MINNEAPOLIS GIFT & ART EXPO

NOV 6-8, 2026 - MINNEAPOLIS CONVENTION CENTER

Who are you and what do you do?   

We are Jill and Ken Hilton from Prescott, WI. We handcraft jewelry out of antique porcelain dished and antique silverware. We travel around the world and around the US every year looking for unique dishes or silverware to bring home and make into jewelry for you. We have been to 22 countries and to many states here and have a large variety of patterns and collections we have made into necklaces, pendants, rings, bracelets, and even ornaments. We also encourage you to come and have a conversation about making a special order for you and your family using your own dishes and silverware from your parents or grandparents.

Have you always been passionate about art and design?  

 Jill grew up in a very artistic home, always creating pretty things with her mom and siblings. She had always been encouraged to do wood carvings, pottery, jewelry, linoleum printing, and watercolor or acrylic painting. This is a passion she grew up with and improved on her whole life. Ken had done artistic welding and other things earlier in life but found working with antique silverware something challenging and rewarding. Together we design and create our items in our home, working side-by-side.

How did you get started in your art / business?  

Jill grew up helping her mom do art shows and boutiques. She saw first-hand growing up how much it meant to people to have access to hand crafted items for themselves or for gifts. Ken also grew up in a home of professional seamstresses that hand crafted specialized clothing for people. Our love for creativity came through our upbringing and family encouragement from an early age.

Where did your business name come from? Is there an interesting story behind it?  

We developed our name J & K Legacy Jewelry from our first initials (J for Jill, K for Ken) and then out of our love for making items out of antiques so you can have a treasure, a piece of Legacy to wear every day. Whether you buy a piece at this show that was already created or you do a special order with us, these pieces are a way of carrying on a “Legacy”, made from a piece of loved antique silverware or a dish. Every piece of jewelry or ornament lets you have something special made out of an otherwise unused antique item.

What has been your favorite moment since creating your art/business?  

We have so many families that are touched, and each time means so much to us. One family recently came and saw their grandmother’s dish pattern made into a pendant and into a silverware bracelet surrounded by beautiful silver. They were brought to tears since the memories were strong, but the family did not have those dishes anymore. They were able to purchase these heartfelt pieces to wear, remembering their grandmother every day.

Another family recently was able to buy a beautiful, handcrafted silverware ring from spoons we bought in Ireland. They had made a trip to Ireland last year with family and missed buying something like jewelry they could wear every day and remember the beautiful trip.

Is this a full-time business for you?  

Although Jill still works a 9-5 job, this is indeed a full-time business for us. We work in our studio here in our home every day/evening. We do an art or craft show most every weekend of the year. We never stop searching for that next special pattern, or stop creating these special pieces.

How does the city you live in influence your work?  

 We love to travel and we get inspiration from each place we go. From the Mighty Mississippi to the Alps, to the countries our grandparents immigrated from, we embrace all cultures and designs. We try to create each special piece with you and your family in mind.

What is the latest thing you have been working on?  

Our latest items have been working with are some necklaces and bracelets made from 1860’s English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh nurses’ belts. In the later part of the 1800’s, nurses in those countries were required to get certified. Either the family or the hospital where they trained bought each newly certified nurse a silver belt with links, a belt buckle, or chatelaine to hold their tools. We scour antique stores to find these so we can bring them home and make jewelry out of the lovely silver pieces. We bought a number of 1800’s nursing belts in UK recently. They are pretty and unique. Something you must see!  

A few new items we just completed are from some plates that may not be as old, but super fun remembrances to wear. Some of these are Crazy Daisy Correll, Care Bears and Rainbows, Fiesta, and Peter Rabbit.

What will you be bringing to the Gift & Art Expo for attendees to purchase?

We will be bringing thousands of items to this wonderful event. We are finishing up a lot of item to bring that are made from Antique dishes and silverware. Some items out of dishes will be made using patters of Irish Belleek, Old Country Rose, Blue Bird of Happiness, Dogs of 1800’s, Scottish Thistle and Tartan, White Birch, and more. Some of the silverware patterns we are working on now for this show are Viking Rose, Kings Cross, Little Red Riding Hood, Lady with the Fan, and some with stained pearl in the silverware.  

Will you be featuring any special holiday items?

We will be having holiday items that are extra special. We will have a tree full of ornaments that are made from antique dishes and silverware. We also have rings, pendants, and necklaces that are also made from holiday  or winter antique items. Some of those collections we will have are: Holly, Red Cardinals, Deer in the Snowy Woods, Santa, Northern Star, Sleigh Rides, Snowman and Cabin Up North.

https://www.facebook.com/JK.Legacy.Jewelry

Who are you and what do you do?   

