Arden Coutts- All-around Dreamer with a Passion for Storytelling

🌞 Meet the Maker: Arden Coutts of Handmade in the Sandhills

Where storytelling meets sparkle

The heart behind Handmade in the Sandhills is none other than Arden Coutts — writer, artist, suncatcher creator, and community builder. Arden is the founder of this growing rural maker collective, and the creative force behind many of the sparkling sun-catching pieces you’ll find hanging in windows all across the Sandhills and beyond.

✍️ From Stories on the Page to Stories in Glass

Arden is a lifelong creative — a writer of queer fiction, an organizer of writing retreats, and someone who finds joy in helping others feel seen and celebrated. Their love of storytelling naturally flows into every handmade piece they create, with each suncatcher reflecting mood, memory, and meaning.

“I love watching the light move through each piece — it feels like magic.”

That magic comes to life in the suncatchers Arden handcrafts using wire, vintage charms, and beads in earthy tones and soft pastels. No two are ever the same.

🧵 Building a Creative Life in the Sandhills

After living and working in cities across the U.S., Arden returned to their hometown in rural Nebraska to plant new creative roots — this time surrounded by community, craft, and connection. Handmade in the Sandhills was born from that desire: to spotlight rural makers, share stories, and create something lasting.

When they’re not writing, editing, or crafting with beads and wire, you’ll find Arden organizing markets, promoting other artists, and making sure everything from the website to launch parties runs smoothly (with a lot of coffee in hand).

✨ Creating Light and Connection

At the heart of Arden’s work — whether it’s a novel or a handmade suncatcher — is the desire to help others feel something meaningful.

“Everything I make or build, I want it to feel like warmth — like a little light catching your eye on a cloudy day.”

With deep roots in Nebraska and a big vision for the future, Arden continues to grow Handmade in the Sandhills one connection at a time — and we’re all lucky to be along for the ride.