Prairie Products | #CDM2017 Vendor
Tell us about your business.
Hi, my name is Tom Hubbell and I live in Ankeny, Iowa. I am a registered nurse by profession and specialize in Pediatric Nursing. My company was just started this year and is called Prairie Products (which doesn’t sound very European, but I had to find a name to register). Prairie Products specializes in imported, German, handmade Christmas items of wood and glass.
What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017?
I became interested in starting my business after speaking with Suzanne Hull about the Des Moines European Heritage Association. After a great deal of thought, I felt that this business venture would be the best way for me to support the Association, as well as opening up opportunities for me to expand my horizons.
What products will you be selling at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017 and why did you choose them?
Prairie Products will be selling wooden nutcrackers (Nussknackers) from a variety of artisans, as well wooden pyramids of different sizes. The pyramids use candle heat to make the blades at the top spin which turns an axle down the center with carved figurines; these are very traditional and common in German homes. There will also be glass ornaments, wooden ornaments, tree toppers, curled wooden stars, and smokers (Rauchmannchen) of different sizes and themes. I am also hoping to have some traditional paper napkins from Germany for decorating your Christmas party table.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
TeaGschwendner | #CDM2017 Vendor
Tell us about your business
TeaGschwendner offers over 250 premium loose leaf teas sourced directly from tea gardens around the world. Our products are sugar free, natural, pure, organic and pesticide free.
What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017?
We enjoy reaching out to customers outside Chicago as well as meeting online customers in person. We had a great time last year in Des Moines and happy to come back again.
What products will you be selling at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017 and why did you choose them?
Our Christmas collection offer over 10 teas that are only available during the holidays. The teas are spicy, warm and smooth – perfect for Christmas time. One of the top sellers is Christmas tea-black tea with vanilla, cloves and orange peels that really smells like Christmas. Others are Snowman tea, White Christmas, Rooibush Eggnog, Winter magic and more. Our collection will also include all tea accessories: teapots, mugs, infusers and tins.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Since 2008 we have been rewarded for the best quality tea in the world, as well as voted/named the Best Tea Shop in Chicago.
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
Salt and Pretzel Co | #CDM2017 Vendor
Tell us about your business
We are a small family owned and operated business based out of Ames, Iowa, that makes hand-twisted soft pretzels. We are not just pretzels though; our food truck provides a variety of foods that include local sausages, meats, breakfast sandwich, fried foods, and we even have vegan options!
What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017?
This is our second year attending the market as a vendor. The first Christkindlmarket was a huge success and we believe this one will be even bigger! We came across this event last year and decided to reach out to see if we could provide some of our classic German foods and European style cuisine. The market hosts said yes, and the rest is history.
What products will you be selling at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017 and why did you choose them?
We will have both our classic American and German style pretzels, a wide variety of sausages, European breads, cookies, European sides, and some European desserts.
Anything else you’d like to share?
We look forward to seeing you at the market. This year will be a great one and we are happy we have the opportunity to be a vendor for another year!
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
The Permanent Collection Letterpress + Design Studio | #CDM2017 Vendor
Tell us about your business.
Letterpress printing is the first mechanized form of printing from 14th Century Europe. Printed pieces from The Permanent Collection Letterpress + Design Studio celebrates this historical tradition with a vintage nod and modern design. Each item is hand-printed on a vintage printing press on elegant paper, making each item an original and truly distinctive.
The Permanent Collection is owned and operated by Sarah McCoy and located in the vibrant downtown East Village in Des Moines, Iowa. Sarah’s studio is full of wood and metal type as well as, vintage presses- models including a Heidelberg Windmill Red Ball, two Chandler and Price models, a Vandercook SP-15, and two small proof presses. She designs and prints work for clients both big and small such as PaperSource, Madsen Cycles and several music festivals such as Hinterland and 80/35.
What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017?
The historical aspect of printing originated with Johann Gutenberg in Germany and several designs celebrate the european heritage. My classic products fit well with the audience and overall feel of an outdoor holiday market.
What products will you be selling at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017 and why did you choose them?
I will be selling art prints, cards, and other letterpress printed products. There will be a wide variety of holiday cards and note cards. I received wonderful feedback on the classic designs that have a wide appeal to many customers.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I’m looking forward to the market and the small little wooden houses that we will be selling our products out of…
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
Christkindlmarket DSM Mug Unveiling Party a Huge Success
Several people were the first to view Christkindlmarket Des Moines’ 2017 Glühwein mug design at Jasper Winery on Tuesday, April 18 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
They sipped the signature drink (warm mulled wine) while shopping a mini market featuring foods and handcrafted items from Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017 vendors. The first 25 attendees to donate $25 (or more) to guarantee their 2017 mug received a goody bag.
