Taea Made at the MN State Fair

Having Taea Made handmade pieces at the Minnesota State Fair this year was definitely a highlight of my summer! When Lacey of Piccadilly Prairie asked if I’d make some items for her booth at the Fair, I was ecstatic. According to the MN State Fair website, over one million seven hundred seventy-nine thousand visitors attended this year. With high attendance like this every year, I couldn’t wait to have so many people see my products!

This summer I attended the MN State Fair for the first time, and it did not disappoint! There was so much to see, do, and eat. I especially enjoyed seeing the Piccadilly Prairie booth. Lacey did an amazing job of putting her whole booth together. Everything included in it flowed really well, and you could tell that she had spent a lot of time preparing her displays in advance.

 Here’s some insight from Lacey about her first year with Piccadilly Prairie at the MN State Fair:

What did you most enjoy about having a booth at the MN State Fair?

It was awesome to be a part of something that's known & loved by everyone in the Midwest!  It was amazing, while working the booth, how many people came by that I knew...for such a widely attended event, it has a real community feel.

How long did it take for you to prepare to have a booth at the Fair?

Well, surprisingly, I only found out in mid-June that we would be at the Fair!  And, I already had a trip planned to Europe for the month of July...  So, I had about 6 weeks over the summer to get ready!  Fortunately, I had a number of fantastic artists & makers -including you!- that contributed their lovely works, and that really helped with the preparation.

What focus did you have when you were curating the items to include in your booth?

I wanted to split the offerings into half vintage and half handmade items, so there was something for everyone.  I also wanted a heavy focus on Minnesota and midwest-themed items...so we had many handcrafted items with state shapes, as well as vintage souvenir collectables.

What should people who've never been to the MN State Fair be sure to see on their first visit?

My favorites are the West End Market (where we are) and the International Bazaar.  They have the best shopping & really great food!  I also love seeing a show at the Grandstand...there's nothing like sitting under the stars and listening to one of your favorite artists perform...

Do you have a favorite food on a stick from the Fair?

Of course!  It's the Buffalo Shrimp skewer at Cafe Caribe... And the not-on-a-stick favorite?  Minne-Apple-Pie (or Minne-Pumpkin-Pie), both delish!!

Do you have any unique experiences from the Fair to share?

This was my first year, so the whole experience was an experience!  I'm really looking forward to next year, when I can build on what I've learned and take our booth to the next level!!   

Thanks, Lacey, for asking Taea Made 

to be included in your booth at 

the MN State Fair!

You can shop Piccadilly Prairie at:

5014 Xerxes Ave S, Minneapolis, MN  55410

Monday - Saturday: 10am to 6pm

Sunday: 12pm - 6pm

Catch the latest Taea Made happenings on Facebook!

Drop me a line at: taeamade@hotmail.com.

Wolftree Magazine Giveaway

I'm a huge fan of Wolftree Magazine! For those of you who aren't familiar with this wonderful publication, it's a magazine for makers, dreamers & adventurers. It celebrates everyday people doing extraordinary things with their lives. Each page is covered in beautiful photos, and inspiring words.

Taea Made has the privilege of doing a GIVEAWAY of both Volume 3 and Volume 4 of Wolftree Magazine!! That's a value of over $48! 

Don't miss out on your chance to win!

ENTER HERE

The fine print: This contest is open to U.S. residents 18 year of age, or older. Contest will run until August 9th, 2015 at 11:59pm CST. Winner will be selected by Rafflecopter. This contest is not associated with Facebook, or Instagram. Winner has to "Like" Wolftree and/or Taea Made's Facebook pages and/or Instagram pages in order to be qualified. Prizes are not available for cash value, and cannot be sold...but always make great gifts ;.)

Step Inside Piccadilly Prairie

Antiques and vintage finds will delight you at Piccadilly Prairie! Located on Xerxes Avenue in Minneapolis, MN, Piccadilly Prairie is the newest store where you can shop Taea Made. You’ll find many handmade items at this store including homemade jams, items made from vintage fabrics, and lots of unique jewelry pieces.

Lacey, the owner of Piccaddilly Prairie, is a delight to chat with. Her love of old mixed with new can be felt throughout the store. Step inside Piccadilly Prairie with me, and learn more about this vintage inspired shop.

When did your love of vintage begin?

I started falling for vintage & antiques as a teenager.  The first piece that stole my heart was an early 20th century trunk with a domed lid.  There's a picture of a woman on the inside, and it just fascinated me- who was she, who had the trunk belonged to, and what did it used to carry; as well as where was the trunk made, and who built it...  So much mystery in one old piece!  Twenty years later, I still have that trunk.

Tell us about the name of your store.

The name sprang into being after a lot of brainstorming and a little inspiration.  I'm a huge fan of alliteration, and I knew that I wanted a two-word name (like a first & last name).  The image I wanted to evoke was that of country-meets-city.  I settled on the word "prairie" first, thanks to Laura Ingalls Wilder and Garrison Keillor.  "Piccadilly" popped into my mind, and I immediately knew that was it; London is one of my all-time favorite cities, and the two words fit together just right: Piccadilly Prairie

Where do you find the antiques for your store?

