Makers of the Month

Co-founders Nate and Amy Stone, the innovators behind the concept were inspired by a desire to find a method to improve the world in real ways. It all started in 2019 with an event space called Cathedral. Their sole purpose for existence is to help others. They believe that people see our world's problems and have a desire to help but often don't know where to start. That's where businesses can jump in by giving people an option to do so. 

Cathedral works directly with young men moving through the juvenile justice system, as well as those incarcerated, homeless, or in foster care, and all profits from Cathedral are donated to various charities. Initially, these individuals would do odd jobs like cleaning and organizing in the event space to help prepare for scheduled events. 

During COVID, there were essentially no events for over a year, and they just wouldn’t accept that the partnerships that they had started with these young men in transition couldn’t continue, so like many, they pivoted, and Spír (pronounced like inspire) Candle Co. was born. Spír is the Latin word for breathe—something Spír hopes to help others do so more easily by providing jobs, mentorship, and a space to breathe for at-risk individuals. They learned how to make candles and started selling them in their markets and online. Initially, it went about as well as you’d expect it to. They were using forks for wick holders and spent a ton of time on YouTube trying to learn how to make the candles.  Then as Nate tells it, "we reached out to other candlemakers who graciously shared their knowledge despite us being potential competitors. It was really beautiful."

The initial release of their first two candle options sold over 200. It confirmed their fundamental belief that people want to help, and they simply need opportunities to do so. Spír candles have never been about a candle. In Nate's view "they’re about caring for people in meaningful ways and inviting others to do the same. We were confident that it was worth pursuing. The market for helping others is infinite."

You might be wondering how things are going. In June of last year, they hired Shane, their first full time candlemaker. He has been with Spír for three years, was released last June, and now oversees all candle production while mentoring the other young men they work with. Spír recently celebrated Shane's one-year anniversary in his new role AND one year out of the justice system.

By 2026 other milestones achieved by the group include working with 65 young men with periods of incarceration and recently surpassing 7,500 hours of paid employment to these young men. Nate adds, "What that looks like day to day is time to invest in and care for that community. It means walks on breaks to grab coffees for the team. It means birthday ice cream. It means hugs when our guys arrive and hugs when they leave. It means time we get to build and earn trust. Time to listen. Time to encourage. Time to care. That’s a lot of hours. We try to maximize them all."

THESE CANDLES HELP PEOPLE... When you purchase your candle from Spír Candle Co., you buy more than a candle. You’re investing in the young people they work with—so they can have the best opportunity to become who they aspire to be. All profits from Spír candle sales go back into the company to employ more young men.

"We believe doing something is better than nothing. In this case, that something is buying a candle."  Nate and Amy Stone

Melt-in-your-mouth truffles, wonderful chocolate bars, exquisite bonbons, and more are all created in small batches in Seattle by Dolcetta Artisan Sweets using only the finest ingredients. Founder and chief chocolatier Andrea Terrenzio blends premium, pure, and fresh ingredients such as Oregon hazelnuts, Bourbon vanilla beans, high-fat butter, and premium liqueurs with European couverture chocolates. For her 72% candied orange chocolate bars, she goes above and above by candying fresh orange peel.<br><br>

Born and raised in Seattle, Andrea was brought up on Mom's delicious homemade recipes, Dad's homegrown produce, and Grandma's scratch-made baked goods. Of all the culinary disciplines, baking has always been her love, and the kitchen has always been her "happy place". "Who wouldn’t want to be next to the oven on a gray Seattle day waiting for brownies to come out?" She started baking in coffee shops after college then eventually moved into restaurant pastry chef positions in a number of Seattle's favorite restaurants like Restaurant Zoe, Quinn’s, Rover’s and Campagne. "After 15 years in restaurants I wanted a different sort of challenge." Dolcetta was born in 2014 from her passion for chocolate and a desire to put her culinary skills to the test and do the most good. "I love creating, and specializing in chocolate allows me to be both chef and artist".  Her signature bon bons are indeed a work of art, Andrea individually airbrushes each bon bon mold with a coco butter "paint" that she blends and layers, adjusting the spraying distance for different effects and designs and adds some hand painted finishing touches like cherry stems. 

