Self-Help International – CDM 2024 Non-Profit Silent Auction Tree Participant
Self-Help International Returns for a Second Year
Self-Help International (SHI) is returning for their second year at Christkindlmarket Des Moines’ Silent Auction.
SHI will be presenting their tree “Bright Beginnings, Healthy Futures.” With the belief that every child, regardless of where they are born, deserves a chance to live a healthy life, Self-Help International will decorate their tree with symbols of food, growth, and empowerment to show how SHI works to nourish mothers and infants for a brighter future.
As an Iowa-based international non-profit, Self-Help International is dedicated to alleviating hunger in rural communities in Ghana, West Africa and Nicaragua, Central America by helping people help themselves. Their locally-hired team of skilled professionals serve these rural communities to improve the population’s quality of life with dignity.
In addition to bidding on their festive tree, here are a few events to help you enjoy the holidays and support Self-Help International:
- Holiday Happy Hour: November 19, 2024
- Empower Women Luncheon: December 4, 2024
Bid on Self-Help International’s festive tree when you visit Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 5th – December 8th, 2024!
Iowa Environmental Council – CDM 2024 Non-Profit Silent Auction Tree Participant
Welcome Iowa Environmental Council to the Weihnachtswald
We are excited to welcome Iowa Environmental Council (IEC) to their first Christkindlmarket Des Moines Silent Auction!
IEC will be showcasing their “IEC Aqua-Fir” in our Weihnachtswald tent at #CDM2024. As an organization committed to protecting and preserving safe water for all Iowans to drink and recreate in, this tree celebrates the beauty of our water intertwined with the tree, symbolizing the makeup of Iowa’s diverse environment. Every drop is sure to dazzle!
Iowa Environmental Council has been the largest environmental coalition in the state for over 25 years. The Council’s mission is a just, healthy environment and sustainable future for all Iowans. Through education, advocacy, and coalition-building, they raise awareness, generate action, and create large-scale change.
Bid on Iowa Environmental Council’s stunning tree when you visit Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 5th – December 8th, 2024!
Twisted Sunset Sisters | #CDM2024 Vendor
Tell us about your business
Twisted Sunset Sisters Fiber Mill is a local, women-owned business dedicated to helping small farms turn their animals’ fiber – from sheep, to angora rabbits, to alpacas and more – into high-quality products. offering demonstrations of a wide range of fiber and textile arts, as well as a selection of alpaca and wool gifts and crafting kits.
What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2024?
This will be our second year doing demos at Christkindlmarket Des Moines but our first year vending a booth. We absolutely love doing demos for the public and love sharing the fiber arts with inspiring and experienced crafters alike. This year we will be demoing our circular sock machine and our knitting machine and have a big screen video playing of the 12+ industrial sized machines that make up our mill in Perry, IA.
What products will you be selling at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2024 and why did you choose them?
This year we will have a variety of different yarn skeins for sale, both hand-dyed and naturally-colored yarn spun at Twisted Sunset Sisters Fiber Mill along with cute project/tote bags for fiber artists to haul home their goodies in. We will have handmade 100% alpaca dryer balls and drop-spindle learning kits. Plus our handmade 100% alpaca felted soap bars will be back as an awesome novelty product along with other handmade goods such as handwoven items (rugs and towels) and handmade knitted goods such as hats, scarves, socks, ornaments and other holiday gifts.
We selected these products as they highlight the amazingness in that is locally, small scale processed yarn from proud small scale US farms. All our products will have traceability tags which detail out where the fiber came from and how it was created because we believe strongly in empowering our customer and consumers of knowing where their products come from. We also added on a mix of festival exclusive knitted and woven goods to highlight and inspire others to experience the joy of crafting something from nothing.
Anything else you’d like to share?
We are a very new fiber mill and a new business (Opened in April of 2023) and this year we’ve focused on building out our recipes for our dyed yarns so expect to see some both festival exclusive dyed colorways and a lot of gorgeous colorful items! We will also have made to order options available too for custom colorways and be available for discussing your farms fiber processing needs too as we process all fiber types from alpaca to wool, angora,to mohair and more!
New to #CDM2024 | You can participate!
Throughout the weekend there are several opportunities to get involved with the festivities. At 6pm on Friday evening the opening ceremony features a parade around the venue with St. Nicholas and the Christkind. Kids of all ages are invited to join the procession and see the lighting of the tree! At 6:30pm on Saturday watch or join in the Krampuslauf (Running of the Krampuses).
New to #CDM2024 | Dedicated Beverages Refill Lines AND a New Beverage
To expedite service for our thirsty patrons, we will have two beverage refill lines for Glühwein, Kinderpunch, hot cocoa and eggnog in our Biergarten. Yes, I said eggnog! We’ve developed a Lebkuchen Eierlikör (Gingerbread Eggnog) that can be served as is or with a boost of brandy to warm the soul!
Barefoot Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen | #CDM2024 Performer
Tell us about your group
We are a polka/variety band from Mt Vernon, IA. For 36 years we’ve been traveling around the country playing polkas, waltzes, country, big band, latin, line dances and party favorites!
What are you most looking forward to at Christkindlmarket Des Moines?
