Spriggan Stone offers local art, custom jewelry and appraisal services in Grand Marais

Chuck Olsen | June 18, 2025

A Grand Marais art space has been reborn.

The former Yellowbird Fine Art gallery has relaunched as Spriggan Stone, an eclectic gallery that encompasses custom jewelry and leatherwork, artisan goods and fine art from more than 100 regional creators.

Co-owners Kenny Albrecht and Elliot Nelson are the creative force behind the relaunch, combining deep North Shore roots with complementary design backgrounds. Albrecht, a lifelong North Shore resident and trained silversmith, started cutting gemstones at age 14 and now creates bold, industrial-style silver jewelry using rare stones. Nelson, a leatherworker and former engineer, moved to Silver Bay in 2023 after discovering a shared vision with Albrecht on the Renaissance fair circuit.

“We realized we were reinventing the entire store—new name, new layout, mostly new inventory,” said Albrecht. “It felt right to treat this as a true grand reopening.”

In addition to showcasing work in painting, ceramics, photography, glass, and leather, Spriggan Stone has expanded its services. The gallery now offers custom jewelry design, certified gemstone appraisals, and watch repair through partnerships with specialists in the Twin Cities. They also provide custom photo-metal printing and carry a growing selection of lab-grown diamonds and ethically sourced colored stones.

One standout: Nelson’s whimsical, hand-stitched leather bags—like a turtle backpack or an mushroom-shaped satchel—crafted without machines. “It all started as a COVID hobby,” Nelson said. “Now I get to do it full-time.”

Spriggan Stone continues to anchor the owners’ presence at more than 30 art fairs and festivals annually, including the Minnesota Renaissance Festival and the European Christmas Market.

The duo plans to host in-store events with live appraisals and watch repair services later this summer. Updates are posted to the gallery’s Facebook account.

Spriggan Stone is located at 101 W Highway 61 in Grand Marais.

WTIP’s Chuck Olsen spoke with Co-owners Kenny Albrecht and Elliot Nelson about the Spriggan Stone business. Photos and audio from the interview are below.