Occasional Shop to open in Flandreau this weekend

A group of healthcare workers in the Flandreau and surrounding areas has discovered a shared passion outside of their day jobs: creating handmade, upcycled, and artisanal products and this holiday season, theyre debuting a collaborative storefront on 2nd Avenue in downtown Flandreau.
Laura Gehling, owner of the previously online-only store Mixed Baggage; Sheila Winge of Family Affair, LLC; Megan Moeller and Erin Keller of Copper Penny; Karen Weber of Marys Market (formerly known as Lets Stay Home); and Kim Patterson of Comin Around Again hosted a soft opening recently in downtown Flandreau. They named their new occasional shop at 115 E. 2nd Avenue Mixed Baggage to reflect the variety of items each vendor brings.
If all goes well beyond the holiday season, they plan to expand and make the storefront a long-term venture.
The vendors met through their work in healthcare. Collectively, they have careers as nurses, an X-ray technician, a radiologist, an emergency department director, and a billing specialist, and they had all worked together for years before realizing their collective creativity.
We all knew each other, but I didnt know they all did what they do until we started exploring the possibility for this space, Patterson said.
Each vendor brings a unique craft to the shop. Sheila and her sister, who run a fabric store in Sisseton, offer fabric, quilt kits, jewelry, and Native American craft supplies, including handmade bags.
Her house was overtaken by fabrics, so a shop just made sense, Sheila said with a laugh.
Gehling runs Mixed Baggage, a kids clothing line featuring both new and consignment items.
Its exciting to bring something downtown and stay local, Gehling said. I started selling clothes out of my house a few years ago, and its amazing to finally have a space where people can touch and try them.
The Copper Pennys is operated by two of three triplet sisters who offer laser-engraved and cut home decor and signs.
Weber has hosted many shopping weekends at her home over the years, offering a variety of new and upcycled items for the home.
Patterson, who has previously participated in farmers markets, focuses on upcycling and repurposing items.
My family might call me a hoarder, she joked, but I look at things differently and love giving them a new life.
The shop will have its grand opening this coming weekend and will be open each weekend through the holidays. Locals are encouraged to follow Mixed Baggage on Facebook for updates and more information on whats in store.
Im excited to see where this potential can grow, one vendor said. We all complement each other with what we do. Its a little bit of everything.