The Makers Market is one of the highlights of Saturday’s UWM Doors Open Milwaukee. Located in Spaights Plaza, it features the creations of more than 50 local alumni, student and community makers, bakers, sculptors, jewelers and artists. It’s where you’ll find artisanal foods, handcrafted jewelry, one-of-a-kind artwork and unique gifts just in time for the holiday season.
Beyond the shopping, you can also enjoy music and food truck fare while soaking up a festive atmosphere at the heart of UWM’s campus. The Makers Market is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine.
Here are some snapshots of just a few of the vendors, including their connections to UWM.
Bob Paulus ’88 and Ellen Paulus, ’88 and ’91
The Cupcake A Rhee
What is your connection to UWM, and how has it influenced your creativity or business?
We met at UWM Sandburg Halls, we made lifelong friends at UWM, gained valuable skills, which provided the tools and confidence to become entrepreneurs, creating a successful business.
What would you like people to know about your work?
We bake everything from scratch. We create our menu and flavors by monitoring trends and sourcing local ingredients. We love to collaborate with other businesses and creators. When local breweries release a new beer, they ask us to match a cupcake flavor to create a delicious pairing.
What are you looking forward to most about the Makers Market?
Being back on campus. Talking to students and alumni. Meeting other entrepreneurs. Showing our Panther Pride!
Wanda Williams ’08
Natural As Can Be Products
What is your connection to UWM, and how has it influenced your creativity or business?
I earned my master’s degree in social work from UWM. My time there taught me to keep growing and pursuing my dreams, blending my passion for connecting with people with my creative side as an artist.
What would you like people to know about your work?
I created my natural skincare products during the pandemic to address my own sensitive skin. My goal was to craft effective, lightly scented, vegan products that feel great. I also express my creativity by making resin trays and jewelry.
What are you looking forward to most about the Makers Market?
I am looking forward to interacting with other creative people and sharing how natural, clean skincare products can improve overall health and skin wellness.
Carol Vollmer Pope ’73, ’76
Carol Clicks Photography
What is your connection to UWM, and how has it influenced your creativity or business?
I am a double alum of UWM. My BA is in mass communications, and I have a master’s of business administration. I combined those two degrees and worked in marketing and public relations for many years. As a photographer, I use both degrees. The BA helped me develop the creativity I use in my nature and landscape photography, and the MBA has helped me make my passion of taking pictures a business!
What would you like people to know about your work?
As a young girl, I remember my dad always had a camera around his neck. It was his Realist Stereo camera, which creates 3D pictures when the slides are put into its viewer. I still have his camera. Viewing his hundreds of photos, the flowers, sunsets and pictures of our vacations made them come to life for me. Since my youth, I have loved taking pictures. I find myself picturing each shot as if it will come to life in my camera and my prints. Through the viewfinder, my eye automatically focuses on the beauty inherent in nature.
What are you looking forward to most about the Makers Market?
I can’t wait to share my photos with the community! Folks have told me I have a great eye for design, and I look forward to sharing my photos at the Makers Market!
Bella Davis, sophomore, art education major
Forest Friends Crochet
What is your connection to UWM, and how has it influenced your creativity or business?
UWM has given me the most freedom I’ve ever had to explore my creativity, and I’m constantly finding new opportunities to share it while I’m here.
What would you like people to know about your work?
I want people to know that all my work is made entirely by hand, and no matter how small, a lot of love is put into my pieces.
What are you looking forward to most about the Makers Market?
I’m excited to share my work at the Makers Market!
