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The story of the name…..
For as long as I can
remember I have been called Sweet Pea.
I am pretty sure it has been since birth. Truthfully I don’t
even remember a time that my mom didn’t
call me sweet pea and with a face like mine, come on, how can you not call
me that??
I had a list with lots of
potential names, I even took my notebook to a family gathering
and had input from them. I happened to be at my mom’s when I
said something about calling the shop Sweet Pea’s. She and my
step dad thought that sounded pretty good, and had surpassed any
of the other options I had listed.
My husband Jerry wanted to
call it The Loft since we are the only shop in town to have a
loft with useable retail space. I blended the two names and came
up with Sweet Pea’s Loft. I added the Home Accessories and
Gifts under it so everyone would know that it is still the same
cute shop with just a new cute name.
How it all began…..
I
always told Jerry if you want to get me a gift, go to that cute
little shop in Northfield with the loft.
( d. butterfields) On our first official Valentines Day as a
married couple we had decided not to give each other gifts. I
arrived home that night and sitting on a table in the kitchen
with a huge red bow was a very cool drawer tower and a card. It
was awesome and just perfect for me. I love little drawers. It
was distressed white with a tin front on the drawers and cute
little pulls. I asked him where he had gotten it and he told me
that little shop in Northfield. I immediately knew which one. I
was further surprised that he had filled the drawers with
chocolates. Who can resist chocolates???
That night we were talking
about the shop and Jerry wanted to go back and thank the owner /
Juley, for helping him with the valentines day purchase. Jerry
is a woodworker and wondered if Juley would display some of his
projects in her store. We felt they had the right look and
thought they would be a good fit with her merchandise.
When we spoke to her she
told us she was going to sell the shop, but would put up a
picture of his work and some business cards.
Even before we walked out
the door my wheels were turning. The business had been for sale
when we first relocated here, but the timing wasn’t right. To
hear it was for sale again, I about died! There wasn’t much to
discuss. I really wanted the opportunity to give it a try.
I have had this dream since
I was little and made cards to sell on the street like most kids
sell lemonade. I am a creative person and have been making
things since I could pick up a color crayon. I have been in
several church boutiques and craft fairs. I have had my own
boutiques and even sold some items on consignment at a shop in
North St. Paul. The writing has been on the wall for years.
My degree is in Interior
Design from Mankato State University, and I have experience with
custom cabinet designing for kitchen and bath. Jerry is a
woodworker and has 5 years experience in that field. We have
sold several of his original designed pieces at our shop and he
has done custom orders for special projects as well.
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