Handmade products add beauty to life

By David Hoekman

In this age of mass production, it’s still possible to find people who make things by hand.

It’s comforting to touch a handmade wooden bowl, wear a locally screen-printed T-shirt with an imaginative design, lie down on a finely made mattress and decorate with a hand-sewn pillow.

Here is a roundup of some favorite Urban St. makers. Their products add a one-of-a-kind touch to the lives of locals and those around the world.

Buis Mattress

At Holland’s Buis Mattress, the factory is not located in another city, state or country. In fact, the factory and showroom share the same building.

Five full-time employees build mattresses one at a time.

“It’s a bench process,” said Marc Dozeman, owner. “We make the mattress after the customer orders it.”

The company uses top materials (some innersprings are made to Buis’ specs) and time-tested construction techniques. The result? A quality mattress that is durable and affordable.

Buis Mattress
440 S. Waverly Road
Holland
616-396-6257
buismattress.net

Holland Bowl Mill

A 10-person team of skilled artisans handcrafts 800 to 1,000 wooden bowls each week at Holland Bowl Mill, one of the last production bowl mills in the United States.

“Each bowl is unique because each raw log is unique,” said Kory Gier, office manager.

Tours are available of the production area, where each piece is carved, sanded and finished.

The mill sells its products at specialty kitchen retailers throughout the country, online and at the showroom.

Holland Bowl Mill
120 James St.
Holland
616-396-6513
hollandbowlmill.com

Kellie Terry

Kellie Terry of Douglas uses fabric, felted wool and stuffing — and her creativity — to produce one-of-a-kind pillows. While the former teacher and principal has sewed for years, she started making the colorful pillows three months ago.

Since she loves animals, they often show up on her pillows.

“It’s just so much fun to see it come together,” she said. “It’s a combination of art and function.”

Pillows are available at Kim Neuens Design & Interiors, LLC in Douglas.

Kellie Terry
517-648-3727
kellie.terry143@gmail.com

Marüshka/Michigan Rag Co.

Owner Randy Smith and his team at Marüshka at Michigan Rag Co. carry on the legacy of Richard Sweet, Smith’s high school art teacher who founded Marüshka in 1971.

Shoppers at the downtown Grand Haven store can observe screen printers handprinting the whimsical designs.

“If you do the math on all the sizes and kinds of apparel and all the designs, there are over 20,000 items,” Smith said. “All are handprinted here.”

Marüshka/Michigan Rag Co.
121 Washington Ave.
Grand Haven
616-846-3510
marushka.com