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