About Sacred Anchor Artisans
Anchored in Faith. Carried by Beauty.
Sacred Anchor Artisans is a cooperative of Catholic makers whose work travels to conferences and events across the U.S. We represent over 50 artists — offering everything from handcrafted jewelry and fine art prints to small gifts and meaningful keepsakes. We like to call ourselves the “traveling Catholic gift shop,” with something for every heart and every budget.
Founded by Tim and Molly Olsen of East Peoria, Illinois, Sacred Anchor was born from a desire to serve Catholic artists who might otherwise be limited to Etsy listings or occasional pop–up markets. We bring their work to places they often can’t go themselves — helping sacred art find its way into everyday homes, hearts, and conversations.
Why Sacred Anchor?
The name comes from a Marian shrine in the front room of the Olsens’ home, dedicated in the Schoenstatt tradition as a place of grace in the midst of family life. Their “Anchor of the Soul” home shrine reflects the family’s charism — that faith is a steady, grounding force in a storm-tossed world.
Sacred Anchor is an extension of that spiritual mission:
To create space for beauty, offer meaningful gifts, and encourage Catholic families to build homes centered on Him.
A Mission Made Real
At the 2024 Good News Conference, Sacred Anchor came to life. People of all ages gathered around our booth, slowly choosing just the right thing to remember the experience. A college student stretching $20. A couple bringing home a handcrafted crucifix.
But one moment sealed it all.
A man stood quietly in front of a print — one created by our first artist, Amber Knorr. He began to tear up. The artwork spoke deeply to an intention on his heart. He bought it with quiet reverence and planned exactly where it would hang in his home. Later, Molly texted Amber to share the story.
That print didn’t just decorate a wall — it became a vessel of grace. And it confirmed for us that this work is worth doing.
Meet the Olsens
We’re Tim and Molly Olsen, and we live in Peoria, IL with our six kids, three dogs, one tortoise, and a whole lot of honey bees. Our life is a mix of joyful chaos, deep faith, and a desire to build something beautiful.
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Tim is a convert from agnosticism with a deep devotion to God’s fatherly love and childlike trust. He owns XNAT Works, a software company that supports brain imaging research.
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Molly is a homemaker and co-owner of a local food company. She comes from a long line of Catholic artists — including family members who’ve worked on Church art across the globe (even the Sistine Chapel!).
Our daughters run their own art businesses, and our younger kids sometimes sell their creations at events too. Sacred Anchor Artisans began as a simple family effort to take their work beyond the local craft fair — and has become something far more meaningful.
We love our home diocese, the people we serve, and the Church we belong to. In everything we do, we seek to support artists, religious sisters, priests, and all those dedicating their lives to Christ.
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