Small houses? Des Moines artist opens small craft store

Tickled Turquoise, a 10-by-12-foot arts and crafts store in the North Grand district of Des Moines, welcomes visitors this holiday season.

• The store held its first Christmas open house on Friday.

Why is this important: Small businesses could be the next frontier for local entrepreneurs, owner Misty Oetker told Axios.

Go back: Oetker, who specializes in the design of prints and fabrics, originally wanted to open a mobile art store. But that idea was complicated by allowing food trucks similar to the ones many metropolitan cities require.

• Oetker later found out that she didn’t need a permit in DSM for a shed of 120 square feet or less.
• So she designed her small business, which her family helped build at home.

Go shopping: The Oetker store is located at 745 33rd St., Des Moines.

• It is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Sunday. You can expect the same times from December 11-12 and December 18-19.
• During other periods, the shop is open by appointment.