C O L L A B O R A T O R S
CRAFTS CREATED WITH OUR COMMUNITY
Solstice Handmade partners with local artisans and businesses
to turn our ideas and illustrations into practical and wearable goods
ADVENTURE TEXTILES
“Adventure Textiles is a fiber arts company featuring the work of Megan Williams. Adventure Textiles utilizes different woven, spun, felt and natural dye techniques to create unique accessories for personal attire and home decor.”
Adventure Textiles was one of our first collaborators, beginning in 2017 when we combined our ‘Witching Hour’ illustration with Megan’s cowl design. Ever since then, we have continued to pass fabric back and forth and work in a way that allows us both to explore what we’re curious about- color and pattern. We both find inspiration in natural world, from it’s patterns and forms to it’s bounty of color and natural materials.
BUTTER COLLECTIONS
Kelsy Lefler creates our so so comfy undies sets! Made from Rayon of Bamboo, her garments are high quality, silky smooth, and sewn in Southwest Michigan.
“Butter is a hand-made and hand-dyed bamboo clothing company based around designer Kelsy Lefler. Inspired by simplicity and comfort, our clothes are designed to be the softest, most delicious article of clothing in your closet. Our in-house dye artist "paints" with our permanent dyes, using ice, vintage machines and other obscure methods to make our own fabric patterns. Followed by extensive washing and preshrinking, our seamstress then crafts our vibrantly hand-dyed bamboo fabric into cozy, buttery soft garments. Rayon of bamboo is a luxury fabric, known for its skin sensitive properties. Our fabric naturally insulates body temperature, wicks moisture and allows the skin to breathe. Worn alone or in layers, you will immediately notice the comfort difference! “
CARLA CORNELIUS
…is the mask maker of Solstice Handmade!
Carla’s help is so much appreciated in keeping our community safe by sewing face masks. Sales from masks contribute to donations to a local group, Crafters Combating Covid, who are sewing face masks to be donated to local neighborhoods and nonprofits. Her sewing work is clean and precise, and she is responsible for greatly improving our mask style and fit from batch to batch. Carla’s sewing guidance helps ensure that we can provide a safe, intentional Corona Virus face mask that will truly fit anyone. We’d be nowhere (and naked faced) without her!
DINDERBECK STUDIOS
All of our printmaking happens at Dinderbeck Studios, a community print shop and artist studio tucked away on the West Side of Grand Rapids. This is our space to spread out, get messy, and catch up with other artists who use the space to print, frame, paint, build, and teach.
Access to affordable equipment is so important to us, without it we wouldn’t be growing towards the goal of having our own workspace someday. In the future, we will be back with classes and open hours- but for now, we’re open by appointment.
ELATION STUDIO
Our professional photos are captured by our dear friend Emily of
Elation Studio GR.
“I am deeply inspired by my community and the power of art to empower others. I love working with people which is why so much of my photography is centered around capturing moments of our every day lives as well as those special occasions you never want to forget.”
“Elation Studio is a Grand Rapids based photography company committed to capturing your life’s moments with beautiful, contemporary photos. Specializing in lifestyle and brand photography, Elation Studio captures candid moments, authentic connections, and all of the nuanced details that tell your story.”
IMPRESSIVE BOOKS
Rachel Resterhouse helps us to reduce our waste by creating gorgeous, sturdy sketchbooks from our test prints. Each book is completely one of a kind, with layers from multiple illustrative prints and patterns. Rachel is also a professional photographer, and captures all the images of our sketchbooks in her plant filled home.
“Sewn, glued, bound, and pressed by hand in Grand Rapids, MI. “
GRAY MADE STUDIOS
As another way to reduce waste, Solstice Handmade partners with Kristen Gray of Gray Made Studios to create one of a kind jewelry from our retired Copperplate etchings.
“Kristen is a maker and artist in grand rapids, michigan. after spending her late 20s on the west coast learning metal smithing, she is now back in the midwest creating minimalist mixed metal jewelry pieces. kristen also dabbles in fiber arts and mixed media sculpture.
