Meet the Makers: Your Guide to the Spring Maker's Market at Nik & Ivy Brewing
- John E. Streetz
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Spring has a way of pulling people back outside, and in Lockport this Saturday, it is pulling them straight into the alley behind Nik & Ivy Brewing. The Spring Maker's Market returns on April 11th from 12 to 5pm, and with over 18 local artists and makers setting up shop, this is one of the best reasons to get out of the house this weekend. Whether you are a regular or experiencing the market for the first time, here is a look at who you will find and why you should not miss it.
This market is one of only two we host at Nik & Ivy each year, which means the vendors take it seriously and so do we. Every artist and maker is hand-curated to ensure you are getting genuine quality, real variety, and the kind of work you simply cannot find on a shelf at a big box store. Grab a cold craft beer, step into the alley, and let the makers show you what they have been creating.
A Few Artists Worth Spotlighting
One of the most compelling stories at this market belongs to DK Custom Woodwork Co., a small, veteran-owned business that approaches woodworking as a true art form. Using a mix of primitive and modern tools with both domestic and exotic hardwoods, DK refuses to use stains because they believe in letting the natural color and grain of the wood speak for itself. The result is furniture and décor that is built to last and genuinely beautiful in a way that mass production cannot replicate.
If you have never tried air-roasted coffee, Gigawatt Coffee Roasters is about to change your morning routine. Gigawatt is back at the market with freshly roasted small-batch coffee that they describe as smooth, never bitter, and just better. You can taste before you buy, and they will have bags and sampler packs available so you can explore different roasts and find your favorite. If you leave without a bag, you are leaving something behind.
For something truly one of a kind, stop by Slow Poke Sculpts. Every piece is a hand-sculpted clay figure, individually shaped and hand-painted in a creepy-cute style that manages to be both whimsical and deeply personal. No two figures are the same, and they have become one of those market finds that people come back for year after year once they discover them.
Left to Right: Tonies Treats, Belonio Doodles and L&W Crystals
Ember & Ivory Candle Company brings warmth and craftsmanship in equal measure. This small-batch, family-owned candle brand hand-pours every candle using Midwestern-grown soy wax, organic cotton wicks, and premium fragrance oils. Their whole mission is to create elevated scent experiences for everyday moments, and spending five minutes at their table will absolutely result in you walking away with something that makes your home smell incredible.
And then there is Belonio Doodles, a local artist and educator whose illustrations are pure joy. A self-described comic book enthusiast and Chicago-style hot dog devotee, Belonio's doodles have landed him features in Chicago Magazine, Fox News Chicago, and WGN Morning News, and even a spot during a Windy City Bulls game. His work puts a smile on your face the second you look at it, and he does custom work too.
What Else Is Waiting for You
Beyond those spotlighted artists, the market is packed with reasons to explore. Reflections with Kate offers crystal trees, wood-burned pyrography art, dreamcatchers, suncatchers, and canvas paintings, all with a rainbow and nature-forward aesthetic. KayDee Kay Creations turns vintage jewelry and repurposed glass bottles into stunning outdoor garden décor including wind chimes, suncatchers, plant stakes, and decorative copper spinners. Canal Woodturning transforms wood and resin on a lathe into handcrafted pens, kitchen utensils, keychains, and more, each piece a small work of traditional craftsmanship.
Grandma Dan's Bakery brings home kitchen warmth in the form of cookies, baked goods, extracts, and flavor combinations that are unexpected without being over the top. Masterclass Savory Sweet Foods adds bold, oversized small-batch cookies and gourmet candied nuts to the mix. Beaver Rub Spice Company offers fresh small-batch barbecue rubs and spice blends made with the best ingredients they can source. And if you have a dog,
Tonie's Treats is a must-stop: this eco-friendly husband-and-wife team makes crunchy dog treats from spent brewing grains, homemade apple puree, peanut butter, bananas, and carrots, plus dog ice cream made with Greek yogurt and fresh fruit. NewRetroMama offers freehand crochet items and repurposed wearables with a retro twist and genuine heart behind every piece.
L&W Crystals, going on nine years in business, brings a mix of new and vintage items along with custom crystal pieces for anyone drawn to holistic and spiritual wellness. Libra Rising by Yoali features meticulously handcrafted lightweight accessories made from metal, wood, cork, and leather, inspired by travel, photography, and fashion.
Crafty Creations builds layered shadowbox décor in plants, animals, and seasonal themes with custom orders welcome. Jetibles is a woman-owned hemp business focused on breaking stigma one sip and bite at a time. MPN3D rounds out the lineup with 3D printed creations that always draw curiosity and conversation. And avrephoto, a local high school student with a remarkable eye for nature and wildlife photography, will have prints available from both local landscapes and travels across the country.
Plan Your Visit
The Spring Maker's Market at Nik & Ivy Brewing takes place this Saturday, April 11th, 2026 from 12pm to 5pm. The market is located in the alley behind Nik & Ivy Brewing in Lockport, Illinois. Admission is free, Nik & Ivy's taps are open, and the lineup is as good as it has ever been. RSVP, invite your people, share this post, and come ready to support local. We will see you in the alley.
Here's a link to the event page: RSVP Here!