In Andrea's opinion, food has the ability to bring people together and promote healing in addition to being a basic need. Throughout her vast travels, she has witnessed firsthand the generosity of individuals who share their food, no matter how little they have.  

Everything is handmade in Seattle at Georgetown's Equinox Studios.  Dolcetta uses premium European chocolates that are non-GMO and Fair Trade and Andrea adds her own flavor, color combinations and artistic flare. Experience pure bliss with every bite of Dolecetta's chocolate creations.

Dolcetta is a Social Purpose Corporation . . . "I'm trying to use my powers for good and spread joy, what better way than with chocolate?"

Fred & Garlock, founded in 2021 by independent paper artist Corey Rose, is a woman-owned small business based on the outskirts of Mukilteo, Washington. As a native-born Washingtonian, Corey’s love for the Pacific Northwest deeply influences her 3D layered paper art. Many of the shadow boxes she crafts celebrate the region's wildlife, landscapes, and the quiet intricacies of nature. From the towering mountains to the vibrant wildlife, Corey brings the spirit of the PNW into homes, capturing its wonder through the delicate art of paper.

Corey’s journey with paper began in 2010 when she started scrapbooking and making invitations. It wasn’t until 2020 that she discovered the magic of layered paper art, a craft she instantly fell in love with. It was the process of working with paper that truly ignited her passion. With each design, she carefully curates layers of specialty papers, from linen textures and shimmers to foil and colorful patterns, to create depth and texture that transform simple paper into striking works of art. 

She uses multiple CNC machines to bring her art to life, allowing for precise and intricate designs. The machines handle about 85% of the work, with the remaining 15% of the process being completed by hand, using a precision craft knife to refine and perfect the details. Corey’s work has garnered recognition, being featured on the social media and websites of several 3D art designers, allowing her to stay current with trends while maintaining a timeless quality to her creations. 

The name "Fred & Garlock" is a tribute to Corey's childhood and the special bond she shared with her sister and her favorite uncle, who was also a dear father figure. He gave them the nicknames Fred and Garlock, and though both have passed, their memory lives on through the name of Corey's business. She chose this unique name because it holds personal significance and is something she knew no other business would have. She feels it’s a way to honor them every day through her work.

Beyond her passion for art, Corey is committed to sustainability and community. By embracing responsible stewardship, Corey ensures her creativity extends far beyond her studio, contributing to both the environment and the community. With each piece, Corey invites you to bring the beauty of the Pacific Northwest into your home while supporting a small, environmentally conscious business.

Long ago, far away, in a seascape of countless islands shrouded in mist and robed in dense forests, Raven’s Brew Coffee, Inc.® came into being. This place was the legendary Alexander Archipelago, also known as Southeast Alaska. The exact locale was the small and isolated town of Ketchikan, the rainiest inhabited place in North America. After putting roots down in Alaska in 1992, Raven’s Brew Coffee® opened their second roastery in Tumwater, Washington in 2002. They design these coffees for different occasions, different times of day, even different levels of caffeine content. They are designed, above all, to pander to the personality of the palate. There is simply, and properly, no accounting for taste, and they strive to present a panoply of offerings so that any individual can find the blend to synchronize with his or her tastes and ideas of how a coffee should Impress The Senses.

Presley B. is the Head Roaster at their Tumwater, Washington facility. She plays a crucial role within their Coffee Quality Group providing feedback and ideas for current and future coffees.  Her passion for coffee directly supports the mission of Raven's Brew Coffee to provide quality coffee and exceptional service. 