I’m Heather Boschke, the artist, author, and creator behind Little Birdie Buddies, a joyful world of hand-drawn birds created to help people connect with nature, themselves, and each other. I draw playful birds that are designed to spark joy, connection, and a sense of wonder. What started as a creative outlet during Covid lockdown has grown into a collection of children’s books, gift books, plushies, framed art, cards, mugs, and other gifts. Through my art, I hope to remind others of the simple beauty around us, the magic of paying attention, and the power of letting your own inner birdie shine.

How did you get started in your art / business?  

Little Birdie Buddies began with a sketchbook, pens, markers and a nudge I couldn’t ignore.

In 2021, I felt this quiet pull to draw again, even though I had no plan for it to become a business. Birds have always been my favorite animal, and my grandpa’s nickname for me was Heather Feather, so when I opened that first blank page, a bird was the first thing I drew.

That first little bird felt like returning to being a kid again. I kept drawing, the birds kept coming, and they become characters with names, personalities, and messages. At first, I simply started sharing my bird drawings, and people began asking if they could buy them as cards or prints or mugs. And then the idea of a children’s book started to grow in my heart.

In many ways, the business has grown the same way the birds did… organically, joyfully, and one small feather at a time.

What has been your favorite moment since creating your art/business?  

My favorite moments are the ones where I get to see the joy on people’s faces when they look at my birds and connect with a little character I once drew in my sketchbook.

Sometimes people laugh because a bird’s personality reminds them of themselves. Sometimes they tell me a bird reminds them of someone they love. And sometimes they share a story about a real bird that showed up during an important moment in their life. Those moments have shown me that the birds are doing more than looking cute… they are help people feel joy, comfort, nostalgia, and connection.

The art may start with me, but the meaning grows when someone else sees themselves, their memories, or their heart in it.

Have you always been passionate about art and design?  

Yes, but I didn’t always make space for it. Drawing was something I loved deeply as a kid. It was how I played, imagined, and completely lost myself.

Then I grew up, got busy, built a career, and let that part of myself go quiet. I went 27 years without drawing before picking it back up again in 2021. What started as a creative outlet quickly became a reconnection to a part of myself I had been ignoring… and it quickly grew into Little Birdie Buddies.

What valuable experience/knowledge did you have before starting your art/business?  

Before starting Little Birdie Buddies, I spent more than 20 years in corporate marketing, helping businesses clarify their message, understand their audience, and build brands that connect with people. I’m also a marketing professor, so I’ve spent years teaching students how strategy, storytelling, positioning, and customer experience all work together.

What sets your designs apart from others?  

My work is hand-drawn and whimsical, but it is also rooted in real birds, nature, and the emotions people connect to them… joy, hope, comfort, confidence, belonging, and wonder.

Each bird is more than an illustration. It has a name, a personality, and a message. My goal is not just to create something cute, but to put little characters into the world that make people smile, feel seen, and remember the simple magic of nature. My mission is to spread joy one birdie at a time.

What is the latest thing you have been working on?  

The latest project I’ve been working on is Little Birdie Buddies of Hope, my newest book. It features birds that each carry a message of comfort, resilience, and light. This book is especially close to my heart because it explores the quiet ways hope finds us, especially during hard seasons.

What will you be bringing to the Gift & Art Expo for attendees to purchase?

I’ll be bringing the full collection of Little Birdie Buddies items, including all six of the books, plush birds, greeting cards, prints, stickers, mugs, pins, magnets, and puzzles. Everything is created to bring a little more joy and nature-inspired connection into someone’s day.

www.littlebirdiebuddies.com

https://www.instagram.com/little.birdie.buddies/

https://www.facebook.com/littlebirdiebuddies/

https://www.youtube.com/@littlebirdiebuddies

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Sydney, and creativity is my middle name. I am a recent graduate from the College of Design at the University of Minnesota and am currently an Interior Designer at a local Minneapolis firm. So, if you can’t find me at the office in the materials library, you can find me at the local fabric store!

What has been your favorite moment since creating your art/business?

My favorite moments are being able to see buyers’ faces light up when they see the final product. It's so fulfilling to know that all the hard work is worth it in the end.

What is the latest thing you have been working on?

I am working on expanding my selection of products to be embroidered, including sweatshirts.

What will you be bringing to the Gift & Art Expo for attendees to purchase?

I will have dog bandanas and baby blankets, which are all able to be customized with my embroidery machine. The bandanas are embroidered on-site, so you can take home your custom bandana the same day!

Instagram: shop.otisandfriends

Website: https://shopotisandfriends.square.site/