THE COLLECTIVE

THE COLLECTIVE sustainable • vegan • bulk refillery

highland park | dsm, iowa

in-store shopping | online 24/7

Get your asses out there and support some LGBTQ+ owned businesses this June. F**K THE CORPORATIONS and businesses who on...
06/05/2026

Get your asses out there and support some LGBTQ+ owned businesses this June. F**K THE CORPORATIONS and businesses who only give a damn about Pride once a year……. and there are many…. being an ally doesn’t stop with you saying you are an ally - are you calling in businesses who are performing just for the benefit of extra sales this month?? What actions are you taking to make lives better for trans folks in your community?? Are you writing to your elected officials or folks running for office (ahem Sand and Turek) asking them to stop attacking trans kids in sports and fight to reinstate civil rights here in Iowa?? No?? Well that’s something you can do this pride.

We don’t need your thoughts and prayers, we don’t need you to post cute photos wearing rainbow merch, but we sure as hell would love to see you take some action while wearing cute rainbow attire created by a q***r artist or telling folks which LGBTQ+ businesses you’re supporting this month while doing it!!!!

Now get out there and support some small local businesses + artists and make some donations to organizations who are actively doing the work to help q***r and trans kids become adults.

To my LGBTQ+ family, Happy Pride baddies!!! This is our time to rage and love and dance and share JOY together being our most authentic selves!!!! WE ARE HERE AND WE ARE Q***R ALL DAMN YEAR 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️♥️

sending soo much love to my beautiful sister who has poured her heart and soul into creating the most magical space for...
05/29/2026

sending soo much love to my beautiful sister who has poured her heart and soul into creating the most magical space for crafty misfits as she announces the upcoming closure of . Having her next to me has been the greatest gift imaginable. Please support the hell out of her during these last few months open. And please respect her boundaries set below, I kindly ask for the same❤️‍🩹🫶🏼

-Jamie

・・・ :
Today I’m announcing with a heavy heart that Black Sheep Craft Shop will be closing its doors at the end of August. Due to circumstances outside of my control, I’ve made the difficult decision to end my relationship with the building’s ownership and will close the shop.

I’m bad at asking for help, but I do have two genuine requests.

First, I’m requesting not to receive questions about whether I’ve considered relocating or suggestions about potential locations. I’ve evaluated the possibility of relocating and decided not to pursue it further at this time. The truth is, the shop would not have leapt out of my dreams and into reality without this specific space next to my sister’s shop becoming available. It was already a stretch to take this on, and I simply do not have the capacity (emotional or otherwise) to start over in a new location at this time. Maybe someday in a different season of life for me.

Second, what I would love feedback on is what this shop and the community that has developed around it has meant to you. I’ve created a form that I’ll link in my bio. I would be so grateful if you gift me with a memory or photos of finished objects you made from something you purchased at the shop.
For right now, I just want to say thank you.

Opening this shop has been a literal dream come true for me, and the community it has given me has far exceeded any hope I could have had. I’m so sorry and sad to see it end in this way and at this time, but what remains is my commitment to remaining a part of our local fiber art community in my individual capacity. In the meantime, I’m going to savor this summer as a shop owner and always as your friend.

All my best, and with absolutely no regrets,
Nicole

Reusable freeze pop molds and water balloons are back in stock for the season!!! ♻️♻️♻️
05/29/2026

Reusable freeze pop molds and water balloons are back in stock for the season!!! ♻️♻️♻️

I’ve been a little quiet here lately and let me just say that it’s not for a lack of joy… my hands are getting dirty in ...
05/28/2026

I’ve been a little quiet here lately and let me just say that it’s not for a lack of joy… my hands are getting dirty in my yard every single day and it’s been soo grounding 🫶🏼

I share a little more about my home projects over on my personal instagram page () in case you’re interested, but I feel strongly that they deserve a spot here as well!!! 🌎

Over the past few years, I’ve slowly been getting rid of my grass lawn (through the cardboard/mulch process as well as smothering a large section last year with duraweave tarps) and planting alll the native pollinators through my front and back yards. Last year in particular I took advantage of Des Moines’ Stormwater Best Management Practices Program - by installing rain barrels and a native garden I received a 50% rebate of $2,000 (which is the max). I have links to this program as well as others throughout areas surrounding the metro in my bio.

Outside of hiring that work to be done last year, I’ve been doing everything on my own and learning as I go. Trust me when I say that it is truly a beautiful journey and wow talk about a labor of love ♥️

I’ve gotten lots of my plants via transplants from friends, planting native seeds last year from Prairie Moon, and multiple purchases locally from and Blooming Prairie Nursery out in Carlisle. It’s soooo fun learning about native plants - I’ve been able to identify some out in the wild and even in my own backyard that I don’t even know were there!!

