Handmade goods, community support and local talent thrive at Nourish the Heart Market

This past Saturday, Bozeman yoga studio Your Yoga transformed its usual scene of stretching hamstrings and meditative silence into a bustling marketplace. Instead of yoga mats, rows of tables displayed hand-made crafts and goods. This fourth annual Nourish the Heart Market (NHM) continues its tradition of promoting local vendors.

NMH is an initiative launched by local business owner Lauren Woods. Woods owns a local clay studio and shop called Inner Alchemy. She is also a pottery teacher at the Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture. Her shop in downtown Bozeman features her own ceramics as well as the work of her students, whom she rents her studio out to.

Woods moved to Montana over a decade ago, where she noticed a lack of markets for local and handcrafted art and goods. That’s when she began the NHM.

“I think our market’s special,” Woods said. “I really try and focus on taking care of the vendors so they have a good experience, and that then transfers onto the customers.” 

She explained that the market intends to help unestablished businesses gain footing in Bozeman by offering a venue that is both affordable and supportive.

“I’ve gone to a lot of markets where they’re kind of like, here’s your spot, bye! Which is understandable, but not very reciprocal,” Woods said. At her markets, she usually partners with local businesses to buy the vendors lunch. Last year, she catered Sapphire Spoon and this year she offered the vendors lunch from Five on Black.

Marie Bruce, the owner of Petstylin — an animal bandana business — said she knows how hard it can be to start a business on your own. “When I first started I thought no one’s going to like it, or it’s not going to be good,” she said. “Then I started selling locally and got really excited.”

Bruce explained that having her own business has empowered her as well as her family. “[I love] showing my kids that you should just push forward with what you love — who knows where it will go,” she said.

Emily Gonzales — a mixed-medium painter and illustrator — described a similar journey. “I knew that [art] was my purpose in life, but it took more energy to get started — showing my face and being present and seen,” she said. 

This is Gonzales' second year with this market and she’s been a vendor for multiple other local markets, including the Bozeman MADE fair and the Gallatin Valley Farmers’ Market.

Gonzales took a moment to appreciate Woods’ effort to include younger businesses. “[Woods] is the hostess [with] the most-est, she takes care of us so well,” Gonzales said. 

Gonzales also encouraged anyone who’s on the fence about starting their own business to give it a shot. “Trust the journey and enjoy it. It’s going to suck sometimes and it’s going to be great sometimes, but it’s worth it,” she said.

The NHM isn’t exclusive to business owners, though. Sylvie Skibicki, a sophomore studying studio art at MSU and yoga instructor at Your Yoga, had a table at the market which displayed an assortment of ceramic dishes. She said that she doesn’t have a business and her booth is mostly for fun.

“I don’t have a name for this yet, maybe Sylvie’s something,” Skibicki said. “My plan is to run a pottery studio-slash-yoga studio after school [is] over though.” 

Sharing a table with Skibicki was fellow Your Yoga instructor and MSU adjunct professor Paige Hanger. Hanger owns a greeting card business called Peepsie Designs. “I kind of just draw funny things on my couch and then made it a business,” Hanger said.

“I think that it's been such an intense time lately,” Hanger said. “So it’s just really nice to just see everybody and be in a place where people just love life and support it.”

Hanger isn’t alone in that feeling. Woods explained that after every NHM she gets plenty of requests for another one. “For [the customers], I really wanted a mixed variety of makers and creators. I wanted to just be able to provide a wide array where people felt comfortable selling their stuff and trying something new,” she said.

The next NHM is expected to take place in February next year. To keep up to date with Woods, follow @inner.alchemy.shop on Instagram. Gonzales can be found @raven.sun_wolf.moon, Bruce @petstylin and Hanger @peepsie.designs.