Ha, ha...the eternal question!  There's no easy answer to that one... The market is always changing, and we are always on the look-out, so pretty much anywhere & everywhere!

What are your design inspirations?

Honestly, I don't know how I (and a good percentage of the women out there) ever survived before Pinterest!  It's where I start when it's "back to the drawing board."  I also love to just stand outside and stare at nature.  There is nothing man-made or man-designed that compares to the simple beauty of, say, one tree.  The blend of colors, textures, and shapes...it's just awe-inspiring!

Do you have a favorite vintage piece?

Definitely my French iron bed frame.  The headboard and footboard are scroll-y with ornate detailing, and the paint is all but worn away, leaving a bare, aged patina.  LOVE!

What is your favorite thing(s) about running your own business?

I really enjoy being able to handpick pieces & artists, set them up in attractive vignettes, and share them with the world...or at least Minneapolis.  And I love being surrounded by pretty, old things...

Where do you find inspiration?

I have to have a pen and paper to think.  I use graph paper and sketch out my ideas, and that really helps me to determine whether or not certain things will work (like if that fantastic 6' awning I recently scored can be hung across this 4' doorway).  History has it that Michelangelo would stare at a piece of marble for days, sometimes months, before picking up a chisel.  I like to stare at a wall or a corner in the shop, when the customers have left and the door is locked, and think: what unexpected thing could I do in this space?  And I just stand there and stare, with my notebook in hand, until the pieces start arranging themselves before my eyes..

Thank you, Lacey, for sharing your love 

of items from the past!

You can shop Piccadilly Prairie at:

5014 Xerxes Ave S, Minneapolis, MN  55410

Monday - Saturday: 10am to 6pm

Sunday: 12pm - 6pm

Catch the latest Taea Made happenings on Facebook!

Drop me a line at: taeamade@hotmail.com.

Discover Dawn's Quilt Shop

On a recent trip to Alexandria, MN, I had a chance to explore what the downtown shopping area had to offer. When I came across Dawn’s Quilt Shop, I knew it was a store for me. Not only does the store offer fabrics ranging from traditional to fun and quirky, but long arm quilting services as well!

At Dawn’s Quilt Shop, you'll also find plenty of quilt kits and unique sewing ideas. I saw many offerings that I hadn't come across before! Dawn herself is a delight to meet as well. She is helpful, and it’s easy to tell that she is passionate about sewing and fiber arts.

Many of the displays in the store use antique furniture pieces for displaying fabrics. This gives the store lots of personality to match the uncommon delights it offers to shoppers. You'll also find a custom frame shop located at the rear corner of the store with some one-of-a-kind pieces.

Dawn was kind enough to share her story with me, so enjoy a little Q&A with the owner of Dawn’s Quilt Shop:

Who taught you to sew?

I graduated from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks with a degree in art with a focus on fibers. I started sewing when I was about 7, when my mother taught me to sew my own clothes, which I continued to do throughout my life even making a little extra money in college sewing for other people.

Why did you decide to open your own quilt shop?

I have always loved fabric, the type of fabric I “stashed” changed from clothing-type fabric to quilt-type fabric about 10-12 years ago. I had the opportunity to work in a sewing machine store that phased into a quilt shop/sewing machine store. I had never pieced a quilt top or quilted until then, but I was bitten hard by the bug! When the store I worked for closed, I had in the back of my mind that I could run a store and make it work.

I eventually took the leap and opened Dawn’s Quilt Shop in 2007 in Downtown Alexandria. I started small with very few quilt samples and about 100 bolts of fabric. I have grown over the last 8 years to having about 3000 bolts of fabric with one move across the street from the store’s original location.

What makes your quilt shop unique?

I have a fondness for novelty fabric, especially cat fabric. (I may have the most cat fabric in MN!). I love being able to play and put together fabrics and colors to put into quilts and other sewn accessories.

What is your most favorite piece you've sewn?

One of my favorite quilts that I have put together is not technically sewn together, but the fabric used in it is my favorite piece. The fabric shows cats swimming with water goggles and swim fins and a shark fin attached to their backs.

What can people expect to find at your store?

I hope when people come to shop in my store, they find fabrics and samples they have not seen before. I tend to walk outside of the box when choosing fabric and putting things together. I am definitely not a traditionalist.  I may use a traditional block, but put a twist on it.

Where did you find your great antique display pieces?

I sort of use that same tradition with a twist when decorating and displaying. I love antiques which have been passed to me from my parents. I like the love of using the old with the new, so using an antique baby crib to house new flannel baby fabric, or using an antique Hoosier Cabinet to display food fabric makes sense to me.

Thank you, Dawn, for taking the time to share your story!

Catch the latest Taea Made happenings on Facebook!

Drop me a line at: taeamade@hotmail.com.