Meet our Artists
Meet Our Creative Minds
CJ is a disabled multi media artist living in Southern Illinois with her spouse, 3 kids, 2 dogs, and 2 cats. When she is not making jewelry, remodeling her house, or taxi-ing teens, she spends her time researching hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos, Charcot Marie Tooth Disease, and Mitochondrial Complex Disease with the hopes of helping to raise awareness and thereby find treatment and cures for her conditions.
She received the Emerging Artist grant for 2025 at the Phelps Mill Festival for her pysanky!
All of Nanna's original creations come directly from her inventive brain.
With the attention span of a squirrel under an oak tree, she offers an eclectic sampling of not only the 5 genres of craft ( textile, decorative, paper, functional, and fashion crafts) but also whimsical, multi-media art pieces that cross all the boundaries.
Some creations are "from scratch" others are upcycled and some are a marvelous amalgamation of found items.
Paper With a Past
Michele Whitlock is a retired teacher. She currently enjoys making handmade paper and creating cards, journals, and ornaments. She is a volunteer teacher for visiting students at the historic one room school house at the Harrison-Bruce Village at John A. Logan College. She also teachers Pre-K for the Carbondale Park District.
Lori Merrill-Fink (aka: woo woo chik) is retired, but far from retiring. After 30+ year career as a performing artist,
educator and administrator, she channels her energies into healing movement practices, travel, pickleball, and creating wearable art by upcycling textiles.
Chris West is the maker/creator of Beautiful. She says she is a dabbler. She dabbles at every type of art she can get her hands on - from photography, painting, jewelry making, and fiber arts, to creating whimsical wind chimes and sun catchers from found items, just to name a few. She is a member of the North East Artists Network (NEAN), and has had her jewelry published nationally. She won the People's Choice Award at Art Walk one year.
Healing Elements with Susan is more than just jewelry, it’s healing through crystals, frequencies, intention, and love. As an energy healer, Susan brings forth her knowledge to bring each piece she creates to life through intention, helping each customer along the way.
Nevherrland
Ginivra Stace (Nev Herr) is a multi talented creator - she makes the cutest stuffies, gorgeous cross stitch, and incredible music.
Check on our event page for when she and other friends will be playing in our hang-out space!
Sean Lilly has made his home in SoIL for 30 years. He is the artist and crafter of Pillaged Village. He purchased his first lathe in 2013, and has been honing his creativity and skill with unique wood ever since. His pieces range from simple to complex, pure art to practical pieces. All are handcrafted from a wide variety of wood pieces.
Custom orders are welcome. Custom pet urns are a unique specialty of his.
Dianne Drake
Affectionally known as Drake, this fun-loving, energetic woman somehow finds time to knit and crochet all kinds of wonderful creations - in between caring for family, horses, chickens, cats and friends.
If you've never used a handmade dishcloth, you don't know what you're missing!
Larry Fluegge
Larry is a sweet, retired gentleman who loves crafting the coolest single-prop biplanes out of beverage cans. The propeller moves - needing only the slightest bit of wind!
His planes remind you of the early years of aviation.
Belle specializes in Herbal formulas, artisan small batch topicals, teas, and oxymels. Everything is organic and NONGMO.
She also provides metaphysical tools, herbs, blessing kits, channeled scents and smoke bundles.
WWW is carrying Ruth's handcrafted, all natural, organic soaps and lip balms.