Mimi-Toria's Designs at GetFresh Vintage

I have been honored to be a part of Sue Whitney's created artisan team since 2009.  Through the many events she's created and wonderful visionary that she is, my confidence, style offerings of designs and business has continued to grow.  Sue has once again changed things up and late last Summer opened a brick n mortar shop in Lanesboro, which is a showcase for some cutting edge Junk repurposers.  I am fortunate to still be apart of this venue, which is called, 'Getfresh Vintage JUNKMARKETS Little Sister'.

As this photo shows, and the previous blog posts photos I've shared will showcase is the beauty of the exterior of this vintage built shop, the shop Sue has built within it, as well as the shopping area along side of it with the glorious gardens and repurposed and newly created garden elements.

My friend, Carolyn (far right) enjoyed our time in Lanesboro a few weeks back.  As we were finally leaving town, I spotted another new friend/customer from Wisconsin.  Sally, in the black, and her friend had come for the day, so we used the beautiful gardens to capture this memory photo of our meeting up on the streets of Lanesboro.

Here is my Mimi-Toria's Designs jewelry display area.  It isn't a big space in square footage, but makes a nice statement for my collection to be represented. 

There are other jewelry designers also show cases in the shop with a larger offering, so suffice to say, jewelry is nicely represented at GetFresh Vintage.  

These genuine faceted rubies with Sterling Silver lever backs and links are accented with these wonderful Jesus and child vintage medals.  (Available at GetFresh)

One of the ways you can tell a Mimi-Toria's Designs creation apart from others is in the details used.  Primarily Sterling Silver, Antiqued Sterling Silver or 14 kt Gold Filled Earwires/findings are used.  Another detail is the wire wrapping techniques often found in my jewelry will provide you with an heirloom quality piece of jewelry.

I also have custom designed I.d. tags that I designed and had created to add value with a signed piece of jewelry identifying and guaranteeing my customers that they are buying one of my one of a kind designs and not a copied piece.   With 17 years invested in my career, I want to keep my reputation and integrity intact.

After 4 1/2 years of hand stamped pieces, they continue to be a popular and meaningful line of jewelry that speaks to my customers.

I also have a reputation for creating feminine more detailed pieces like the two represented on the cornel.  These are redesigned from many forlorn and forgotten elements to be recreated into a wearable art they my customers find beckoning them.

Currently, there are like 20+ pairs of one if a kind earrings available within this shop.  Many are 'bride' worthy for that vintage feel on a Brides Wedding Day.

I have purposely from the beginning of my jewelry design business geared my kinds if jewelry to be many and vast, do that I can meet the interests and needs of many customers rather than just one certain look or style type.  I believe this has benefited my longevity in the business when it is so common now, as well as garnered me some of my dearest customers and friends.

GetFresh Vintage Indoor Photos

GetFresh Vintage is OPEN.... Yes indeed it is!  So swing on down to the beautiful town of Lanesboro where it is located.

Love this heavy canvas hand stamped sign that is for sale within the shop.  So cool!

Sue Whitney, of JunkMarket Style is the proprietor of this lovely shop, and never is without unique and fun table display ideas.  This one was no exception.

My friend, Lori, of La Dee Da, has some beautiful Summer apparel designs creatively designed and exclusively for this Getfresh Vintage shop.

Another La Dee Da Designed tank, as well as other great Art and repurposed items.

So much to see and ponder over while shopping.  Great displays at every turn.

There is also a vast array of jewelry available to purchase, including a number of designers.  I just delivered 68 one of a kind pieces for my Mi-Toria's Designs to GetFresh Vintage in Lanesboro.

This town is truly worth the trip!

GetFresh Vintage - an Awesome Shop with a Gem of a Surprise

GetFresh Vintage - JunkMarkets Little Sister

A beautifully styled shop in the heart of downtown Lanesboro.  Junk inspired with creativity at every vantage point within the shop.  I'm sure the locals are amazed with the ubber talented owner, Sue Whitney, and her unique offerings outside and within this little gem in their small town venue.

For example... This hog crate turned garden terrarium.  My sister lived seeing this idea, as she and her husband were pig farmers for years, and she just so happened to have several of these in her she'd on their farm.  So beautifully styled!

Notice the details?  Sue gets this concept and foes it in big ways with everything she creates and styles for her customers.  This window dressing is just one example of that.

Who would of thought a roll of rusty fencing could make such a statement, while being re purposed into a pillar plant stand?  Sue did.

Entrance into this beautiful side garden and garden she'd edition to the GetFresh Vintage shop is new to the venue this year.  Such a surprise in the middle of town.  The not so secret version if the secret garden.  There are little surprises everywhere you look within this small alley like garden area.  May of been my friend Carolyn's favorite part of our visit to Lanesboro.

Details...such as an over glowing abundance of flowers on these pillars, surely added to the beauty of this photograph.

