Heartell in the Shop - Minnesota Center for Book Arts in Minneapolis, MN
Welcome to the Minnesota Center for Book Arts—a Minneapolis gem where the love of paper, print, and storytelling is at the heart of everything they do. Part gallery, part studio, part shop, MCBA is a space where creativity and craft come together to celebrate the book as an art form, and they have been one of our cherished retail partners since 2020.
Their retail shop is a haven for book lovers and makers alike, thoughtfully stocked with artist-made prints, bookbinding tools, unique gifts, and beautiful paper goods that honor the written word. We’re proud to have Heartell cards on their shelves and to be part of a space that values handmade, meaningful work.
With Independent Bookstore Day coming up on Saturday, April 27, we caught up with Annie Schiferl, the Retail & Visitor Services Manager at MCBA, to learn more about what makes this place so incredibly special and all the possibilities that open up when you walk through their doors.
Swing by to browse their curated collection, join the celebration, and support the incredible work they do to keep book arts accessible and thriving in their community.
We’re so grateful for their partnership and for all they do to keep the love of books and book arts alive and providing a community space to grow in. 
How do you curate or select the products you offer in your shop?
Our gift shop is a book artist’s dream! As part of the Minnesota Center for Book Arts—a nonprofit dedicated to making creative expression through book arts accessible to all—our shop extends that vision by curating work that celebrates the art of the book. We feature handmade prints, greeting cards, zines, journals, and artists’ books from small businesses and independent artists. We also carry supplies to help customers start their own book arts practice at home. We showcase a diverse range of artists, voices, and perspectives within the book arts community. Whether their work is folded, bound, printed, or marbled, we seek out pieces that reflect the creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation of book artists from all backgrounds.
What is your "why"?
We see our shop as an entry point into the book arts world. By providing tools, supplies, and lots of inspiration, we help people discover and grow their own creative practices, both independently and in community with others. One of our favorite things is watching a customer’s curiosity spark a journey, from discovering book arts in our shop to attending a workshop, and maybe even sharing their own creations with us as an artist.
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your shop? Anything you'd like us to highlight?
In our Shop, we find ourselves answering the question, "What are book arts?" often. Book Arts are a group of art forms that range from traditional craft skills to new methods of artmaking all inspired by the form and function of books. At MCBA, we teach, exhibit, and practice bookbinding, letterpress printing, marbling, papermaking, and screen printing, but book arts can also include hand-lettering, origami/paper-folding, collage, and so much more. You'll find art from all these categories in our Shop.
Thanks for reading friends! Check out all the MNCB workshops and offerings here: https://mnbookarts.org/.
Shop their online shop at: https://mnbookarts.org/shop.
Not visiting Minnesota anytime soon? Use our store locater to find another independent Heartell retail partner near you!
Photography Credit by Paul B. Jones