Participating vendors included:
- Andy Klindt – Demonstrating forged metal winestoppers
- Worldly Goods
- Three Smooth Stones
- The Permanent Collection Letterpress
- Indianola Glass Creations – Demonstrating cutting wine bottles for making wine bottle tealights outdoors)
- Jett and Monkey’s
- Chocolaterie Stam
- Sugarplums (Lebkuchen!)
- Mucky Duck
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
Curbin’ Cuisine | #CDM2017 Vendor
Tell us about your business
Curbin’ Cuisine is owned and operated by Jarrod & Misty Fontanini of Granger Iowa. Jarrod & Misty both are down to earth, fun, energetic individuals. Their food truly shows their dedication & creativity. Curbin’ Cuisine emerged in May 2013 as a Food Cart and through great reviews of their food, a multitude of event requests to be a food vendor, they branched out and January 2016 their fully equipped, state of the art Food Truck hit the streets. Curbin’ Cuisine offers Globally Inspired Foods to Feed your Body & Soul.
What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017?
This event is an event that is uniquely diversified culturally allowing Curbin’ Cuisine so showcase their talent and dabble in German inspired cuisines.
What products will you be selling at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017 and why did you choose them?
Schwabische Kasepatzle (German Mac n Cheese), Warm German Potato Salad, The Hog Father Sandwich (Kielbasa stuffed w/ Pulled Pork & topped w/ BBQ Bacon Kraut, German Chocolate Brownies
Anything else you’d like to share?
Curbin’ Cuisine does catering. We can do a full buffet style catering or even Food Truck Style Catering. Our catering services are offered for: Wedding Rehearsal & Receptions, Anniversary Parties, Birthday Parties, Tailgate Parties, Graduation Parties, Block Parties, Corporate Events, Holiday Parties, City Festivals, We also offer Gluten Free, Vegetarian and Vegan Options upon request. Check out our website at www.curbincuisine.com for a unique look at our business.
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
Dakota Tinworks | #CDM2017 Vendor
Tell us about your business
I trained as an historical tinsmith with Loren Miller at the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer in Grand Island, Nebraska, and with master tinsmith William McMillen at Historic Eastfield Village in rural East Nassau, New York.
My tin shop, located in the basement of our 1901 historical home, is equipped with primarily 19th century tools and pre-1870 hand-powered tinner’s machines that I’ve restored myself. I use primarily 19th century techniques and methods while making my tinware. My goal is to make authentic tinware reproductions whenever possible. The one exception is that I do not use any lead solder in my shop — all of the solder I use is pure tin.
When I’m not working in the tin shop, I participate in living history events in my region as a US Civil War-era tinsmith, educating the public through demonstrations and short talks about the work and craft of the 19th century American tinsmith.
I sell primarily to individuals, either online through Etsy or in person, but some of my work can be found in the gift shops of historical sites run by the State Historical Society of North Dakota and the South Dakota Art Museum. I also do custom work for historical sites. My most recent work was a set of period tin candle lanterns made for the Colvin Run Mill Historical Site in northern Virginia, which was built ca. 1811.
What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017?
In the 1970s, I lived in what was then West Germany as a boy and attended German public schools in Frankfurt am Main. I went to many German Christkindlmarkets while I lived there, including some in other cities, like Heidelberg. I found so much about them to be magical, so when I got the chance to be a vendor at the Christkindlmarket Des Moines, I jumped at the opportunity.
What products will you be selling at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017 and why did you choose them?
I make a wide range of handmade tin items for sale, including Christmas ornaments and tree tinsel, Christmas tree toppers, cookie cutters, biscuit cutters, candle holders, candle lanterns, candle sconces, and cups. I chose to sell these items at the market because they are popular with my customers and make great Christmas gifts!
Anything else you’d like to share?
My family and I are excited to be a part of the Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017. We’re always eager to meet new people and share our tinware with others. It’s an historical craft that fits in well with a traditional market like this.
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
Christkindlmarket DSM Mug Unveiling Party
Be one of the first to view Christkindlmarket Des Moines’ 2017 Glühwein mug design at Jasper Winery on Tuesday, April 18 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Sip the signature drink (warm mulled wine) while shopping a mini market featuring foods and handcrafted items from Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017 vendors. Other Jasper wines and Madhouse beer will also be available for purchase.
The first 25 attendees to donate $25 (or more) to guarantee their 2017 mug will receive a goody bag. A limited quantity of commemorative mugs are ordered each year. The mug design will be revealed at 6:30 p.m.
Feeling festive? Bring your own Glühwein mug (0.2 liters) from a past Christmas market.
Admission is free; donations accepted.
Share the event with your Facebook Friends!
Participating vendors include:
- Andy Klindt – Demonstrating forged metal winestoppers
- Worldly Goods
- Three Smooth Stones
- The Permanent Collection Letterpress
- Indianola Glass Creations – Demonstrating cutting wine bottles for making wine bottle tealights outdoors)
- Jett and Monkey’s
- Chocolaterie Stam
- Sugarplums (Lebkuchen!)
