Autumn is here, and leaves are falling...

There’s crispness in the air, and the holidays are approaching…

Lake House Health & Learning Center will celebrate the season on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 932 Lake Ave., with its annual Fall Health & Gift Fest, and you are invited!

We’ll transform our lovely Victorian house into a autumn cornucopia showcasing local artisans, artists, photographers, shopkeepers and health professionals who will share their wares with the public — just in time for holiday shopping — and offer health resources and information.

Among the treasures you will find: jewelry,  photography, art, crafts, natural soap and body products, Chinese healing teas, cookbooks, cultural gift items, non-toxic cleaning items plus gift certificates for  coaching, personal development sessions, Chinese medicine treatments, tai chi classes and other health services.

Visitors will be able to learn about the new Wild Root Market and purchase co-op memberships.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is no admission charge although visitors are encouraged to bring a donation of non-perishable food items for the Racine County Food Bank. 

Friend our special Fest Facebook page as updates are added.

Here's who and what you will find:

• Karen Carnabucci, creative arts psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker at Lake House Health & Learning Center, will demonstrate the use of the Tarot images for personal growth and answer questions about experiential and non-traditional psychotherapy.
• Kimberly McGuinness-Rook, midwife and owner of Inner Birth Midwifery, and Andrea Bukiewicz, doula and student midwife, will share about the new concept of "spiritual midwifery." They will  sell hand-crafted organic herbal blends for post-partum herbal sitz baths that are healing for the mother's body as well as natural remedies that regulate menstrual cycles and promote breastmilk, plus multipurpose first aid comfrey salves. Kimberly will offer  free nutritional consultations for pregnant women or those planning to conceive soon. 
• Arthur Shattuck, practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and owner of Roots And Legends, will offer healing teas and gift certificates for health services and answer questions about food  and acupuncture for healing.
• Keith Garofalo of Red Dragon Acupuncture, will offer gift certificates for traditional Chinese medicine treatments and tai chi classes and offer a kirtan, a meditative chanting presentation, at 1 p.m.
• Heather Poyner, drumming facilitator and owner of The Drum Hut, will sell drums, shakers and didjeridus as well as CDs with indigenous music and talk about her drum circle programs in schools, corporate, camping and other settings. She will demonstrate the use of the didjeridu, an aborginal instrument orginating in Australia, at 11 a.m.

• Katie Hall, of Katie Hall Photography specializing in mother and baby and family photography, will show samples of her work and offer photography session gift certificates in any denomination, discounts for 2013 sessions at a discounted rate; birth photography coupons, raffling a free mini-session and other photo gifts and providing an exclusive offer to be involved in her annual glamour session event coming up on January

• Leayn Tabili, of Anthelion Hancrafted Jewelry,  will offer a variety of contemporary jewelry including beading and chain maille as well as purses and other accessories.

• Labyrinth Herbals, crafted by soapmaker Tracy Bernhardt, will show natural soaps, lip balms, gift sets and other products with pure essential oils and natural botanicals.
• Amy Williams, health educator and consultant with Norwex International, will be offering information, resources, products and tools to assist people with making greener cleaning choices for the environment and their body.
• Metal worker Troy Kick will show a variety metal art for suitable for wall hanging, plant stands and other decor. His business, Kick's Kustom, fabricates metal art for home, office, cabin and lawn.
• The new 2013 Women's Artists Calendar, with art by local watercolor and pastel artist Dina Walker, will accompany her art, jewerlry and repurposed crafts.
• Cookies, muffins and other baked goods -- including gluten-free choices -- plus fair trade coffee and organic tea will be available from Ben Lehner from Circa Celeste Cafe. Orders for pies for Thanksgiving will also be taken; you may choose from pumpkin, apple, sweet potato and berry.
• Desktop altars, handmade jewelry, hand-crafted incense, Japanese knot bags, artwork and other handcrafted items will come from Sangha Root, sister company of the Original Root Zen Center. Also available will be the group's in-house publications from member authors.
• Cash-and-carry gift baskets, hand selected and filled to the brim with quality cookware and food items from The Pampered Chef, will be available from Renee Myron; visitors  also may view catalogs and sample items.
• Colorful hand-blown glass -- including vases, bowls, flowers, drinking glasses and small ornaments -- will be offered by Liza Putzi.
• Plush and crochet dolls and toys, created by local fiber artist Danielle Brandt of Dangoku,  plus selected children's illustrations will available for purchase.
• Gretchen Covelli will show and demonstrate products from Aihu, a company that sells organic, earth-friendly, animal and people-friendly cleansers, deodorants and toxic-free products.
• Wire-sculpted jewelry and natural soy candles in recycled glass containers will be offered by Melissa Kirkeby of Twisted Lion.
• Upcycled and eco-friendly handmade gifts and art -- including gourds, pillows, accessories and decor items -- will be shown by Anything's Possible.

In addition, visitors will have the opportunity to take a look at a full-spectrum light box. The box is a non-medication alternative to Seasonal Affective Disorder, sometimes known as “winter blues” or “winter depression” due to the lower level of sunlight in the winter.

Door prizes, refreshments and giveaways will add an extra bit of fun, and participants will have an opportunity to pick up a free copy of the 2011-12 Guide To Health, Wellness & Creative Living, the regional directory to health resources.

For more information on specific artisans and their wares, health professionals as well as directions, call (262) 633-2645 or join Lake House’s page on Facebook.

Thanksgiving and other holiday towels and stitched items will be shown by Virginia Nuorala.

Katie Hall photo; she is a professionally trained lifestyle photographerspecializing in children and family portraiture.



Arthur Shattuck, practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine, will offer gift certificates exotic healing teas and samples of green matcha tea.

Labyrinth Herbals: Soaps, lip balms, gift sets and other products created with essential oils and pure ingredients.

Muffins from Circa Celeste, among other baked goodies, will be for sale, along with Fair Trade coffee and organic teas.

Wild Root Market, Racine's co-operative grocery store project, will provide information and sell memberships.

Cookware and food items from The Pampered Chef make great gift ideas.

Handcrafted dolls  and toys created by Danielle Brandt of Dangoku.

Handblown glass by Lisa Putzi.

One of many styles of Troy Kick's metal art.

Sangha Root's pins and magnets offer a dash of humor at times, at others a bright splash of wabi sabi found awe!

Aihu products for people and pets are non-toxic and earth friendly.

The Naad, a CD of Kundalini Yoga chants by Joachim Mayer with Loriann Luxon, will be available for listening and sale.

Jewelry from Twisted Lion.

Percussion instruments from The Drum Hut.

Dina Walker's "Sidewalk Crack Art" calendar page from the 2013 Women Artists Datebook.