We enjoy playing Christkindlmarket Des Moines because it’s family friendly and the people are ready to have a good time with us. It’s fun to see people dancing and singing along. I’m sure a little Gluhwein helps too!!
Daughters of Norway – CDM 2024 Non-Profit Silent Auction Tree Participant
Daughters of Norway Returning For 8th Consecutive Year!
We are thrilled to have the Daughters of Norway returning to decorate a Silent Auction tree for a record 8th consecutive year! This cultural organization has been a staple in the Christkindlmarket Des Moines Weihnachtswald since our inaugural year in 2016.
Eva Nansen Lodge 46 became the first Iowa lodge to bear the name Daughters of Norway on November 5, 2006 with forty-six charter members representing Norway, Denmark, and Sweden ancestries. Membership is available not only to Norwegians, but women with Danish, Swedish, Finnish, and Icelandic connections. The Lodge Sisters pride themselves in offering educational and festive events, cultural programs and activities, and social gatherings. Lifelong Nordic friendships have developed while sharing common interests.
In addition to bidding on their always extraordinary tree, here are a few additional events to help you enjoy the holidays and support the Daughters of Norway:
- Scandinavian Fiddle Music Concert: November 12, 2024
- St. Lucia Day Presentation: December 3, 2024
If you are excited to see what Daughter of Norway have in store for us this year, visit Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 5th – December 8th, 2024!
Community Hand Up – CDM 2024 Non-Profit Silent Auction Tree Participant
Community Hand Up, First Year Participant!
We are excited to welcome a new local non-profit to the #CDM2024 Weihnachtswald Silent Auction, Community Hand Up!
Community Hand Up was created to empower the future financial security of people whose income is above the poverty line and below middle-class financial security by providing financial education, mentoring, and emergency services. This organization strives for everyone to be completely self-sufficient.
The big picture for Community Hand Up consists of: creating a corporate headquarters to house a food pantry, seasonal clothing closet, board meeting space and classrooms; an affordable housing program which includes building and managing a 5,000-unit housing complex based on combination Section 8 and Section 42 housing programs with units renters can convert to home ownership; and Transitional Housing program designed to help foster kids’ transition to adulthood through complete support of housing, employment and education.
Look for Community Hand Up and their festive tree at Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 5th – December 8th, 2024!
Hope Animal Rescue of Iowa – CDM 2024 Non-Profit Silent Auction Tree Participant
Hope Animal Rescue Decorates, Again!
It wouldn’t be a #CDM2024 Weihnachtswald without Hope Animal Rescue and their furr-estive tree! Hope Animal Rescue of Iowa will be decorating a tree at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2024 for a fourth year.
Providing “Hope” is the main goal of this animal rescue which was founded in June 2014. They are a no-kill rescue who strives to protect and provide hope as they search for loving homes for stray and neglected animals.
Without a brick-and-mortar location, Hope Animal Rescue utilizes community and cultural events like Christkindlmarket Des Moines to get their organization in front of more Iowans. As a 100% foster/volunteer-based rescue, without local, state or federal support, Hope relies solely on the generosity of others through donations.
In addition to bidding on their always extraordinary tree, here are a few additional events to help you enjoy the holidays and support Hope Animal Rescue:
- Puppy Yoga at Smash park Des Moines: November 16, 2024
- Pup Up Meet & Greet at Just Paws Gourmet: November 9, 2024
- Paw Print Ornament at Just Paws Gourmet: November 10, 2024
To check out the pet friendly tree of Hope Animal Rescue, visit Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 5th – December 8th, 2024!
Basic Stitch | #CDM2024 Vendor
Tell us about your business
Basic Stitch is a small, one-woman operation, born in the heart of Iowa, and specializes in handmade knitwear with a primary focus on cozy hats and winter essentials. As the owner and sole operator, I personally handcraft each piece with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring warmth and style in every stitch. Blending traditional craftsmanship with modern sensibilities, my creations offer unique designs, reflecting my passion for quality and creativity as a millennial entrepreneur.
What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2024?
I was inspired to become a vendor at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2024 after attending the market as a customer in the past. Seeing the vibrant community of vendors and the unique handmade crafts they offered left a lasting impression on me. I felt compelled to join them, bringing my own passion for handmade knitwear and unique designs to the market. It’s an exciting opportunity to share my craft with others and contribute to the festive atmosphere of such a well-loved event in our community.
What products will you be selling at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2024 and why did you choose them?
At Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2024, I will be offering a range of handmade knitwear with a primary focus on cozy hats and winter wear. I will also have charming crocheted amigurumi stuffed animals. I chose these products because they showcase my dedication to craftsmanship and creativity. Each item is meticulously crafted with care, ensuring both quality and comfort. The hats and scarves are essential winter wearables that blend warmth with style, while the amigurumi animals add a whimsical touch, appealing to both children and the young at heart. I’m excited to share these unique creations with visitors, contributing to the festive spirit of the market.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Every part of the hats I sell are meticulously crafted by hand, including the faux fur pom poms which I sew personally. I devote extensive time to studying color theory, trends in fashion, and current color palettes. This commitment ensures that my designs blend traditional styles with a contemporary and fashionable flair.