The Celebrating the Knot  art exhibit came about as the by product of an artists date. Hi, my name is Barb Kronau-Sorensen. I am an artist I take myself on a play date once a week to explore the world. One day in November, I was in Wauconda, IL exploring some of the boutique shops and venues. I went into a new little Italian Bakery named "Lots-a-Knots Italian Bakery and Cafe.". I ordered a tea and spoke briefly with the owner Jacobbe. they just had their first year anniversary for being in business and it was a bit slow. I asked if her woul be open to dislplaying some of the artwork from teh artists I work with. I knew alot of my artist friends had taken quite a beating during COVID and were a bit shy about putting their works out to the public again. I was hoping for a small friendly place where they could show their art and not be pressured to sell.  Jacobbe was interested and asked if I would consider having a weekly mini pop-up style art exhibit featuring a different artists each Tuesday and Wednesday in January and February when the businessesd in town typically experience a slow turn in business. I pindered on it for a moment and realized that yes, I know enough original local area artists willing to display there.  So I began the process of piecing the exhibit's dates together and contacting the artists and putting the word out.  We had a great time with this and hope you all enjoyed viewing the many different artists's works. Thank you for your kindness and patience with our sometimes imperfect process Jacobbe. We appreciate it. 

After this series of displays ended, I decided to continue finding other venues who might also be interested in bringing a knot featured live art display to their spaces. If you are interested in bringing it to your venue, please call me , Barb Sorensen at 224-901-2679 or email me at emcybiz@gmail.com

What: during the months of January and February of 2025 at the Lots-a-Knots Italian Bakery and Cafe in Wauconda, IL. 
          The Cafe will be serving delicious specialty Italian knots made from authentic traditional recipes, and also presenting a curated set of 16 local area artist's fine art work in popup style art exhibits.

The exhibits are open to viewing between 12pm and 3pm each Tuesday and Wednesday 

starting on January 7th and running through February 26th.

The Lots-a-Knots Italian Bakery and Cafe is located at:    106 N Main St, Wauconda, IL 60084

For more information about the Lots-a-Knots Italian Bakery and Cafe, please visit their website at : https://lotsaknotsitalianbakery.com/

Free street parking

Family-friendly

Featured Artists Include:

February 26 - Wrapped & Knotted Jewelry - Benz Zala Knotted Jewelry... not just tying wires around rocks.. but intricate woven and wound, looped and knotted wires around precious stones. Come enjoy viewing the fine-art of knots in jewelry making  by Benz Zala. An award winning young artist out of Arlington Heights.

For more information about Benz Zala and his jewelry, please visit his instagram page at @transcendence_by_benz

February 25 - Knotted Updos - Cappelli Hair Salon Academy...Cappelli's Hair Salon of Arlington Heights, IL celebrates the knot with us by showcasoing some of their students beautiful updos and a live demonstration. We invite you to come by and explore the fine-art of hair updos and how to braid, and make fun updos with knots, weavings etc..

For more information about Capelli's Salon please visit their website at:  https://www.capellisalonacademy.com/

February 19 -  Knotted Music by Barb Kronau-Sorensen...bring your curiosity and write your name on teh music staff. Barb will translate it on the recorder, guitar or xylophone. See what you name sounds like in music. Take the copy home and frame it on your fridge!

For more information about Barb Sorensen please visit her website at https://tinyurl.com/Barb-Sorensen

February 18 - Untangling Messy Knotted Relationships, how to "Tie The Knot" with Marriage, or how to un-Knot your stomache from stress etc..Mike Siri  Dir. of The Wauconda Relationship Center... February 14th is Valentine's day, Mike Siri of the the Relationship Center of Wauconda will be on hand for live mini samples of fun ideas, information for all those looking for help in saving their "knotted messes of relationships, and also for those looking for support in "tying the knot" in their relationships.  Or if you just want some guidance on unknotting your body from too much stress and anxiety. Mike will be on hand to answer all questions.
For more information about the Wauconda Relationship Center please visit their website at https://www.therelationshipcenter.org/ 

February 5 -  Knotted Music by Barb Kronau-Sorensen...When you write your signature or draw a picture, there are points where the lines cross and become entangled or swirl in new directions. Just like knots. Want to hear what your name sounds like in music? Come by and draw a picture or write your name and Barb will put together the knotted points onto a scale and play it for you on her guitar. Yes, you can record your song on your camera  as she plays it.
For more information about Barb Sorensen please visit her website at https://tinyurl.com/Barb-Sorensen