- Mucky Duck
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
#CDM2017 Vendor Announcement
We’re pleased to showcase the following vendors during Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017.
Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017 Gift and Specialty Item Vendors
Glaszauber Lauscha, Lauscha, Thuringia, Germany
Glaszauber Lausche is a small family business located in the “Glasbläserstadt” Lauscha in Southern Thuringia. They make handmade Christmas decorations and small glass ornaments. The town of Lauscha is considered to be the cradle of glass Christmas decorations worldwide, since the business was founded there in 1847.
Offering: Hand-blown glass ornaments
Price Range: $20 – $120
German Gifts and Specialty Items
Offering: Various gifts and foods of Germany
Price Range: $2 – $100
Worldly Goods, Ames, IA
Worldly Goods is a Fair Trade nonprofit gift store located in Ames since 1987. Our unique Fair Trade gifts are handmade from over 50 developing countries. Volunteers share artisan stories.
Offering: Fair Trade items from around the world focusing on Christmas ornaments and decorations. Additional items that have a European heritage theme including Fair Trade stocking stuffers, coffee, tea, chocolate and other Fair Trade foods that are prepackaged.
Price Range: $1-125
TeaGeschwendner, Chicago, IL
Tea shop with natural and organic teas.
Offering: Premium loose leaf teas and tea accessories: Christmas teas: Black Christmas tea, Snowman greet teas, including Spices for Glühwein, herbal teas. Link to the teas:http://shop.tgtea.com/. Also tea accessories: Cast iron teapots, ceramic teapots, mugs and infusers.
The Permanent Collection Letterpress + Design Studio, Des Moines, IA
Vintage letterpress printed art prints, cards, stationery sets on elegant paper
Offering: Art prints, cards, stationery sets, holiday cards, and coasters
Price Range: $5-$55
Chocolaterie Stam, Des Moines, IA
Chocolaterie Stam, Fine European Chocolates since 1913
Offering: Hot chocolate, stroopwafel, coffee, prepacks
Price Range: $2 – $25
Andy Klindt – Chainsaw Carvings, Des Moines, IA | DEMONSTRATION
Andy Klindt is an Iowa artisan specializing in chainsaw sculpture and metal design. Fanciful, functional, or a fusion of each…watching Andy craft original pieces is sure to delight people of all ages!
Offering: Chainsaw carvings, hand-forged metal items, and mixed metal and wood items
Price Range: $20 – $2000
Pickle Creek Herbs, Fairfield, IA
Pickle Creek Herbs is a family farm in SE Iowa. They handcraft herb-infused olive oils & vinegars, jams, soaps, salves, and balms using herbs we grow in our gardens. They make everything by hand using our own recipes and herbs we grow in our Iowa garden.
Offering: Herb-infused olive oils and vinegars, herbal jams, herbal soaps, salves, and balms. They will also offer festive gift boxes and gift bags of our items.
Price Range: $3 – $22
Three Smooth Stones, Des Moines, IA
Betty Chamness Trost of Three Smooth Stones creates handmade wet-felted and embroidered stones, and painted mandala stones that fit beautifully into the palm of your hand for comfort and meditation.
Offering: Smooth stones surrounded with wool fiber using the wet-felting technique and then hand embroidered in colorful garden designs. On the round stones she paints mesmerizing mandala designs using dots of acrylic paint. Each of her stone pieces are hand made and fit beautifully into the palm of your hand for soothing comfort and meditation. She creates felted pictures using wool fibers and needle and wet-felting techniques, free motion machine quilting, hand embroidery, silk fibers, and beads. And she knits, then wet-felts luscious wool slippers for men and women. The best part of her day is engaging with people and enjoying their excitement at seeing her creations.
Price Range: $5 – $150
museum of danish america, Elk Horn, IA
The Museum of Danish America booth will carry items from its Design Store reflecting Danish culture and Danish, Danish-American and Scandinavian artists, artisans and product designers.
Offering: Gift items of Danish, Danish-American and Scandinavian design – Christmas decorations, papirklip, die-cuts, hand towels, coffee mugs
Price Range: $5 – $100
Amana Woolen Mill, Amana, IA
The Amana Woolen Mill crafting Iowa made textiles since 1855.
Offering: Amana crafted blankets, scarves, totes, aprons & table runners
Price Range: $30 – $150
Suri Oaks at Grace Ranch, Hudson, WI
Suri Oaks Alpaca Fashions
Offering: alpaca socks, hats, mittens, scarves, gloves, dryer balls, capes
Price Range: $15 – $250
Jett and Monkey’s, Des Moines, IA
Jett and Monkey’s offers hunde und katzen (dogs and cats) holiday gifts, including treats, toys and European Christmas ornaments. Visit our store in the East Village!
