By Sarah Koehler, SØSTRE SELF®
For the past four winters, Christkindlmarkt was something I looked forward to all year. To me, it’s quintessential Door County, because of all the beautiful local vendors, the volunteers who make it happen, the music that drifts in and out of the cabins and tents, and the sense of community you feel the moment you arrive. I was a vendor in one of the market’s charming historic cabins, and every year I took my time decorating it, filling it with little touches I hoped would make people feel a bit of magic the moment they stepped inside. I love the glow of the lights in the evenings, the smell of warm Glühwein, and the familiar faces who come back year after year. To this day, people come into my shop and tell me they first found me at Christkindlmarkt. So when I was asked to design this year’s mug, it felt like a full-circle moment, and a chance to give something back to a market that has given me so much.
I knew I wanted the mug to feel whimsical, and I had imagined my owl in the design from the very beginning. To give him a little more holiday charm, I tucked him into a cozy red hat and set him under a snowy, star-filled sky. Behind him are old barns strung with glowing lights, inspired by the Historical Society’s buildings at Corner of the Past. Turn the mug around and you’ll find him again, this time from behind, as if he’s looking out over the market. For some young energy, a baby owl in red earmuffs peeks out from a wreath of colorful lights inside the mug, a little surprise waiting for you as you sip. I wanted it all to carry a sense of joy, something sweet and lighthearted to match the spirit of the market. The traditional Glühwein mug is meant to be held with both hands on a cold night. My hope is that it becomes a keepsake you pull out every December, and that it brings back the warmth of this year’s market each time you do.
The illustration comes from the same place as all of my artwork. I paint under the name nearwater art by Sarah Koehler, and my work is whimsical and rooted in nature, especially the birds, water, and quiet corners that make Door County feel like home. I paint to slow down, and I hope my work invites others to do the same.
SØSTRE SELF® is my natural skincare line, and in many ways it’s where all of this began. I had been making skincare for years before I finally turned it into a business and began selling online in 2021, and I still make every product myself, by hand, in small batches. SØSTRE means “sisters” in Norwegian. The name is about women who love and support one another, and it’s also a reminder to give ourselves that same love and care. That’s really what my skincare is about: a few quiet minutes each day to slow down and be good to yourself.
This year, SØSTRE found a permanent home in a little white cottage at 9922 Water Street in Ephraim. It’s a calm, cozy space filled with my skincare and artwork, natural textiles, handmade watercolors, and thoughtful pieces from other small makers, many of them women-owned. After a few weeks of bringing a little Christmas magic to the shop, we’ll reopen on Saturday, November 28, with special holiday hours from 11 AM to 3 PM on select days through January 2. You can find the full schedule at sostreself.com and on Instagram at @sostreself.
Most of all, I’m grateful. Christkindlmarkt is the Sister Bay Historical Society’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and it means a great deal to me to help support the work they do to preserve our history. I hope you’ll lift a mug of Glühwein or hot chocolate, enjoy every corner of the market, and carry a little of its warmth home with you.
Take care of you for me.
Sarah