February 4 -  Knotted Music by Barb Kronau-Sorensen...When you write your signature or draw a picture, there are points where the lines cross and become entangled or swirl in new directions. Just like knots. Want to hear what your name sounds like in music? Come by and draw a picture or write your name and Barb will put together the knotted points onto a scale and play it for you on her guitar. Yes, you can record your song on your camera  as she plays it.
For more information about Barb Sorensen please visit her website at https://tinyurl.com/Barb-Sorensen

January 29 - Ruth Raubertus - Remembering the The Celtic "Knot" - via Celtic Harp...highlighting the "Celtic knot" - enjoy live Celtic harp  music and original music by nationally known harpist Ruth Raubertus.

Ruth is an award winning harpist, composer, author and singer/songwriter.

For more information about artist Ruth Raubertus please visti her website at https://tinyurl.com/ruthraubertus 

January 28 - Magic Knots - Learn some tricky magic knot tricks ...Try your hand and learn some cool knot magic tricks.

January 22 -  Knotted Music by Barb Kronau-Sorensen...When you write your signature or draw a picture, there are points where the lines cross and become entangled or swirl in new directions. Just like knots. Want to hear what your name sounds like in music? Come by and draw a picture or write your name and Barb will put together the knotted points onto a scale and play it for you on her guitar. Yes, you can record your song on your camera  as she plays it.
For more information about Barb Sorensen please visit her website at https://tinyurl.com/Barb-Sorensen

January 21 -  Knotted Music by Barb Kronau-Sorensen...When you write your signature or draw a picture, there are points where the lines cross and become entangled or swirl in new directions. Just like knots. Want to hear what your name sounds like in music? Come by and draw a picture or write your name and Barb will put together the knotted points onto a scale and play it for you on her guitar. Yes, you can record your song on your camera  as she plays it.
For more information about Barb Sorensen please visit her website at https://tinyurl.com/Barb-Sorensen

January 15 - Michiko Nakamichi - Knotted & Folded Paper - also known as Origami ...Come anjoy an authentic traditional art form out of japan. Origami!  Folding and knotting paper into beautiful shapes and figures. Mitchiko is a native to Japan and visiting the states. This former hockey player will be demonstrating this traditional art form with live paper folding and knotting demonstration at the cafe.

January 14 - All the knots you need - Try your hand at it...Try your hand at tying a variety of knots. Rope/String and instructions provided. PLease come by and browse how to create your favorite knot or a new one. W love knots at the LotsaKnots Cafe. We also sell the best Italian Knots from our grandmothers recipe from Italy. We look forward to seeing you soon. 

January 8 - Lovable balls of knots - Crocheted Gnomes by Wanda...Enjoy the hand crocheted one-of-a-kind world-renown lovable balls of knotted yarn - Gnomes created by artist Wanda H LaVan of Buffalo Grove, IL.

“My girlfriend showed me how to crochet. I learn visually much better than trying to master written instructions.  I didn't attempt to master instructions until I'd been crocheting for about ten years. One summer I started crocheting sweaters and couldn't stop!!! So everyone got one for Christmas. These past few years have been the "season of the gnome". Their personalities are jumping around my home. They bring light and fun. Thank you for coming to see them. I hope you enjoy yourself. Wanda"

Wanda's gnomes have loving owners round the world. From Japan to France  these Gnomes have found their way into the hands of children, adults, and various spots in their homes. 

For more information about the Gnomes or artist Wanda H LaVan, please visit the website at: https://tinyurl.com/gnomesbywanda

January 7 - Cayleigh Holland Pyrography on wood knotted or not...A curated popup art exhibit featuring hand illustrated and hand burned pyrography by artist Cayleigh Holland.

Cayleigh Holland is a pyrography artist who creates woods burns of her original artwork. She focuses on capturing the beauty of mother nature and all of the majestic animals. The canvases she uses are basswood and birch tree slices with or without knots, and a fungus called Ganoderma applanatum “artist conks”. This type of mushroom grows on trees and preserves itself thereby making it possible for Cayleigh to create her pyrography art onto them. Cayleigh uses a pyrography (wood burning) tool to free burn from her imagination. The results are visions of what the trees might see that humans miss when they are not out in the wilderness.

For more information about artist Cayleigh Holland and her art work, please visit her website at: https://www.ironwolfcustoms.com