In a country where those in charge are ruining the land with data centers, reducing grass lawns, harvesting rain water, and planting native plants is a gentle (but fierce) way that we can actively make a difference and give a little something back to the earth after humans continue to take more and more every day ❤️‍🩹

- jamie

It’s a beautiful weekend to say f*ck billionaires and choose to spend your dollars with some small businesses who give a...
05/23/2026

It’s a beautiful weekend to say f*ck billionaires and choose to spend your dollars with some small businesses who give a damn instead!!!!

we will be here for all of your sustainable needs🌎🌎
10-4 saturday + sunday

Talk about the greatest basket EVER!!!! Couldn’t love it any more for a little bulk haul ♻️♻️♻️📍friday | 11-6📍saturday +...
05/22/2026

Talk about the greatest basket EVER!!!! Couldn’t love it any more for a little bulk haul ♻️♻️♻️

📍friday | 11-6
📍saturday + sunday | 10-4

LET’S TALK ABOUT COMPOSTING!!First and foremost, keeping your food scraps out of the landfill is seriously badass and ha...
05/15/2026

LET’S TALK ABOUT COMPOSTING!!
First and foremost, keeping your food scraps out of the landfill is seriously badass and has a HUGE impact!!!🌎🪱🪴

WHAT IS COMPOSTING? Composting is the natural process during which organic matter - like food waste (nitrogen/greens) and yard waste (carbon/browns) - are broken down naturally by bacteria and fungus into a nutrient-rich soil-like material.

BENEFITS OF COMPOSTING 🌎
✅ reduces greenhouse emissions
✅ waste reduction at home and in the landfill
✅ reduces $$ + carbon emissions to haul and dump into landfill
✅ save $ on trash bags + yard waste bags
✅ it’s also super fun + rewarding to harvest!!!

AND IN TURN…
using finished compost in your garden, yard, and even houseplants has even more benefits!!!
🪱 improves structure + health of soil by adding organic matter
🪱 helps retain soil moisture + nutrients
🪱 reduces potential for soil erosion
🪱 attracts beneficial organisms
🪱 and more!!!

COMMON TYPES OF COMPOSTING:
🌎 backyard compost pile (open air or container)
🌎 tumbler composting * this is the system I currently use at home
🌎 worm composting (vermicomposting)
🌎 commercial composting

{ .refill.market and have local drop-off composting services available here in Des Moines }

Now is a perfect time to start!!! Have questions?
Drop them below👇🏽⬇️

(sources: epa.gov, sph.umich.edu)

PLEASE READ, SHARE, AND SHOW UP!!!!!!!Libraries are under attack in Des Moines. The City Council wants to close branches...
05/14/2026

PLEASE READ, SHARE, AND SHOW UP!!!!!!!

Libraries are under attack in Des Moines. The City Council wants to close branches (specifically Forest and North Side - OUR NEIGHBORHOOD) and reduce hours. Obviously this will be devastating to the community, especially because the two libraries they want to close are branches that serve and provide resources to the most vulnerable neighborhood in our city.

The library consists of 4% of the city budget but they are trying to use these meager resources to fund their deficit even though the police budget is over 50%. The cost of one traffic light could keep a library branch open. This is a political attack on libraries.

Our libraries need support!!! If you cannot show up for the city council meeting on May 18th, please reach out to City Council and share what the library means to you and the community.
Much love and solidarity. ❤️❤️

It’s a beautiful day to refill some jars!!!! Bring in your own clean/dry containers or choose from ours ♻️♻️♻️With over ...
05/14/2026

It’s a beautiful day to refill some jars!!!! Bring in your own clean/dry containers or choose from ours ♻️♻️♻️

With over 60 products in our Bulk Refillery we’ve got all of your home and personal care goods covered!!

Tuesday-Friday | 11-6
Saturday + Sunday | 10-4

CLOSING AT 2PM🌸🌸🌸Hey friends, it’s been a super slow day so we’ve decided to close up a little early today and go surpri...
05/10/2026

CLOSING AT 2PM🌸🌸🌸
Hey friends, it’s been a super slow day so we’ve decided to close up a little early today and go surprise our Mom a little early.

-Nicole + Jamie (your fave sister small biz owners)

Address

3523 6th Avenue Suite 101
Des Moines, IA
50313

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 6pm
Wednesday 11am - 6pm
Thursday 11am - 6pm
Friday 11am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

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