Each year, we scour the region to discover the finest handcrafted wares.
This is our definitive guide to the best of the North.
Each honoree must be
authentic (discovered in the North),
validated (meeting the highest standards) and
coveted (longed for and in demand).
WINNER | HOME
Todd Fillingham
MILWAUKEE
fillingham.com
Todd Fillingham has been making furniture for 30-plus years, specializing in custom pieces carefully crafted by hand. His customers’ testimonials speak to his approach to “furniture as art.” Fillingham expresses his passion beautifully, explaining that even one chair created by someone who cares reminds us that there is a lot more to life: “There’s caring, there’s art and there’s being human.”
Milwaukee is home to Fillingham’s design studio, where he crafted this beautiful deck chair, inspired by Danish modern and midcentury design. Drawing on his boat-building interests, he constructed it from walnut and northern white cedar. He finished it with a mix of his own oil and spar varnish for a durable topcoat that protects and provides a handsome luster.
Starting at $1,400
RUNNERS-UP | HOME
Cannon River Bowl and Spoon
CANNON FALLS, MINNESOTA
cannonriverbowl.com
We couldn’t keep our hands off the wood bowls, cutting boards and serving pieces that Benjamin Leatham crafts out of his Cannon Falls studio. Their velvety finish and clean lines make these functional pieces seem more like artwork than kitchenware. And this is not by happenstance. Leatham grew up in a family that made its living as craftsmen. He feels fortunate that he is living the dream, “creating functional art that inspires him on a daily basis.”
His attention to detail is evident in the care and construction of each piece. For this beautiful tapered rolling pin, Leatham assembles the American black walnut and curly maple in a checkered pattern, rending it both functional and fashionable. The bowls are turned in a way that highlights the personality of the wood. Each piece is then finely sanded and finished with up to eight coats of an FDA-approved hardening oil.
Starting at $48
Itasca Leathergoods
LAKE GEORGE, MINNESOTA
itascamoccasin.com
Itasca Leathergoods was founded in 1986 as Itasca Moccasin in the tiny community of Lake George, just east of the Mississippi River headwaters. While the company has since expanded beyond its original namesake, it holds fast to its heritage: a commitment to premium craftsmanship.
We are particularly drawn to this firewood carrier, which epitomizes the idea of form and function. Designed to last for generations, it is crafted using a technique in which the oils infused into the thick hide during tanning move up to the surface of the leather and lighten in color. The carrier changes in character with use, becoming more beautiful with age. With thick, rolled-leather handles, it offers excellent grip and comfort even as the load gets heavier.
$194
WINNER | STYLE
Hoard Jewelry
JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
hoardjewelry.com
Jewelry should be meaningful and unique, heartfelt and precious. For husband-and-wife team Charles and Rebecca Cooner, that means handmade by someone who loves creating it and wants you to love wearing it.
Elegant and completely classic, this slim, ultra-feminine bracelet is modeled after the 1881 nails the duo pulled out of their Victorian home during a renovation. It was hand-forged the ancient way, all from one piece of metal. The Cooners studied traditional blacksmith nail-making techniques to ensure the bracelet is spot-on accurate. It can be forged from solid 14-karat or 18-karat yellow or white gold and is also available in rose gold or sterling silver.
Starting at $2,270
RUNNERS-UP | STYLE
Wildthings Fur
LA FARGE, WISCONSIN
wildthingsfur.com
In North country, conversations often center around the weather. If you find yourself complaining about the cold, it’s time to pull out your Wildthings Fur hat and get out there. Family-owned and -operated, the company constructs its winter wear — from hats and gloves to headbands and earmuffs — with only the finest furs
and materials. All pelts are legally taken under regulated management, which promotes healthy wildlife populations.
A material that once played an important role in the lives of Native Americans, coyote fur continues to enjoy popularity today, such as in this Russian Cossack hat. With top-grade polar-fleece lining, it will provide years of warmth and comfort.
Starting at $120
Prairie Wood Sprite
FREEMAN, SOUTH DAKOTA
etsy.com/shop/prairiewoodsprite
This made-on-the-prairie Sultana’s Buffalo Tallow Blend SPF 30 Sunscreen & Moisturizing Cream honors a centuries-old tradition. The organic, velvety salve is high in omega-3 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid, and vitamins A, D, E and K. It absorbs readily because it is similar to the skin’s own sebum.
Linda Schulte grew up on the prairie and subscribes to the premise that in nature, nothing is purposeless, trivial or unnecessary. Her products help heal and shield skin from the harshness of winter. The South Dakota bison this tallow comes from are grass-fed, without any hormones, antibiotics or chemicals. Just as nature — and Schulte — intended.
