At first glance, you might think Junket: Tossed & Found is yet another vintage shop surrounded by numerous other vintage shops on Minnehaha Avenue in South Minneapolis. Old rockers, desk chairs, and salvaged theater seats huddle together out front. There’s a ‘90s-era school desk with a flip-up lid and a classic red wagon. An old … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: Creative reuse and customer empowerment at Junket Tossed & Found
February 27, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Craft Culture: Turning family tradition into modern day practice at George’s Shoe Repair
January 30, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Looking at the pair of shoes, Luke George didn’t just see worn down heels, scrunched up leather, or years of grime built up on the once-white surfaces. The cobbler knew these were more than just a pair of old dress shoes—they once belonged to his customer’s grandfather. They had history. A legacy. Years in the … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: Handcrafting stories at North House Folk School
December 27, 2016 by Leave a Comment
On a winter day in picturesque Grand Marais, all is quiet. Overworked boats sit empty on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Cafes and gift shops stand subdued. A lonely seagull is perched atop a pile of rocks. Only the cold wind whooshes about—a present from nearby Canada. From the outside, the colorful buildings of … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: Hand-sewn garments at Mill City Fineries
October 31, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Surrounded by fabrics from all over the world, Brad Wellman, 29 years old and cofounder of Mill City Fineries, stands in a quiet, freshly painted warehouse in St. Anthony East. Bundles of pastels and plaids crowd a wire rack packed with Brazilian silk, soft Scottish wool, and swatches of houndstooth and herringbone. Arms outstretched, he … [ Read more]
Tool Library coming to St. Paul
October 27, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Have a home improvement project on the to-do list but not the tools to build it? Head to the library. The Northeast Minneapolis Tool Library, a nonprofit organization that rents out basic hand tools and power tools to its members, announced it is opening a new branch in St. Paul. After a successful crowdfunding campaign … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: ‘Heirloom’ packs, handcrafted at Duluth’s Frost River
September 27, 2016 by Leave a Comment
“There is magic in the feel of a paddle and the movement of a canoe, a magic compounded of distance, adventure, solitude, and peace. The way of a canoe is the way of the wilderness, and of a freedom almost forgotten. It is an antidote to insecurity, the open door to waterways of ages past … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: From fire comes functional art at Elias Metal Studio
August 31, 2016 by Leave a Comment
The two words employees dread hearing most came hurdling out her manager’s mouth: “You’re fired.” That’s what Lisa Elias heard 20 years ago when she returned home to Minneapolis after a two-week trip to New York for an experimental art workshop. Like many artists trying to pay their way, Elias worked a part-time job at … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: Custom messenger bags at Trash
July 28, 2016 by Leave a Comment
When Modist Brewing Company painted its trademark teal floor and started pouring beers this spring, Andy Larson, the 34-year-old owner and CEO of Trash Messenger Bags, had a front-row seat. That’s because the North Loop brewery is also his landlord. Tucked into the narrow, low-ceilinged loft above Modist’s brewing tanks, the doorway and stairs leading … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: Great Northern Boatworks turns unusable boats into show pieces
June 1, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Along the eastern edge of a chewed-up dirt lot off Como Avenue in St. Paul, the pristine white bow of a Windsor Craft boat noses through a large garage door, reflecting the bright afternoon sun. It’s an odd place to spot a boat, considering there’s not a drop of water in sight. The buildings around … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: Hand-thrown tableware from Ceramic Chinn
April 26, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Two years ago, Alex Chinn propped open the lid of his electric kiln to inspect the 40 plates stacked inside. He noticed something he didn’t expect. Before firing the plates, Chinn had dipped each one in a white satin matte glaze. But instead of creating an even surface, the glaze had broken apart on the … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: American Craft Council artists to watch
March 28, 2016 by Leave a Comment
If the Twin Cities weren’t already considered a top arts community before 2010, with the area’s many galleries, major arts organizations, museums, and artist studios, then they most certainly were after. That was the year Minneapolis surpassed 11 other cities to become the official home of the American Craft Council (ACC), after the group chose … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: Eco-friendly outdoor furniture at Loll Designs
March 2, 2016 by Leave a Comment
There is no shortage of big companies touting their environmentally friendly practices as a way to endear themselves to the public these days. And that would be fine—if those businesses were backing up their words with actions. But few do, and even fewer have principles of sustainability firmly rooted in their origins. Duluth-based Loll Designs … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: Handmade timepieces from Padron Watch Company
January 25, 2016 by Leave a Comment
January and February can be the dreariest of months for retailers. The Christmas bustle turns a sharp corner, and long days spent trying to keep up with an influx of customers turn into long days wishing for just a few customers. This can be particularly true for small businesses, especially in the age of online … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: Handmade toboggans at Northern Toboggan & Sled
December 29, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Snow crunches under my tires as I pull up to the modest building. The air has that undeniable crispness winter brings with her as she settles in for the season. On a parcel of farmland six miles east of Warroad, Minnesota, mere miles from the Canadian border, John Harren’s Northern Toboggan & Sled shop is … [ Read more]
Craft Culture: Hennepin Made glassmaking studio
December 2, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Jackson Schwartz deals in heat. His craft is defined in various bursts of Fahrenheit—taking some of the most basic materials on Earth and transforming them with the careful application of fire. His work, in turn, helps illuminate some of the trendiest gathering spots in town. Schwartz’s Hennepin Avenue glassmaking studio, Hennepin Made, looks equal parts … [ Read more]
