Farmers' markets are a favorite haunt of shoppers out to find something unique, like a colorful and creative handmade shadow box by Cardann and Co.

"I love farmers' markets," Cardann and Co. owner and paper artist Debi Waters said during an April 2 interview. "It's one of my favorite things to do."

Waters makes vivid, multi-layered shadow boxes, bookmarks, greeting cards and stickers as well as whimsical tote bags. She is new to North Idaho, but no stranger to the farmers' market scene. She has been active with farmers' markets for about five years.

"I do very well there," Waters said. "My products make excellent gifts."

This season will be her first participating in the Fifth Street Farmers Market in downtown Coeur d'Alene, which opens May 27.

The paper artist said her handmade cards are top sellers, as well as her "Mountain Stream" shadow box.

Turning a hobby into a small business has allowed for a comfortable life. Waters began toying with paper crafts when she was staying at home to be near her daughter, who has a disability.

"I did the crafting to have an outlet," Waters said.

She said Cardann and Co. pays for her health insurance while her husband's pension covers their lifestyle. Being a small business owner gets her out of the house, which is a plus.

"I love being around other people and getting to talk to them about crafting," Waters said.

She said she enjoys farmers' markets because while vendors and artisans are often at the same booths throughout a season, the people range from familiar regulars to first-time market visitors.

"You see a lot of repeat customers and you have a unique community among the market managers," Waters said. "You develop this family when you’re there. It's just a really cool experience."

Waters said she has considered expanding the business.

"I would say in the back of my mind I've thought about other things like teaching classes," she said. "I’d thought about trying a different frame, I do magnets, I do ornaments at holidays."

Lyndsey Neufeld will also be participating in the Fifth Street Farmers Market this season with her small sourdough business, Dat Bread Dough. Neufeld celebrated three years of her business April 20.

Neufeld mainly operates out of her home as a "cottage food" producer. She is unable to work full time, as she cares for her son who has autism.

"This is what I started to be home with him," Neufeld said.

Her first goal was to provide her son with food that doesn't have preservatives.

"The high-inflammatory foods activate behaviors," Neufeld said. "This is where it all started, me wanting to make healthy foods for him."

According to Panhandle Health District, cottage foods are "foods made in a person's home or other designated location and sold directly to a consumer." They're defined in the Idaho Food Code as non-time/temperature control for safety foods, such as fruit jams and jellies, honey, fruit pies and breads, cakes, pastries, candies, cookies and confections that do not require refrigeration. They also include dried fruits, dry herbs, dry seasonings and mixtures, cereals, trail mixes and granola, nuts, vinegar and flavored vinegars, popcorn and popcorn balls or tinctures that do not make medicinal claims.

Among Neufeld's most sought-after inventory items are the classic artisan loaf, the three-ingredient sandwich loaf, jalapeño cheddar loaf, cookies, pizza dough and cinnamon rolls.

"It is all sourdough, all the time," she said. "Everything is made with active starter for gut health, not discarded, and I always use organic unbleached flour. Providing a wholesome, nourishing product for our community is extremely important to me."

It takes three full days to prepare for markets. Day one: Shop, plan, measure ingredients, prepare sweet treats. Day two: Mix and bulk ferment dough, shape loaves and refrigerate for cold fermentation. Day three: Bake, cool, package, label and organize for porch pickup.

Dat Bread Dough is a happy farmers' market participant.

"Local farmers markets' are one of my favorite parts of this business," Neufeld said. "It is so fun to meet customers in person, build relationships and connect with our community face to face."

The artisan and sandwich loaves are popular at farmers' markets, as are the ready-to-eat cinnamon rolls and cookies.

"It is a labor of love, but I sure do love doing it," Neufeld said.

Each loaf or treat is her own tiny missionary, a way to bring a little hope into a dark world. Every item includes a gospel sticker that says, "You are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, through Christ alone."

"I share this because I too have walked through a dark place in my life and needed Jesus, who saved me," Neufeld said. "It is my way of offering hope, love and encouragement along with my bread."

Income from Dat Bread Dough helps the Neufeld household with grocery and gas expenses.

"It pays for itself and contributes in meaningful ways," Neufeld said.

She said she and husband Kyle would like to grow the business so they can operate it together, with an ultimate goal of expanding beyond the home and market scene.

"We would love to find a commercial kitchen to operate under and grow into a larger operation," Lyndsey said. "That would allow us to increase production, pursue retail opportunities and get our bread on shelves in local grocery stores."

Dat Bread Dough is available through hotplate.com, which is helping to further the business' reach. It keeps everything streamlined and professional, Lyndsey said.

"Customers can sign up for notifications and are alerted when a bake is posted," she said. "They choose their pickup time, place their order and receive reminder notifications 24 hours before pickup and again two hours before. It has helped tremendously with organization, communication and growing my customer base in a manageable way."

    Cardann and Co. owner Debi Waters of Hayden is a paper artist whose works include shadow boxes, bookmarks, greeting cards and tote bags.
  

    "Mountain Stream" is one of the best-selling designs of Cardann and Co., owned by paper artist and artisan Debi Waters.
  

    Lyndsey Neufeld "loaves" being the owner and operator of a small local sourdough business, Dat Bread Dough.
  

    Artisan sourdough loaves crafted by Lyndsey Neufeld of Dat Bread Dough are highly sought after by farmers' market patrons. "It genuinely warms my heart to see people smile, do a little happy dance and start talking with each other about what they are going to make with their bread," Neufeld said. "I truly have the best customers anyone could ask for. That sense of community is what keeps me going."
  

    Lyndsey and Kyle Neufeld at their Dat Bread Dough booth at a local farmers' market, where customers snap up treats such as cinnamon rolls and cookies.