Starting at $18
WINNER | ADVENTURE
Shore Boards
OTSEGO, MINNESOTA
shore-boards.com
Tim Shore and his wife, Jen, were intrigued by hollow-wood stand-up paddleboards, so Tim decided to build his own. When he finished it, he paddled out into the water on a quiet morning. As he sat on the board, an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment overtook him, sparking a fire inside him to turn this craft into a business.
Clients can be similarly proud to own one of these handcrafted boards built to last a lifetime. Tim walks customers through the customization process, including how to lay out the western red cedar, paulownia or Aspen wood as well as any artwork to be incorporated. And with every purchase, Shore Boards makes a donation to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the planting of new seedlings.
Starting at $1,995
RUNNERS-UP | ADVENTURE
PrestonMade
MINNEAPOLIS
prestonmade.com
Like its namesake, Lake Vermilion, this net is in a league of its own. Equally refined and rugged, it is at home out on the stream or up on the wall. It was designed by Preston Anderson to be used, enjoyed and passed on to the next generation. Built to last from solid Wisconsin walnut, this net is large enough to accommodate trophy trout yet lightweight enough to wade with all day. Although originally crafted with the fly-fisherman in mind, it is also perfectly suited for canoe or boat fishing.
Anderson and his wife, Angela, have been creating unique pieces of functional art for more than a decade and continue to finesse their craft. Made from the finest materials, each piece combines the rusticity of the northwoods with the timelessness of the city.
$192
Enlightened Equipment
WINONA, MINNESOTA
enlightenedequipment.com
Enlightened Equipment offers engineered gear for those on the go. Whether you’re an ultralight hiker who weighs every gram of goods or a cross-country cyclist who needs something petite to pack, you’ll love the sleeping bags and quilts that Tim Marshall and his team are producing.
The idea was born in 2006 when Marshall made it his mission to create camping gear that was lighter and more functional than anything available in the marketplace. Numerous experiments and variations later, he developed his most refined product. The ultimate minimalist quilt, the Enigma features a sewn-closed foot box for minimum fuss and maximum warmth.
$255
WINNER | FOOD & DRINK
North Star Caviar
WILLISTON, NORTH DAKOTA
northstarcaviar.com
Williston, North Dakota, is home to some of the tastiest caviar in the country. The premium product is harvested from the historic paddlefish, which thrives in the cold waters of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers. This malossol caviar is mild in taste with tender olive to steel-gray berries that are ever so slightly salty. The all-natural, preservative-free delicacy is shipped frozen nationwide and stays fresh up to four days.
Protecting the paddlefish and its spawning habitat is a top priority for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, which licenses the operation. When the season opens May 1, anglers line the riverbanks, casting over and over into the fast-running current. Some are lucky enough to catch their bounty right away, but the effort often takes a few days of pure dedication.
Starting at $50
RUNNERS-UP | FOOD + DRINK
Cold Country Vines & Wines
KEWAUNEE, WISCONSIN
coldcountrywines.com
Cold Country Vines & Wines is a family-run vineyard producing some of the finest vinos from cold-climate cultivars. Our favorite? The Ice Wine, made from Frontenac Gris picked in November during the cold, blustery days that signal the coming of winter.
Jay and Kay Stoeger debuted their company back in 2014 after years of research and hands-on experience in winemaking as well as planting and harvesting
cold-climate grapes. Although Jay was indoctrinated into grape growing at an early age, it was a struggle back then to get the fruit to ripen in icy environs. While it took the industry several years to catch up to his vision, the niche category saw progress in the 1990s and interest in cold-climate wine production finally came to fruition.
$49
Carr Valley Cheese
LA VALLE, WISCONSIN
carrvalleycheese.com
Nestled amongst rolling hills and lush pastures, Carr Valley Cheese remains one of Wisconsin’s traditional cheese makers, famous for its fromage crafted the
old-fashioned way. Owned and operated for more than a century by the Cook family, the company has won hundreds of awards over the decades. Sid Cook, a certified master cheese maker, takes pride in crafting artisanal foodstuffs and draws on the expertise of four generations of cheese makers before him.
A Carr Valley original, Mobay is made in two halves: one of goat’s milk and the other of sheep’s milk. Grapevine ash is then added to the center and the outside, imparting a unique earthy flavor. Another favorite, Marisa, is made from pasture-fed sheep’s milk. Named after Cook’s daughter, this American original is mellow, complex and sweet — and a testament to this family affair.
Starting at $18 per pound
