For a fresh change of pace from the mall and antique shopping scene, visit the shopper's delight tucked away in a Minnetonka house. Sisters Corrine and LaRae Anderson simply call it their "Artists Boutique."
Just off of Williston Road and Lake Street Extension, LaRae’s elegant abode is where she has gathered beautiful handcrafted art for sale, from artists around Minnesota and beyond. But you have to be quick! This boutique is only open once a year for a week, ending Nov. 5.
In the past few years, items like cashmere scarves, ceramic birdhouses and porcelain sculptures covered counters and extra tables all over LaRae’s rambler. (There’s even an elaborate display of handmade goodies in the master bathroom!) When the sale is in full swing, the place brings back memories of strolling around Dayton's and socializing at Tupperware parties. Hearing LaRae's husband, Bill, play a tune on the grand piano and a group of gals gushing over a great find, shopping feels fun again.
"We like to make it a party," says LaRae, a former Home Economics teacher.
Now working as an occasional substitute teacher in Special Education in the Hopkins School District, LaRae explains how the Boutique idea first debuted in 1995. "It started with five of us teachers [at Hopkins Schools]... and it just grew and grew and grew."
This year, 25 artists will be featured. When planning the Boutique, Corrine, of Plymouth, and LaRae act like gallery curators by continually bringing together new items and updated versions of past products. Handmade journals are a new addition this year, but you'll find the biggest sellers at the Boutique are the "silent walkers,” similar to a cute gnome/Santa Claus statue.
The petite and stylish sisters themselves make ceramic figures, called "ladies," which show their creative handiwork as well. LaRae has a kiln in her basement to fire up the “ladies,” which are lovingly shaped to wear sweeping A-line dresses, decorated with a lace imprint. Each figure’s head is also detailed with curlicues of hair and a hat. Taking the time to add flourishes with such meticulous skill, it’s no wonder that Corrine and LaRae have such high expectations for the items they choose for the Boutique. Customers have noticed, as over the years, the sisters have seen a growth in folks interested in joining the Boutique mailing list.
Sending letters and doing the accounting work is where Corrine’s daughter Lori Tonsager helps the sisters in running the Boutique, and their sister Melva in Florida also contributes by making cards with nostalgic family photos. LaRae says, “We have a family organization here,” to which she adds that another one of her daughters helped out in the past while the Boutique was a much smaller operation. In the first two days of last year’s sale, they had about 100 to 150 visitors a day.
To find new items to keep customers coming back to the Boutique, the duo visits many local art fairs. It just takes a conversation to see if an artist is interested in selling their work. Corrine and LaRae are like art gallery curators, working together to stock the Boutique with everything from photographs and pottery to silver jewelry.
Whatever you’re shopping for, note that these pieces aren’t likely to be replicated anywhere else. One example would be the sets of thin, silver bangles that Corrine and LaRae both wear , which were a gift from an artist that has been in multiple Boutique sales. The duo each has a bracelet with "mother" engraved on it in eight different languages, in honor of their mother's passing just last year. The artist also created another bangle engraved with "Sisters Forever” for them.
The variety of products at the Boutique makes it easy to find sentimental gifts to give, and there’s an assortment of more casual presents, too (think handmade soy soaps). But the bottom line is, hurry on into the Boutique before it ends!
IF YOU GO
4103 Red Oak Ridge
Minnetonka
Through Nov. 5
9 a.m.–8 p.m.