Meet Sarah Yaeger — watercolor artist & painter of the daily enchantment that is Pike Place Market.  Her creative force can be seen in the annual Pike Place Market calendar.  In 1971 she married abstract artist Michael Yaeger on the Capitoline Hill, in Rome. They traveled the French countryside that had so inspired her grandfather, C. Harry Allis (American, 1870–1938), a noted painter in the impressionist style. After moving to Spain, Sarah & Michael opened "Studio Solstone" in a 17th-century house in Altea, on the Costa Blanca.

In 1975, for her series documenting Spanish Villages in watercolor, a top Spanish art critic dubbed her and her husband "Los cognoscenti de Espana antigua" (the experts of Classic Spain).  The Yaegers left Europe in 1979 for Seattle & started their studio on Bainbridge Island. Michael Yaeger, the “honorary mayor” of Pike Place Market passed away in 2016, but their tradition producing "WATERCOLORS FRESH DAILY" ® continues.  Sarah can be found at Pike Place market regularly, Studio Solstone Ltd. is in the Atrium of Seattle's Pike Place Market (behind DeLaurentis, and to the left of Pike Place Fish).

Newest calendar is usually available sometime in August.

Mickey Blake was born in Oregon and raised between Palmer, Alaska, and Portland. After working in biomedical research at Oregon Health Sciences University, Mickey chose to follow her twin sister to Washington rather than attend medical school. Before fully committing to entrepreneurship, she worked for a biotechnology company with offices in London, Boston, Germany, and Australia, and her career was deeply involved in developing green alternatives—she even had the opportunity to visit the White House due to her efforts in eco-friendly plastic alternatives for biomedical labs.

Today, she is the Founder and Artist at Moné Design Studio, which she established during the COVID-19 pandemic after inventing Haenna, a biodegradable design medium for cut flowers and plants. Her journey into 3D printing began by accident when the containers she needed were unavailable due to COVID supply chain disruptions.

Mickey's process effectively reduces the ecological footprint by choosing renewable, compostable, and biodegradable materials. Using 3D printing has provided her with a tool for limitless creativity and a way to work with durable, plant-based materials made from corn, algae, wood, and clay.

Each piece is intentionally crafted to reflect these sustainable practices. Through her work, Mickey also educates customers on the importance of sustainability in design.

Seattle Chocolate has become known for delivering smooth, all-natural satisfaction with every bite. That’s because owner and CEO Jean Thompson understands that chocolate is more than an exquisite treat. It is also a way to connect, a gift, a salve. It’s one of life’s fabulous little pleasures.  So Jean and her team fuss over the details of sourcing the most flavorful, responsibly grown and produced chocolate. And of course, they make sure their chocolate is always stylish and gift-worthy, even if it’s only for you.

Jean and her Seattle Chocolate team believe that food connects us all, and are dedicated to donating their time and resources to nonprofit groups that fight to abolish hunger.

============

In 2025 Seattle Chocolate's Mother-Daughter duo (Jean & Ellie) rebranded and introduced a new chocolate line called MAEVE. 

Maeve Chocolate has been creating their signature melt-in-your-mouth truffle bars and bonbons since 1991. When the original chocolate factory was destroyed by the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake, Jean Thompson, entrepreneur, mother, and investor, took the reins. Since then, Maeve’s products have only gotten more innovative, more sustainable, more colorful, and even more delicious.

The road to becoming Maeve began as a conversation between Jean and her daughter, Ellie Thompson. Ellie essentially grew up in the Seattle Chocolate factory and officially joined the company in 2019, now working as the company’s Brand Manager. Maeve (named after a fiery first-century Irish warrior queen) is an uncompromising combination of ethics, substance, taste, and fun. The brand is carbon neutral, uses ethically sourced cocoa, and gives 10% of net profits to fund projects helping cocoa farmers.  Take a bite and let your treat flag fly!

Taste the new world of MAEVE - it's only just begun.  Discover fun, inventive flavors by MAEVE giving customers nationwide an ethical, delicious choice when buying chocolate.  

• Proud to be a women-owned company.
• Carbon Neutral
• Woman Owned
• Ethically Sourced