MY LOVELY MUSE
Christina helps us with our design and sewing! She helped us design our centipede crop top style and fit, and sews some of the headbands that we offer.
“My name is Christina and I am the owner and sewist behind My Lovely Muse. I am a mom, wife, and teacher who loves Star Wars, Real Simple magazine, and canning homegrown food. I’m on a mission to save the planet from fast fashion and other needless waste by handcrafting custom, sustainable garments and quirky, convenient eco-conscious housewares to help prevent the unintentional contribution of waste to our landfills. It is a pleasure to have you browse my selection of unique pieces, handcrafted in Jenison, Michigan!”
PACE CLOTHING COMPANY
Cayci Wooday is another craftsperson passionate about repurposing materials. Cayci create scrunchies from our printed textile scraps, creating functional products from waste.
“From a young age, when I would feel overwhelmed-- I would pace around until my mind slowed. Thrifting has become an irreplaceable form of peace for me. I started Pace as a project to hunt for fabrics that are begging for new life, and then create something cozy. Sewing has become a safe space for me to grow, to collaborate, to sharpen some technical skills, and most of all to share these creations with friends. I hope to encourage others to find positive endeavors to make them feel a little closer to themselves <3 All of my scrunchies are handmade in gr from recycled materials, with screen printed tags, in small quantities. ~Let's pace around and be anxious & weird 2gthr~ “
TRANSFIGURE PRINT CO
Bailey printed the Earthstar T-shirts of our summer collection.
“Transfigure is a print shop founded by Bailey Sell in 2017 that specializes in LGBTQ+ inclusive screen printed apparel. Our focus is to supply the LGBTQ+ community with our goods and services, safe opportunities to raise money, and helpful ways to spread awareness. We work largely with the trans community as we are a trans-owned business and want to emphasize the importance of trans lives as much as possible. The need to support each other and work together to bring attention to worthy causes in our community is important now more than ever!”
“Transfigure was founded by Michigan native Bailey Sell (he/him). He identifies as a trans man and currently calls Grand Rapids his home. He graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design at Ferris State University with a BFA in Printmaking and a minor in Graphic Design. He also works at another printing company in Grand Rapids called Grow Up Awesome.
He is constantly printing in some way, shape, or form—seven days a week—and couldn't see life any other way.”
TREETOPS COLLECTIVE
With the guidance of Nadia Hamad and Jenna Weiler, the Treetops team consults on every step. From product design, material advising, to sewing and finishing, they help an idea and a sketch become an artful, functional textile.
“Treetops Collective started with a question: how does a refugee woman make this community her true home—a place where she and her family can flourish for generations to come?
Just like trees need the right soil and conditions—so do strong women. As they become established and stable, they provide shade for others, prevent erosion, and provide numerous other benefits to their surroundings.
Our mission is to connect New American women with people and opportunities in their new community so they can put their roots down deep and stand tall for generations to come.”
WHITE PINE RISING
Corinne explores the natural world in many ways in her practice. She seems to thrive with tactile work and time handling earth: crafting botanical colors, preserves, medicines, foraging, and gardening. White Pine Rising natural dyed our recent batch of Earth Star Tshirts using local seasonal dye plants such as cedar, juniper, and food scraps like avocado. Each garment is one of a kind.
“Corinne Denomme's mission is to educate others on restorative practices that promote a thriving relationship with their own local landscape through the expression of earth-based art and stewardship. Corinne has studied natural dye practices with Mel Streetman of Mamie's Schoolhouse, herbalism with Jim McDonald, nature connection programs at 8 Shields Institute, and is an indefinite student of the forests and prairies. She currently offers botanical dye classes and nature connection workshops in the surrounding Southeast, Michigan area. Corinne also shares her eco art accessories, plant dyed clothing, and sustainable folk medicine under her project White Pine Rising.”
