For all of the makers we know and adore, this month is among the busiest of the year as they sell their wares at holiday markets, boutiques and pop-ups happening at a crazy pace. But this month you can also tour a renovated machine shed and enjoy open art studios before the big fall freeze.
MSP Holiday Markets
For all of the makers we know and adore, this month is among the busiest of the year. Because holiday markets, boutiques and pop-ups are happening at a crazy pace—and makers are working at a furious clip to keep up with our desire for handcrafted gifts, cards and jewelry, not to mention artwork. Let’s not let them down! Among the plethora of opportunities to purchase one-of-a-kind items are:
Merry and Mod Holiday Market, November 12, True Ethnic, Minneapolis;
MN Christmas Market, November 12, Lake Monster Brewing, Vandalia Tower, St. Paul;
Linden Hills Holiday Market, Sundays from November 20-December 18, Minneapolis;
Holiday Boutique, November 11-13, U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis;
Minneapolis Craft’za, November 19, Grain Belt Bottling House, Minneapolis;
Green Gifts Fair, November 19, Midtown Global Market, Minneapolis;
Shop Small Holiday Market, November 26, St. Anthony Village City Hall & Community Center, Minneapolis
December Artist Market, December 3-4, The White Page, Minneapolis
A Nice Nest Press Launch
November 11, 5-9 p.m.
November 12, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
California Building, Minneapolis
Whenever artist Amy Rice gets “a bee in her bonnet,” as she says, something wonderful is about to happen. As her followers on
Facebook know, the creator of lovely whimsical prints and collages that conjure up a simpler life well-integrated with the natural world, Rice decided “this summer to make all my handprinted fabric (originally made for a fun licensing opportunity, for my book Playing with Stencils, and as part of a grant I received from the
Minnesota State Arts Board) into one-of-a-kind pillows and quilts. I have wanted to do a make-over of my sweetheart’s old ice-fishing shack and that served as motivation to get it done."
That’s not all. Rice also is launching
“A Nice Nest Press” on Etsy and in occasionally in her studio in the California Building to house her “occasional but long-term side project(s).” The launch event (which coincides with the open studio event California Dreaming in the building) will immerse Rice fans in bees, flowers and inspiration.
Do the Dow
November 11, 6 -10 p.m.
November 12, noon to 6 p.m.
Dow Building, St. Paul
The
Dow Building in St. Paul’s Creative Enterprise Zone, in the Central Corridor along the Green Line, has been quietly and quickly building artistic clout. The building houses such international talents as Julie Buffalohead and Ute Bertog, Kevin Caufield and Erik Pearson, as well as the Women’s Drum Center and a frame store and art gallery on the first floor. The annual
Do the Dow event ensures visitors get a good look at the marvelous range of aesthetics and media housed in the non-descript building.
Happy Hour With a Preservationist: Machine Shop
November 16, 6 p.m.
Free
Machine Shop, Minneapolis
On the south side of the Mississippi River in the St. Anthony neighborhood opposite the Mill District in Minneapolis, the Pillsbury A Mill was arguably the largest working flourmill in the world. That historic building was recently transformed into the
A-Mill Artist Lofts. And several ancillary buildings near the A Mill—including the Machine Shop—have followed suit, finding new uses for their cavernous spaces and light-filled interiors. The Machine Shop is now
an event venue. Carefully restored, the building retains its original 1916 architectural details, but has been updated with luxe details. Learn more during this
happy hour with the experts from
Preserve Minneapolis, which includes a tour and discussion following at
aster cafe.