Shopping in Sayner: A Northwoods Gift Guide

By Traveling Tayna.

(This piece was originally posted on Traveling Tanya’s website and can be accessed here.)

After numerous trips to Sayner, Wisconsin spanning nearly five decades, I’ve gotten to know this section of the Northwoods pretty well. Time Up North means creating memories with my family, sitting around a cozy fire, making smores, hiking…and shopping!

I love browsing (and buying) unique gifts and souvenirs that remind me of Northern Wisconsin. On my recent trip, I popped into three unique stores and did some shopping in Sayner.

For those who may not be familiar with this neck of the woods, Sayner is located in Vilas County, which is in North Central Wisconsin. Sayner is only thirty minutes or so from Michigan’s Upper Pennisula.

Things tend to move a bit slower in this region, making it a great destination to unplug, relax, and re-energize. For me, that includes strolling through quaint shops, browsing unique items, and chatting with local shop owners.

A visit to Sayner isn’t complete without popping in to see Helen at Cre-ate! While Helen’s shop isn’t large, it is packed full of quality Northwoods items and handcrafted creations from local artisans.

Cre-ate carries a nice selection of Stormy Kromer clothing and accessories, perfect for those cold Northwoods winters.

Locals and visitors alike love to show off their Wisconsin pride by identifying their favorite lake. (My parents’ cabin is on Plum Lake, so I’m a bit biased!) And those who enjoy camping want to make it known where they prefer to pitch their tent or park their RV.

Cre-ate makes advertising your favorite Northwoods spots easy with hats, t-shirts, hoodies, and more…all sporting designs for the local lakes and campgrounds.

If you need souvenirs for your littlest travelers or the tiny tots back at home, Cre-ate also has you covered.

Check out their kid’s section for a Northwoods book, stuffed animal, or pee-wee-size clothing.

My daughter is no longer shopping in the kid’s section, but as a teenager, she loves the Lazy One brand.

Cre-ate has a nice selection of these “punny” PJs, undies, and more that will keep you warm and make you laugh at the same time.

Cre-ate also offers plenty of one-of-a-kind creations from talented local crafters. Each time I pop in the shop there are new treasures to admire!

On my first visit to Cre-ate, shortly after it opened, I purchased a Lost Lake Beads bracelet, and I wear it all the time.

This time I was smitten with this adorable Northwoods gnome! Stuffed animals are for adults too, especially when they are this cute!!

The framed art using various mediums also caught my eye and further reinforced the fact that there are some extremely talented artisans living Up North.

Of course, I couldn’t leave Cre-ate without buying my own reminder of the Northwoods.

So don’t be surprised if you see me sporting this Up North sweatshirt as I’m traveling about this winter. I’d love to stop and chat about my love for northern Wisconsin!

Just a little bit down the road you can venture into another terrific shop, Traditions. This upscale Northwoods gift shop has several rooms stocked with amazing displays of home decor, specialty gifts, and so much more.

At Traditions, you can find beautiful bedcoverings and plenty of stylish knick-knacks to make your own home feel a bit more homey.

Don’t miss the room in the back that often has fabulous seasonal displays and must-have holiday decor to brighten up every season.

Quickly spruce up your seasonal decor with some of these festive pillows from Traditions.

Traditions is also the perfect shop to find gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list.

From jewelry to stylish gloves to scarves and wraps and more, you can check plenty of items off your gift list in one fun-filled shopping trip!

And don’t forget to pick up a couple of dip mixes so you will be ready to host visitors at your cabin or be prepared for your next holiday party.

You can find plenty of great gifts at Traditions, but treat yourself too and pick up something fabulous just for you!

While I do consider myself to be a bit crafty, quilting is not one of the hobbies I have attempted…yet.

Anyone who is an aspiring or expert quilter (or anywhere in between) needs to make a beeline for Plum Lake Quilts.

Whether you are looking for bolts of quality fabrics for your latest quilting creation or you need the tiniest piece of just the right material, you will likely find it here.

If you aren’t quite ready to make a full quilt there is plenty of inspiration around the shop for smaller creations you can tackle. The shop stocks tons of kits with all the materials and instructions to make your next handmade masterpiece.

There are projects to keep you crafting and quilting for every holiday and through all the seasons.

Need a new seasonal pillow or a personalized Christmas stocking for the newest member of the family? Pick up a kit from Plum Lake Quilts and start creating an heirloom that will be cherished for years to come.

Plum Lake Quilts also hosts classes for those who fancy a bit of quilting instruction.

They even offer space for crafters to take part in open sewing sessions every Wednesday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. This is a great opportunity to spend time working on your latest project as you enjoy the company of other crafty individuals.

Lounging in front of a cozy fireplace while working on a quilting project sounds like a pretty fabulous idea. I may take up quilting yet!

My recent trip to Sayner was in mid-October and not all shops stay open year-round. If you find yourself in the Sayner Star Lake area from late spring through early fall, then you also need to check out Pastimes and the Old Schoolhouse Gallery.