Offering: Holiday pet gifts, including treats, toys and European Christmas ornaments.
Price Range: $3 – $50
Indianola Glass Creations, Indianola, IA | DEMONSTRATION
Come in and enjoy the world of glass. Indianola Glass Creations designs and creates colorful Stained and Fused Glass ornaments, suncatchers, jewelry and home decor. They will be demonstrating blown glass ornaments.
Offering: Stained Glass, Fused Glass & Blown Glass ornaments and suncatchers. Fused glass and china jewelry. Fused & Stained Glass clocks and home decor art pieces. Wine bottle tealights.
Price Range: $12 – $150
Wild Cherry Spoon Co, Rock Island, IL | DEMONSTRATION
Wild Cherry Spoon Co. handcarves unique, one of a kind, pieces of wooden kitchenware along the banks of the Mississippi, in Rock Island, IL.
Offering: Handcarved wooden: spoons, spatulas, kitchen utensils, rice paddles, chopsticks, cutting/cheese boards, baby spoons, cheese spreaders, pizza paddles and pizza cutters, coffee and ice cream scoops.
Price Range: $5 – $75
Sugarplums, Altoona, IA
Delicious homemade gingerbread and lebkuchen featuring fancy cookies and houses. Traditionally decorated cookies are often purchased at Christmas markets to present to loved ones.
Offering: Fancy gingerbread/lebkuchen houses and cookies with festive German expressions such as, Frohe Weihnachten, Ich liebe dich, Mein Schatz, etc.
Price Range: $3 – $50
Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017 Food & Beverage Vendors
Glühwein
Glühwein (roughly, “glow-wine”, from the hot irons once used for mulling) is popular in German speaking countries. Glühwein is prepared from red wine, heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, cloves, star aniseed, citrus, sugar and at times vanilla pods.
Iowa Beer Bus
L&L European Delight, Chariton, IA
Taste of Ukraine
Offering: Cheburekie, Perogies, Pelmenie, sweet rolls, cake, candy
Price Range: $2 – $10
Mucky Duck Pub, Ames, IA
The Mucky Duck Pub is a full service, British-style public house. At the Mucky Duck we are pleased to welcome people of all ages and from all walks of life – we believe that drinking, eating and having fun together is a very important part of life! We have a great selection of beer from the UK, the USA and Iowa. We also serve some classic British dishes such as fish and chips and bangers and mash but we are also well know for our burgers and tenderloins. At the market we are pleased to be serving some British Christmas classics such as mince pies and Christmas pudding, along with some of the staples from our restaurant.
Offering: Bangers & Mash, Fish & Chips, Baked Potato Filled w/ Vegetarian or Chicken Curry, Vegetarian or Chicken Curry over rice, chili, Banked Potato covered with chili, Christmas Pudding w/ Brandy Butter, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Hot Tea, Coffee. Retail items: Christmas crackers, Turkish Delight, Tubs of assorted chocolates (Roses or Quality Street)
Price Range: $5 – $10
Salt & Pretzel, Ames, IA
Salt and Pretzel Co. is family-owned and operated in Ames, Iowa. They started the business in 2015 with the idea of bringing unique, soft pretzels to the community. Each pretzel is carefully crafted with the best ingredients and produced with state of the art equipment to create exceptional pretzels. All of their are made in their FDA-inspected bakery that meets all food safety and GMP requirements.
Offering: Bavarian-style pretzels and sauces, German and European Sausages, European baked products.
Price Range: $3 – $7
Top of the Hill Nuts, Grinnell, IA
Offering: Roasted almonds, cashews, pecans with cinnamon or maple flavoring
Price Range: $5 – $15
Curbin Cuisine, Granger, IA
State of the art, wickedly designed bright green food truck.
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.
2017 Call for Vendors
Des Moines European Heritage Association invites you to become a vendor at the 2nd Annual Christkindlmarket Des Moines.
In 2016, this cultural experience attracted 22,000 – 26,000 attendees.
In 2016 we set up at 125+ events around Iowa, and out of all of those events, Christkindlmarket Des Moines was our #1 event for gross sales.
Pickle Creek Herbs, 2016
In addition to food and gift/specialty item vendors, we seek vendors that can provide demonstrations.
- Over 62,000 website pageviews/year
- 1,517 Facebook Likes
- E-newsletters: 11 issues per year, 924 subscribers, 40% open rate
- Promotional flyers (Jul – Dec): 2,000
I had high hopes for this event, and in terms of both sales and marketing, this event exceeded all my expectations.
Pickle Creek Herbs, 2016
View all 2016 Vendor Testimonials
Read the 2017 Vendor Guide (Required)
Apply to be a 2017 Vendor
Application Deadline: February 15, 2017
Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.