Fairy garden planted in a bird bath make up visual beauty to behold.

Unique galvanized farm items re purposed into unique flower planters, which are than for sale to tuck into your own gardens.

This display was a picnic set up within a canoe.  How perfect for a river town known for its great canoeing?

This photo shows canoe not set up yet, due to all of the rain filled weather early June had brought to Minnesota, however the photo above shows it in its glory all set up to inspire.

The shop offers a great variety of garden display pieces outdoors along this meandering garden, within the garden building and also with the inside of the shop.

Even the wire bike basket received a healthy dose of Sue's detailed styling talents, with a burlap liner, tied with jute on the corners and than filled with flowers and pussy willows.

As you can see, this town and shop are beckoning to those that want to step back in time, enjoy the great outdoors, be inspired by one of the inventors of Junk re purposing than head to this gem of a town.  Lanesboro here you come!

Destination Lanesboro and GetFresh Vintage

Part 1 - Introduction to GetFresh Vintage's Surroundings and Why a Must Visit is in Order.  If my iPhone photos don't draw you in, than nothing will.  I tried to capture a small taste if the beauty this area holds.

Have you ever been to the Root River Valley town of Lanesboro?  If not, and you live in the Midwest, it would be the perfect week-end destination this Summer or Fall.  It's my new FAVORITE Minnesota town.

           #getfreshvintage #lanesboro

I am fortunate to be blessed with the opportunity to have my Mimi-Toria's jewelry represented and for sale in this quaint and picturesque town.  Thus, last week my friend went with me to drop off a release of my Mimi-Toria's jewelry for the GetFresh Vintage Shop.

Lanesboro, was all but becoming a ghost town in the 80's, when someone came up with an idea for reviving their town.  And revive it did....

In 1893, this cool metal bridge was constructed over the Root River in downtown Lanesboro, and it now is a recreational bridge for bikers, roller bladers, walkers, roller skiers, runners and inquiring minds to discover.

This bridge had a wood board walk surface, but the rest of the beautiful tar trails are blacktop.  The once railroad tracks had been abandoned, and the brilliant mind came up with the idea to turn them into a trail for recreation purposes.  This trail was the first if its kind in the state if Minnesota, and turned a once failing economy into a thriving tourism filled community.

The Root River running through this River valley town, also adds to the ambience of its beauty and brings another draw to its sweet town.  Right in town there are canoes, kayaks and tubes for rent to use and access the river with.  A great adult get away or one for the family that plays together and likes adventure.  

                  GetFresh Vintage Shop

So it is was these vital draws of the river fun and beautiful and vast trail system that initially drew in the tourism and the throngs of people.  My friend, Carolyn called this a Mayberry type town.  Notice the beautiful architecture of these beautiful buildings.

This building now houses fine dining while in town.  There is also a professional theatre that I highly recommend, as well as a local theatre group as well.  No movie theaters or fast food places though.  

A winery is located in town down near the bridge I shared photos of earlier in this post, so you might want to consider checking that out if that is of interest to you.

At noon on a Friday, mid June, the people were just starting to converge in the variety filled downtown shopping district.  #Lanesboro

As we left town, my weakness got the best of me, as I was drawn into this delightful ice cream/candy shop.  I drove off out of town with a dish of Key Lime Pie ice cream, which was delicious.  A must stop for families with kids!  There is a very quaint area alongside if the building with a lot if tables and chairs to sit and eat your ice cream, while taking in the bustle of activities surrounding you.

A few more shops on a side street location.  There is a menagerie of beautiful materials used in the construction of these late 1800 and early 1900's buildings, which of course I had to capture as well.

One of the styles of brick used in the buildings construction.  This particular wall was intriguing.  Notice the close up photo below.

Each brick had a persons name etched into it.  I had never seen this done before and made for a great photo op.

Another brick wall that caught my eye...

Oh, the stories these walls could tell, if only the could talk.

This stone is used in a number of buildings, such as the fine dining restaurant as well as 'The Old Mill Inn' shown below.  The inn has an open tour policy and has a very interesting historical story to it.  It was fun to your, and would be a comfortable lodging location while visiting Lanesboro.  The town is filled with quaint B & B's, inns, lodges and camp grounds.  No modern hotels here, but a neighboring town of Preston does have a chain hotel for lodging, if you prefer that.

           Stone Mill Inn in Lanesboro

Notice the fresh raised bed veggie gardens to the right?  This is at the end of a town block.  So cool, right?

I'm not sure who is tending this garden, but it sure looks healthy and yummy.  There is a small food coop for healthy food options in town as well.

There was even a telephone booth to add to Lanesboro's ambience of going back in a time that was non technology filled and a slower pace of living.

I will share in another post more about Lanesboro in another post, and more specifically about my favorite shops in town.