Did you know that Alexa Lemley, Executive Chef of Lemleys' Catering is the only Indiana Artisan in Bartholomew County? Only 17% of the applicants have been accepted into this juried program that includes the best of the best in hand-crafted arts. Earlier this year, they accepted her 240SWEET Artisan Marshmallows to represent Indiana as one of the best of the best.

Here's what Indiana Artisan has to say about their program:


Indiana Artisan is craftsmanship. It is fine oils and wines, handmade soaps and hand-turned bowls. It is Lake Michigan artists and Ohio River Valley craftsmen, popcorn growers near the Old National Road and chocolatiers of perfection. Indiana Artisan is the state's best craftspeople - from specialty cheese makers to specialty jewelry makers and from the hands of careful beekeepers to those of caring weavers. Indiana's heritage in glass, musical instruments, stoneware, woodwork, candies, brandies and more is defined through Indiana Artisan.

This collaborative program brings together Indiana's talented Artisans' one-of-a-kind art and food creations - in stores and on trails crisscrossing the state. Their select work enriches the lives of Hoosiers and visitors. Shop for the perfect piece of local art. Stop to savor a fresh slice of homemade pie. Visit a potter's studio and see a masterpiece created. Meet the artisans and share their stories. Your experience will be as valuable and unique as the art or food itself.

Indiana is home to hundreds of talented artisans and boasts a variety of unique handmade products. - Lt. Governor Becky Skillman

Please visit www.indianaartisan.org to learn more about Indiana Artisan.

Lemleys' 2009 Holiday Feast!

Chef Alexa is Artist in Residence at ISM

Marshmallows: Artist in Residence
At Indiana State Museum
Indiana is home to hundreds of talented artisans and boasts a variety of unique handmade products. - Lt. Governor Becky Skillman


INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Handmade marshmallows will be featured at the Indiana State Museum this October, as part of the Artist in Residence program. This program highlights unique and locally-crafted products. Each month one artist is chosen to exhibit their work, do demonstrations and teach visitors about the process in which artists create their uniquely different types of work. The demonstrations are held two days a month, usually on Saturdays.

Each chosen artist has been juried into Indiana Artisan, which has a strong partnership with the Indiana State Museum. Indiana Artisan is a joint venture of the Indiana Office of Tourism Development, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, the Indiana Arts Commission and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. Indiana Artisan was set up to support artisans and helps provide them with networking opportunities and entrepreneurial development, as well as raise awareness of Indiana’s diverse offerings of fine craftsmanship.

October’s Artist in Residence is Alexa Lemley, Executive Chef for Lemleys’ Catering and 240SWEET. Lemley grew up in the family catering business, becoming Executive Chef in 2001. She is known for her creativity in combining unique ingredients to create delicious flavors. The museum is featuring her 240SWEET Artisan Marshmallows in the Indiana Store. Marshmallow making demonstrations will be held at the museum on October 3 and 17th. Artisan marshmallows can be found online at http://www.240sweet.com/