Union Market Mankato is bringing a whole new shopping experience to this Minnesota River city. It features more than 20 Minnesota brands in one convenient location. This eclectic market stocks a homegrown selection of art, clothing for men, women and kids, gifts, accessories, home decor, vintage items and more. You can buy houseplants to feed your oh-so-2020 hobby/addiction and stock up at the apothecary. Home goods and gifts at Union Market Mankato Photo by Lauren Krysti Fas

When U.S. leaders began to recommend fabric masks to protect against the spread of COVID-19, Midwest makers were ready. It was inspiring to watch talented sewists across the region (and the world) spring into action — in many cases weeks earlier than the official recommendation. This is an evolving list of makers in the Midwest who are crafting fabric masks to meet an unprecedented need. I will be updating it weekly for as long as the pandemic lasts in the region. It’s organi

There’s something soothing about skipping the big box stores and opting for indie crafts, art shows and handmade gifts this Christmas. The gifts are unique, your dollars support a small businessperson and the shopping experience often includes fun extras like mulled wine, beer, live music, and entertainment to keep the youngest shoppers transfixed. As an added bonus, you can usually meet the artists and makers to get the story behind the gift you’re giving and learn how it wa

There is something so innately pleasurable in buying — and even just seeing and touching — handmade products. I like to see the tool marks… #Handmade #Manitoba #ShopSmall #ManitobaShopping #Winnipeg #WinnipegShopping

Bison Booties produces colorful handmade booties and slippers for babies, kids and adults. The soft-sole, vegan-friendly footwear are designed by owner Erica Hager and sewn in Bismarck, North Dakota. Colorful booties from Bison Booties I first noticed Bison Booties when Eli was a baby and I was looking for something that would stay on his busy — and super wide — feet. (Sorry baby — you inherited your mama’s feet!) Then it seemed like I saw them everywhere. They popped up on T

I’m excited to announce the very first Prairie Style File monthly giveaway — your choice of two very cool gift packages from the folks at Unglued. I’ll be doing monthly giveaways from now on, so be sure to check back often, subscribe to Prairie Style File via email (you can register just to the right of the first photo in this post), add the site to your RSS feed or follow Prairie Style File on Facebook to get all the contest updates. Here’s how to qualify to win: 1. Pick y

The indie craft event of the season arrives when dozens of artists and artisans take over the Plains Art Museum for the annual Unglued Craft Fest. This isn’t your grandma’s craft fair — although you should definitely invite her, because she’ll probably like it. The Unglued Craft Fest showcases artists and craftspeople who put their own stamp on traditional methods — or invent innovative new methods — and create unique and often handmade and upcycled items with a modern twist.

When you’re Christmas shopping, it’s easy to leave guys until the last minute. They rarely make Christmas lists and they’re hard to buy for because if they need something, they’ll just buy it themselves. If you have a guy left on your list, get him a cool upgrade on something you already know he loves. Here are my top picks for guy gifts this season. Elevate his walls with screen printed posters by Fargo artist Punchgut. They’re colorful and affordable, so you can spring for

Shopping for kids can be tricky. It can be tough to figure out what they already have and what they’re into right this second. So think outside the box and  look for something colorful and unique. And remember that there’s no age limit on really great kid stuff. Kids of all ages appreciate a little whimsy. Here are some of my favorite gifts for kids this season. They’re available in different sizes, colors and facial expressions. I used to be pretty ambivalent about stuffed a

I like to support local artists and craftspeople, so it’s odd that I’d never been to the Pride of Dakota Holiday Showcase before. All of the Pride of Dakota vendors — over 475 total — are local and range in size from mom and pop shops to stores with over 100 employees. They do several shows a year to promote their products, so I set off in the name of research to see what they had to offer. What I found was a sort of hybrid craft fair/art show/church bake sale atmosphere with

I took a little road trip to Bemidji a few weeks back (which you already know if you’ve read my Street Style profiles on Paul, Aubrey and Sonja over the past few days) and I have to say, the city really surprised me. There are some great little shops, scenic trails, pretty neighborhoods and lots of public art, all within walking distance of the lake. Yellow Umbrella was my favorite discovery. It’s owned by sisters-in-law Jen and Jennifer Pomp and their husbands Jon and Andy

If you’re into unique gifts, non-grandma-ish crafts and shopping that will make you smile, you have to check out the Grand Opening events at Unglued on September 6th, 7th and 8th. There are more than 60 local and regional artists represented at Unglued, and they sell the most transfixing assortment of gifts. It’s all handcrafted or vintage, but with a decidedly modern — and usually witty — edge. I have a personal weakness for the scarves and prints by local artists, but these

If you’re out and about in Fargo this weekend, don’t miss the epic vintage sale, brought to you by The Green Room. The store pops up occasionally and features repurposed, salvaged and re-imagined home decor, gifts and art. Here are a few of my favorites. It has the vibe of a beautifully curated antique store, with all the dusty, rusty bits replaced with pretty, quirky things. I like how they stock pieces that are an equal mix of sweet… Photos #2 and #5 courtesy of Midwest Jun

I’d hope that my designs would appeal to guys and gals who, like myself, enjoy owning unique things, supporting small businesses and contributing to a sustainable lifestyle. Ashley Dedin If you caught an earlier Street Style post that featured Ashley and her boyfriend Blake, you already know that the recent college grad is a blogger, philosophy scholar and accomplished visual artist. The launch of aendee — her new women’s fashion line available on Etsy — makes her an official

This blog gives me an excuse to make every trip a shopping trip, and since my work takes me across North Dakota, my lunch breaks have gotten a lot more interesting! It blows my mind that so many small towns still have a Main Street shopping scene. Uniquely Yours Crafts, a charming little antique/craft/jewelry repair shop in Hillsboro, North Dakota, is a great example of a shop with plenty of local flavor. My Grandma J. has been after me to stop in here for years, and despite