Never underestimate a financial controller turned furniture maker. Brianne Rasmussen quit her job in 2016 to follow her passion. Timber & Tulip has steadily built a following for its “organic modern” handcrafted furniture, which she sold online and out of her workshop until 2023, when she opened a store on Wayzata’s Lake Street, home to several indie home and design stores. “Retail is hard. We have to support each other,” says Rasmussen, who took the lead establishing the Wayzata Design District, which debuted over the summer with a group event that drew crowds to nine participating shops. Watch for the group’s holiday market and more events and joint marketing efforts in 2025.