of art have won many awards and appear in many contemporary books on ceramics.

Welcome, welcome, Gail!

Glass Artist Cynthia Deniau

We’re so excited to welcome glass artist Cynthia Deniau to the Two Fish Gallery artist family!

A little about Cynthia in her own words:

“Growing up and living in Michigan I have had the pleasure of many day trips to the various beautiful beaches and lakes. The glistening waters, amazing sunsets, and the multitude of different fish all inspire my glasswork. For as long as I can recall, art has been a necessary outlet in my life and the sole essence of who I am. First introduced to glass 26 years ago, I learned the traditional techniques of stained glass artistry. Four years ago, I decided to enroll in classes exploring glass fusing and was immediately hooked. Using my prior skills and adding the twist of firing brought about a whole new perspective and addiction to glass. Two years later, Silver Lake Glassworks was born!

Glass fusing or “kiln-formed glass” as some refer to it, is a process of firing cut pieces of solid glass, liquid glass frit, and enamels that are chemically compatible in a kiln heated to 1450 degrees Fahrenheit until fused solid, leaving one singular piece. All my pieces have a comical nautical theme, believing nothing should be taken too seriously. Art should be fun and creative, lifting the spirits. Each piece is a “one-of-a-kind” and named to reflect its personality. Helping people smile is the true driving force behind each design. I currently reside on beautiful Silver Lake with my husband and biggest supporter Jean-Christophe and my studio mascot Moraho the cat. Enjoy!”

Meet Brent Alferink of Great Lakes Print Shop~

Great Lakes

Print Shop

Brent Alferink is the owner and wearer of all hats at Great Lakes Print Shop. He does everything from the up front archival research and digital restoration of images to the trimming and framing of prints in his small backyard workshop. He grew up in Michigan loving coastal towns and their history, with a penchant for staring at maps for hours on childhood road trips. Growing up close to the shore of Lake Michigan also led to many adventures racing sailboats on the inland seas including races from Chicago to Mackinac. Lately, however, he spends less time chasing the horizon and more time on dry land with his wife Randi and his son, who has autism and various other special needs. Thanks for supporting a small family business!

May Day Baskets

When I was a child I made May Day Baskets with my mother and delivered them to our neighbors on May 1st. Learn more about the May Day Basket tradition and learn to make your own with our quick and simple tutorial below.

Two Fish Local Gift Guide

Now more than ever before it’s import to shop local & shop small! Here are some of our very favorite items and ways to support our local community.

Gifts

Leelanau Books - Any books of your choosing!

Molly’s - Eden Poncho

Good Harbor Vineyards - Fishtown White

Compass Paper Co - Leelanau Trails Tote Bag

Leland Gal - Navy NOPO Tug Leggings

Manitou Transit - Fishtown Hat designed by Madison Grosvenor

Kristin MacKenzie Design - Towns of 22 Calendar

Memberships and Subscriptions

Leelanau Community Cultural Center at The Old Art Building - Membership (many different options available)

Two Fish Leland - Hygge Seasonal Subscription

Omena U-Cut Flowers - Flower Subscription

Charitable Gifts

5 Loaves 2 Fish - There are 5 Ways to Donate. Learn more HERE

Fishtown Preservation Society - Net Funds for Fishtown

Some of Our Favorite Gift Cards to Give

Riverside Inn

Wool and Honey

Leland Mercantile

Poppy Things

Golden Shoes

Cherry Hill Boutique

This holiday season may feel a little different than years past, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still be magical. Shopping in your local community is a way to give the same gift twice. Once to small business owners in your area, and once to the recipient. We hope this guide provides some good inspiration. As always, thank you for your support & please let us know if there’s anything we can do to help! Happy gifting.

National Camera Day!

It’s National Camera Day and we’re celebrating with a stroll on North Beach and a photoshoot of some of our photography themed items in the shop!

A few of our favorites include:

Natural Life Camera Mug

T Jazelle Camera Bracelet

Once Again Sam Camera Pendant

Polka Dot Mitten Life is Like Camera Plaque

Succulent in Camera Planter

Vintage Camera Clock

Which do you like best?

Shop Local • Shop Small • Buy Nearby • Shop a Store with a Door

Shop Local • Shop Small • Buy Nearby • Shop a Store with a Door. These are all taglines you’ve probably heard, encouraging you to support your local small businesses.  Never has there been a time when this concept was more important.  Small businesses are, well… small!  We do not have corporate funding and investors to get us through a global pandemic.  We rely mainly on the support of our loyal customers, with a possible small business payroll protection loan thrown in for good measure.  The picture above was taken following our Two Fish team meeting on Thursday.  That’s us – the entire Two Fish team.  All 6 of us, social distancing, wearing our masks, taking things day by day.  Mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, friends. This year our team is small but mighty.  It has been quite a year, and it’s only mid-June.  So many things have changed, yet so many things have stayed the same.  Our loyal customers are still here.  You have all been amazing.  When our physical doors were closed, you placed web orders.  Now that our doors are open again, you are showing up – AND you are still placing orders.  You are getting us through.  Quite frankly, it is hard to be a retailer right now.  We do not want to be the mask/social distancing/hand sanitizer police, but we have been put in that position, and we will keep enforcing those rules to keep everyone – especially our families – safe.  We appreciate the kindness of those that follow the rules and tell us how happy they are that we are open.  Every day, we are doing the best that we can.

The importance of supporting our fellow small businesses has really hit home, and we have been doing just that.  The t-shirt I’m wearing in the picture is from the Leland Merc – in case you can’t read it, it says “Eat – Shop – Love  LOCAL”.  That pretty much sums it up!  At our team meeting, we passed out some cold hard cash to our employees to thank them for all they have done to help team Two Fish this year.  We gave them just one requirement – spend it locally.  So far, they’re having a ball.  Buying tugboat leggings from Leland Gal, a great summer read from Leelanau Books, an iced latte at Blue Boat or a bag of Swedish Fish from the Dam Candy Store – we’re all supporting each other.  After all, we’re all in this together.

Celebrate Earth Day with Bee’s Wrap

Earth friendly Bee’s Wrap is the best plastic wrap replacement. From sandwiches, to cheese, to produce to bread, it’s the best! Find out how to use it in the helpful video below. Happy Earth Day!

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