Montana native brings creative twist to new handmade business
Nov. 30, 2023
When the COVID pandemic meant Athena Wood couldn’t visit her mom on Mother’s Day, she decided to throw a party.
She sent her mother everything that was needed for a tea party, calling it a “quaran-tea kit.” She duplicated it for a friend’s mom.
Their reactions — and her own happiness at putting her creativity to work — led her to start a business offering similar whimsical handmade paper treasures and gifts. Wood named it Mercantile Mythologique, and her creations will be available at Saturday’s 605 Made Holiday Market.
“I knew that I didn’t want to just do business under my name; that never interested me,” Wood said. “I talked with my friends about it — they kind of know me and had the right feeling for my personal interests, who I am. “Mercantile” is an old-timey store. “Mythologique” makes me feel fancy, and it’s also mythological because my name is Athena. There’s not a specific meaning, but it feels right.”
Wood, who grew up in Montana, moved to Sioux Falls about three years ago. She works from home, allowing her to move seamlessly from her job as a medical coder to the crafting she has enjoyed since childhood.
She offers gift boxes designed to resemble baseball caps that can be filled with goodies to match the recipient’s personal preference. For her father, she filled it with coffee samplers but envisions them customized with treats as varied as Snickers bars or beef jerky. While the items for the holiday market will focus on Christmas themes, Wood envisions the baseball caps becoming the Father’s Day version of her Mother’s Day tea party.
“There’s a real joy in making something specifically for a person,” Wood said. “My niece loves leopard print and Whoppers, so I made a leopard-print teacup filled with Whoppers. I love the customization.”
Mercantile Mythologique will feature hot chocolate kits and unique framed flowering trees. Wood makes the trees using the die-cutting method. She describes the set of dies as a “cookie cutter for paper.” Wood chooses the colors for the whimsical trees, then adds embellishments such as sparkling gems for the blossoms’ center.
Mercantile Mythologique also will offer miniatures. Wood likes to craft tiny objects, and she has created what she calls “mini snow village houses” that resemble the much larger holiday decorations often seen on shelves and end tables this time of year.
“They’re 100 percent my original design,” Wood said “I was inspired by my mother. I’m planning on offering an entire village with multiple houses, and I’m hoping to have multiple styles, like traditional, gingerbread and a Halloween set.”
The wee houses are made of paperboard, a paper stock with a thickness between paper and cardboard. The frames and windowsills are cut out of wooden veneer, and Wood uses actual sticks to make tiny wood piles. She glues sand-like stones onto the houses for a rustic appearance.
Her current emphasis is on the snow village houses and offering more items that appeal to male recipients or are more neutral.
“I always have ideas in my head, but those are the main focus right now,” she said.
This is Wood’s first year participating in the 605 Made Holiday Market. Last year, she just missed the deadline. Disappointed then, she now views it as a learning opportunity.
“I want to see my stuff out there; that’s so cool to me,” Wood said. “And I want to see what other people have made. I’m interested in the feedback I get.”
The 605 Made Holiday Market will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the lower-level parking ramp of the original Cherapa Place office building in downtown Sioux Falls. Items will be sold as one cohesive pop-up shop.
605 Made is co-organized by Knotty Gnome Variety & Salvage and SiouxFalls.Business. The First National Bank in Sioux Falls and Pomegranate Market are the sponsors.
For a full vendor guide, click below.
