Take a magical, calming, and inviting nature experience.

Nestled in a historic Swedish farm just outside Stockholm, Running Dog Ranch Folk Craft and Learning Center has been created to offer a magical, calming, and inviting nature experience.  Our main building is a log cabin in the style from the days of Laura Ingalls Wilder.  We offer you classes in hands-on folksy arts and crafts, poetry, music, eco-science, and fine art. 

The first classes are this fall between mid-September and October.  They include:

• Gathering of Women Storytellers,
• Fruit Winemaking,
• Rag Rug Weaving,
• Leather Crafting,
• Jewelry and Needlefelting,
• Pet Grooming.

To your visit, we add a bit of clowning around and meeting our friendly farm critters.  We have horses, sheep, a goat named "Bijou," an English angora rabbit, and, of course, the ranch’s namesake, "running dog" Forrest.  We know that you will enjoy them as much as we do.

Depending upon the subject, our classes run from two hours to all day.  If you wish to stay overnight, camping is available on the ranch.

To receive a calendar of these 2012 fall classes and occasional e-mail updates on our happenings, send me a note at runningdogranch@gmail.com.  Let me know your suggestions for our 2013 classes, too.

We’d love to see you,
Corrine Young
Owner/Manager
Running Dog Ranch Folk Craft and Learning Center

From a possible picnic in the park to a juried art fair…

Thirty-nine years ago a group of artists who had recently moved to the Stockholm area thought that they should let people know who they were and what they did.  To do this, they decided to organize an art fair in the park.  If no one showed up, they thought that they would just have a picnic with each other.  Much to their surprise, people did come, and they actually bought the artists‘ work.  These results prompted the group to make the art fair an annual juried event. 

This year’s event is this Saturday, July 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  You can browse 107 artists’ booths in the Village Park at Stockholm and enjoy their work up close.  No longer restricted to only local artists, this year artists from five states will display art in many mediums including paintings, jewelry, clay, glass, sculpture, fiber, leather, photography, and more. 

You can also sample tasty treats from the food stands and listen the unique sounds of several different musical groups:  Amanda Rundquist from Stockholm, Billy Krause from Eau Claire, Patchouli from Maiden Rock, Yata, Healey & Orfield from Arkansaw, Durand and Eau Claire, Ditch Lilies from Maiden Rock, and WisPers, a mythical folk group allegedly based in the coulees of western Wisconsin. 

Take a look at what’s new in the shops and stop by the eateries while you are in Stockholm.

We’d love to see you again,
Stockholm Merchants

Enter a modern twist on that little general store…

In yonder years every small town had that quintessential quaint little general store. You could go in and get some of the basics, chat with neighbors, and find a little treat.  I remember the one in the little town in which I grew up.  It was filled with interesting items and tasty tidbits along with stuff you just needed.

Stockholm still has a taste of those days in Stockholm General.  Residing in part of the old Swanson's and later the Bile's General Store building which served the village of Stockholm until the 1950's, Stockholm General continues their tradition.

Entering through the 100-year-old double doors flanked with flowers and the sign offering "useful advice and adequate conversation," you immediately see a modern twist on that little general store from the past. You still find some of life's necessities:  batteries, first aid items, and other basic sundries. You also discover an up-to-date selection of the best that Wisconsin has to offer.

That includes tasty treats, vintage candies, mouthwatering mixes, and a stunning array of scrumptious treats from the kitchen:  jams, jellies, pickles, chutneys, sauces, salsas ... more than you could possibly imagine. Along with all those flavorful items, you will discover a large assortment of clever and hard-to-find kitchen gadgets.  We have lots of those "What a great idea!" items such as the ever popular "last drop" spatulas and the "pinch and smidgen" measuring spoons.

Our most amazing items are the vast array of additional Wisconsin-made ones, including an impressive collection of some of the best award-winning Wisconsin cheeses. To accompany your cheese, explore one of the largest collections of Wisconsin wines in the state. From local to Door County, we have over 80 different savory wines to wet your palate. If beer is more your style, mix and match a six pack from over 55 different Wisconsin beers. We feature a great assortment of products from Wisconsin's top distilleries:  Wisconsin-made vodka, gin, and liqueurs.  A bit of our village’s Scandinavian heritage is also available in the Swedish vodkas and Danish aquavit.  In addition, we have wine and beer accessories and gifts!

As you wind your way to the back of the store, you will locate the espresso bar serving absolutely the best espresso drinks on the lake and select tasty treats, all made in Wisconsin, to finish your latte break.

Step into the general store and step back in time with a delicious, Wisconsin twist.

We’d love to see you again,
Steve and the gang
Stockholm General

Suddenly and unexpectedly, the opportunity arose….

Suddenly and unexpectedly, thirteen years ago I started Out of the Blue Gallery.  Having owned the building for eight years, I was surprised when, without warning, my tenant closed his retail business.  For several years I had thought about running a shop, and I decided that was a good time to give it a try.  Since the opportunity arose from out of the blue, I gave the shop that name.

I allowed myself a two year trial period to see if I enjoyed the shop.  Thirteen years later, I’m glad to share that I still do!

For fifteen years I had created pottery and for several years fashioned jewelry, both of which I had sold at art fairs.  This background helped me select what to carry in the store.  We strive to have a broad selection at affordable prices.  We carry jewelry, clothing, accessories, artwork, home décor, books, lotions, soaps, patio and garden items, and more.  Stop by and read our cards.  They are laugh-out-loud funny!  Since I have lived in Pepin County for almost forty years, I also give information and advice on all things local. 

This old, unique building started as a feed store and over the years has been repurposed and improved.  Our most recent improvements happened last year when we added an old-fashioned garden shed and garden room addition.  This gave us a place to display our large selection of garden ornaments and a garden spot complete with benches for you to relax in the shade.         

As a founding member of the Stockholm Art Fair, I invite you to attend this year’s event on July 21.  If you do, take an air-conditioned break at Out of the Blue Gallery.  Sit for a while in our garden and watch the morning glories rapidly climbing the lattice walls or stroll through our hosta glade.

We’d love to see you again,
Pam Olson
Out of the Blue Gallery