March 27, 2024

A Sioux Falls native who says the “creative crafty bug” runs in her DNA is opening a consignment store that will give other crafters and her family members a place to show their skills.

Tuesday, April 2, Carrie Thompson is opening AMC Collective at 2119 S. Minnesota Ave. in a storefront that most recently housed a plus-size clothing boutique. AMC stands for Artists, Makers and Crafters.

Since Thompson and her husband returned to Sioux Falls in 2009, after she attended college in Denver, she has wanted to see a crafters mall such as hers in the community. While she has sold her own crafts for many years, this is Thompson’s first experience at running a consignment store.

Currently, she creates graphic T-shirts and crochets and knits items through her other business, Butterfly Boutique. She started making tees in 2020, early in the pandemic. Her yarn items include hanging planters, gnomes and stuffed animals.

“I just like seeing the joy those items bring to people,” Thompson said.

Her space has room for about 40 vendors, and she is nearing her goal of 25 for next week’s grand opening. The vendors also have the option of joining her website at AMCCollectiveSD.com.

Thompson, her mother, Cindy Thompson, and her 10-year-old son, Payton, are vendors No. 1, 2 and 3.

“My mom’s super-excited about it,” Thompson said. “You can only make so many things to give away. Through selling it, she has an outlet for it, so she can keep making things.”

Payton makes 3D printed birds that he then colors with Sharpies. Sometimes they bear the colors of real birds, other times he uses his imagination for the colors. He also makes items with melted Perlie beads.

There’s also a fourth crafter in Thompson’s family: her grandmother, but she likely won’t have a booth in AMC Collective.

Her vendors are selective about the shows they participate in, Thompson said. One crafter raises angora rabbits, and she spins yarn out of their fur. Amberlyn Amethyst, who also is a micro-crocheter, uses the spun yarn to encase fairy lights.

Other crafters will bring in kitchen towels, hot pads and cozies; photography; prayer shawls; candles; upcycled clothing; children’s items; engraved wood, cups and tumblers; and jewelry. Vendors include Dakota Bling, Calico Clay by Karlie, Jason Pfitzer Photography, Stitches N More by Alecia Arbach, Spinning Wind Fiberarts, Toasty Teacup and Sacred Soul Alchemy.

The candles produced by Kimberly Hackney of Sacred Soul Alchemy have herbs and crystals embedded in the wax, Thompson said.

“They smell amazing,” she said. “We have so many things for people to get great gifts and pick up those things you can’t do yourself.”

Often, craft shows are open only on weekends, Thompson said. Her collective will give people the chance to come in much more often and see the continual change in items.

“We’ll have something different probably every week,” Thompson said. “There’s still a good demand from people looking for fun and unique gifts you can’t get at Target or Walmart or the mall.”

AMC Collective’s hours will be noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.