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Posts Tagged ‘shop local’
Christie Larson has found joy again. The glass mosaic artist, who opened Finding Joy in Excelsior just this past January, is opening a second Finding Joy today in Chanhassen. The new store, in Market Square Shopping Center (near Cub Foods), will feature the works of more than 60 local artists–most of whom live within 20 miles of the store. Find jewelry, pottery, glass, woodworking, baby gifts and more, priced from $2 to $300. Larson plans to host classes, art demos and kid craft activities at the store. “There’s so much joy to be found in art,” says Larson, “And even more if you know that the artists are, in essence, your neighbors.” Grand opening festivities today, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. will include refreshments, drawings, artist visits and children’s activities. 7838 Market Blvd., Chanhassen, 612-250-7286
Tags: Chanhassen, Finding Joy, Minnesota artists, shop local
Posted in Gifts & Cool Stuff, Twin Cities retail, store openings | No Comments »
Maiden Minnesota – the can’t miss local shopping event that kicks off the holiday season – is now taking applications for this year’s event on Nov. 3 at the Graves 601 Hotel. Yes, you do have to pay to apply and to participate, but it gets your goods – jewelry, beauty, fashion and the like – in front of an influential crowd of women, who are there to buy. I often marvel at the way women stockpile necklaces and socks, soaps and handbags, as if they haven’t seen a store in months – and actually, many probably haven’t with their work/life juggle.
Only a few dozen vendors get in each year. I asked co-founder Jennifer Stack for some hints on what Maiden is looking for: “We want women to feel like they are shopping for items you’d find in a beautiful boutique your friend may have told you about. We also always love to introduce products or discoveries to the Twin Cities.” So if your product is new or somehow unique – don’t be shy about noting it!
Click here for the Maiden Minnesota application.
Tags: Maiden Minnesota, Minnesota designers, shop local
Posted in Events | No Comments »
 Etsy.com has created a platform for countless artists, but it has also inspired the selling of handmade goods, even beyond cyberspace. Enter: Finding Joy, the new Excelsior boutique created by Christie Larson to showcase her own glass mosaic art (pictured), along with the functional and decorative work of more than 50 local artists. Emphasis on local – most of the artists live within 10 miles of the store at the Tonka Bay Shopping Center. Considering this is the first foray into retail for many of the artists, the merchandise is encouraging – pillows, birdhouses, vases, woodwork, cards, jewelry, baby goods and more priced from $2 to $300. See something you wish you could make yourself? Just wait- the back room is being turned into a classroom where artists will teach their craft. 5619 Manitou Road, Excelsior, 612-250-7286
Tags: excelsior, Finding Joy, shop local, Twin Cities artists
Posted in Gifts & Cool Stuff | No Comments »
 The whole idea of the “pop up shop” is to keep us interested – it’s there just one weekend so you’ve got to shop now. It might pop up in one place this week, and another next month. But now, so many pop ups are popping up that Sairey Gernes wanted to avoid the term for her shopping event next week. She’s calling it the No-Storefront Storefront. Cumbersome, but gets your attention. Gernes is the founder of Irely Intimates with a design studio and manufacturing facility on the West Side of St. Paul. She’s opening her space to several other local, women-owned brands: Urban Junket and Post- bags, StormSister Spatique beauty products, Foat lifestyle apparel, Nontoxique nail products and Attagirl crocheted accessories. They’re promising shopping, mingling and great deals. Takes place 4 to 9 p.m. Dec. 16; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 17 to 19 at 432 Wabasha St. S., St. Paul.
Tags: attagirl, irely, no storefront storefront, nontoxique, pop up, post-, shop local, St. Paul shopping, storm sister, urban junket
Posted in Events, Gifts & Cool Stuff, Shopping trends | No Comments »
Whether the goal is giving a boost to Twin Cities retailers and artists (who could really use it this year), reducing your carbon footprint, buying something more unique than the mass merchants sell or all of the above, shopping local is not only thoughtful, it's trendy this holiday season. Of course, AliShops.com is here to help you find the best of local shopping week in and week out. But here are a few other resources for holiday shopping:
Made in Minnesota Gift Guide - A directory of hundreds of Minnesota-based artisans and locally made products of all kinds.
Textile Center Holiday Show & Sale – Featuring jewelry, art, mittens and more made by dozens of local designers.
MNFashion holiday boutique – Clothing, accessories and more from local designers.
Blue Sky Guide – A "Happenings" book for the tree hugger in your life. Featuring coupons for eco-friendly dining, travel, entertainment, shopping and more.
Etsy.com - You could spend the entire month searching around this site, but narrow it down with a search for Minnesota-made products – you'll find some great stuff.
This weekend in particular, several events highlight locally made gifts: No Coast Craft-o-Rama, Landmark Center Holiday Bazaar, Grand Meander, and the events go on and on. Click here for all the details.
Tags: blue sky guide, etsy, made in minnesota, made in mn, minnesota local shopping, shop local, textile center, twin cities shopping
Posted in Shopping Tips | No Comments »
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