My Second Year at the Petoskey Stone Festival (And Somehow It Was Even Better)

One year later… and somehow the booth got even cuter

One year ago, I attended my very first Petoskey Stone Festival as a vendor.

I had no idea what I was doing 😂

This year felt completely different in the best way possible.

I came back with:

• A bigger setup

• Better displays

• More artwork

• More apparel

• And WAY more confidence

Which is kind of beautiful when you think about it.

Quick Overview

If you’re wondering what the Petoskey Stone Festival is actually like, here’s the short version:

• Tons of Michigan artists and vendors

• Petoskey stone jewelry, art, and handmade goods

• A super welcoming atmosphere

• Gorgeous weather this year ☀️

• And LOTS of fellow rock lovers

This year I brought:

• Hand-printed shirts

• Tote bags

• Sticker packs

• One-of-a-kind thrifted sweatshirts

• Nature-inspired designs featuring:

  • Petoskey stones

  • Fish

  • Butterflies

  • Worms (yes, worms 🪱)

👉 Shop some custom printed apparel now

If You’re Into Nature Art… This Is Your Place

One of my favorite things about these festivals is seeing people light up when they find artwork that feels like them.

Some people came for the Petoskey stones.

Some people came for the fish.

Some people got aggressively excited about the worms 😂

And I get it. I love creating artwork inspired by:

• Michigan shorelines

• Fossils

• Texture

• Backyard ponds

• Tiny creatures

• Nature in general

So if that’s your vibe too… you probably would’ve loved this festival.

👉 Browse my latest Michigan-inspired artwork here
👉 Shop my hand-printed apparel collection
👉 Read more about how I turn rocks into art

This Year Looked a Little Different

Usually my boyfriend helps me at markets, but this year he had to work.

Thankfully, my brother stepped in and helped me run the booth for the day.

He crushed it.

Markets can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not used to talking to tons of strangers all day, so I’m really grateful he stepped outside of his comfort zone to help me out. It ended up being such a fun day together.

The Dangerous Part of Artist Markets: Shopping

Once we got everything set up, I decided to take a quick lap around the festival.

Which is always a mistake financially 😅

That’s when I found:

• The CUTEST hand-carved lavender Petoskey stone cup

• A gorgeous sterling silver heart Petoskey stone necklace

• The most perfect Petosket stone cookie

• And approximately 47 more things I wanted to buy

The cup especially??? Obsessed.

I would absolutely collect those in every color if given the opportunity.

And the jewelry was made by a metalsmith from Gr8 Lakes (seriously stunning work).

I love artist markets because you’re not just shopping.

You’re meeting the people who actually made the thing.

And that matters to me a lot.

The Weather Was Perfect and the Vibes Were High

The weather this year was genuinely gorgeous.

Sunny, warm, not aggressively windy for once 😂

And the festival stayed busy most of the day.

I sold:

• Sticker packs

• Apparel

• Tote bags

• And some of my one-of-a-kind thrifted sweatshirts

Which are honestly some of my favorite things to make.

Those thrifted pieces are ONLY available at my in-person Michigan markets now, while my online shop focuses more on custom made-to-order prints. And I kind of love that balance.

Why Events Like This Matter So Much

As an artist, events like the Petoskey Stone Festival are about so much more than sales.

It’s:

• Meeting people

• Hearing stories

• Talking about rocks for an unreasonable amount of time

• Seeing what people connect with

• And finding other people who get weirdly excited about fossils and textures

There’s just something really special about being surrounded by people who love Michigan as much as you do.

Already Looking Forward to Next Year

I had such a great time at this year’s Petoskey Stone Festival, and I’m already excited for next year.

Every market teaches me something new. Every year feels a little more like home.

Getting to share my art, my weird little nature obsessions, and my Michigan-inspired work with people who genuinely appreciate it is something I’ll never take for granted.

So if you stopped by my booth this year, Thank you 💛

• What is the Petoskey Stone Festival?

  The Petoskey Stone Festival is a Michigan event celebrating Petoskey stones, local artists, handmade goods, jewelry, fossils, and rockhounding culture.

• Where is the Petoskey Stone Festival held?

  The festival takes place in Eastport, Michigan and features artists, vendors, and handmade businesses inspired by Michigan nature and Petoskey stones.

• What kinds of things can you buy at the Petoskey Stone Festival?

  You can find Petoskey stone jewelry, handmade art, apparel, stickers, fossils, home decor, pottery, and Michigan-inspired gifts.