Handmade In Milwaukee

With several local shops (Project M, Sparrow Collective, Chartreuse) and art festivals (including the Lakefront Festival of the Arts June 17-19), this Midwestern city is at the forefront of the craft movement. Here, meet a few of Milwaukee’s wildly creative DIYers.

1 WHO: Kamryn Kay Boelk
WHAT: Flower wristlet, $48 Firmly planted in the eco-chic movement, Boelk constructs these colorful wristlets with 98% recycled materials acquired from thrift shops and vintage shopping. They’re lined with recycled plastic that she transforms into a workable film, making them both washable and durable. www.permanentbaggage.etsy.com

2 WHO: Becky Tesch
WHAT: Recycled bike chain bracelet, $15 Tesch capitalizes on another popular Milwaukee scene: biking. Using recycled bicycle parts, such as chains and even inner tubes, she makes pretty (albeit rather industrial-looking) bracelets, necklaces and earrings. www.becktesch.etsy.com

3 WHO: Kristine Stein
WHAT: Orange Blossom Spritzer, $9, 4 oz. bottle One of Brew City Botanicals’ most popular products, this therapeutic, allnatural floral water makes Stein feel like a queen — and she swears it will do the same for you. www.bcbotanicals.com

4 WHO: Josh Rickun and Joey Wisniewski
WHAT: Wiskullsin T-shirt, $20 “Our state is better than your state” is the unofficial motto of these lifelong best friends. Their hometown pride comes through loud and clear in screen-printed tees made at their Riverwest studio. www.wiskullsin.net

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MONSTERS, INC. John and Kate McLaughlin are the masterminds behind Monsters & Things, eco-friendly cuddly creatures crafted with reclaimed and repurposed textiles, from leisure suits to scrap fabric. They are available at the Milwaukee Art Museum gift shop — and can also be seen hiding with the kid’s fedoras at the McLaughlins' new venture, The Brass Rooster, a men’s hat shop opening in Bay View next month. myspace.com/monstersandthings