I moved to Albia, Iowa in November of 2019, and ever since then, I have felt inspired to highlight various small businesses around Albia. My soon-to-be Husband, Andrew, was raised here and although I’ve only been here for about a year and a half, I’ve really found this town to be an enjoyable place to live. The people in the community are incredibly supportive and loyal to each other.

Without further ado, I’d like to share my first small business story.

I had a pleasant experience of meeting up with Chris and Carol Ann, the owners and operators of Down Home Creations. They’re located on the south west corner of the Square in Albia, Iowa. They began their small business journey in the middle of 2019. Down Home Creations is a gift store of hand-made goods, made by local crafters and artists. Chris and Carol Ann had a clear vision of what they wanted to do. They had 15 vendors set up before opening, and only 3 days after moving into their location, they opened their doors.

You can find pretty much everything you would be looking for in a gift. Paintings, candles, jewelry, home decor, and furniture are among some of the many things you can find at their store. Chris and Carol Ann even make their own goods which include custom wooden signs and embroidered clothes and trinkets!

Their favorite things about Albia is the supportive community, the fun events - such as the Victorian Stroll - and they find that it’s a great place to raise their family.

Owning a small business does have its challenges, including publicity and of course, Covid-19, but it does have many benefits which allow them to be flexible with raising their family and it gives them the opportunity to be involved with the community. Their relationships they’ve built with their customers are valuable to them and they are always excited to make new connections.

I asked them if they had any favorite pieces they’ve sold, but they struggled to come up with any specific answers, and that’s no surprise. The gifts are all so unique and beautiful! They show much appreciation and love to all of their vendors.

They see so much potential in Albia becoming a fun shopping destination, and they hope more shops will join them in future events in town. I share this vision, as I see so many possibilities in this small town as well!

If you haven’t been there before, I highly encourage you to check out Down Home Creations! Chris and Carol Ann are super warm and friendly people. They’ll have exactly what you need, and tell them I sent you!

Δ Abbi

Alright, I took the photo of the photo, but this lovely print shown here was taken by a Landscape Photographer named Doug Cummelin. He specializes in capturing the beauty of Northern Minnesota, but his art has taken him all over the country. His experience with photography started when he was very young as he remembers his dad taking the family photo every year. I had the pleasure of meeting Doug one evening while I was spending time with my brother (Casey) and his college friend.

The three of us met up and had dinner at Lucky’s 13 Pub which is connected to the mall in Burnsville, MN. After eating and socializing, Casey wanted a bottle of water, so we ventured into the mall. After walking around for a few minutes, I stumbled upon Doug’s little shop. As a photographer, it caught my eye pretty quickly, so I had to check it out. The other two left me behind.

After browsing for a couple minutes, I caught up to the others and told them about the awesome photos I had seen and how they needed to check them out too! I led them to this amazing photo of a barn in front of the Great Teton Mountains. It was captivating, especially on the large canvas. Click HERE to see it! They agreed that it was pretty extraordinary and we continued to observe more of Doug’s work.

I was flipping through the stack of photos he had for sale when Casey said, “You should buy one.” It didn’t take much convincing, so I started looking for one that I wanted. I came upon the sunset photo of Homer Lake and I knew it was the one.

I went up to the front of the store and sparked up a conversation with Doug to get an idea of how he started photography. The four of us talked not only about the technical things, but also the philosophical things involved in photography. I don’t often get to talk in-depth about photography with anyone, so it was a nice change! We wrapped up the conversation because it was getting late (and I had to work the next day). So I thanked Doug for his time and we went home.

As an artist, and small business owner, I tend to get so focused on what I’m doing. I worry that I’m not going to be successful as a photographer. Cameras are becoming cheaper and easier to use, so why would someone want to buy my photos when they could just do it themselves?

Well this is what I’ve discovered: it’s not just about the photo, it’s about how it makes you feel. When I look at the photo of Homer Lake, it reminds me that if I work hard enough, I can achieve whatever I want. I might not be where I want to be right now, but I will get there.

I think it’s so important to support local artists because you can talk about their art with them and understand why and how they created the things they did. I’m not saying getting home decor from a big store is wrong (because Hobby Lobby definitely has some cute items), but you don’t get to know who created those pieces and why.

Doug took the photo of Homer Lake on his first trip back to the Boundary Waters since his childhood. Homer Lake lies at the end of the Caribou Trail before Brule Lake. And I can relate to that, because my first and only Boundary Waters experience was on Brule Lake. If I would have purchased a similar photo from a big store, I probably wouldn’t have known those things.

I am so glad Casey needed water, otherwise I may have not discovered Doug’s photography shop! Don’t ever let your spontaneity die because you can meet some awesome people along the way!

Check out Doug’s Facebook page and Website!

Until next time!

Δ Abbi

Small Business Spotlight: Down Home Creations - Albia

I didn't take this photo!