INTERLOCHEN -- When you walk into Michigan's Gifts & Treasures in Interlochen, it's almost like walking into a quaint cottage.  It actually has wreaths, frames and other beach scenes that you can use to decorate your cottage or home...all of which local artists designed.

"We have over 130 artists.  We do a lot of locals, a lot of people all the way to Houghton and Hancock area, all the way down to Detroit.  They're all over Michigan," says owner, Paulette Mayer.
       
Mayer opened the business last March.  Besides art work, there is also handmade jewelry, scarves, gloves, even tasty treats...all under one roof and all made in Michigan.

"Unique one of a kind and that's what we're all about.  I want you to say, 'oh my gosh, this is great, it's a one of a kind, it's a great price,' " says Mayer.
    
One of those unique jewelry pieces besides Petoskey stone accessories, includes Leland Blues.

"A Leland blue is a glass that was a product of the iron foundries in the last 1800's, iron being smelted for railroads.  So, it's like a by product from that, that had fallen into a lake.  So, now people are harvesting that and making jewelry out of it," says Mayer.

Mayer says her driving motivation to sell the array of local products stems from tough economic times.

"It's a safe bet.  You know where it's coming from and I can tell you the background of the person.  It's very much economy and supporting our locals. We have to go back to the basics," says Mayer.

With this in mind, she's created a store that you can pretty much find what you need if you're in the market for buying local, and it's all just a one stop shop.

"We're in a good middle area, I think for everything.  A lot of people from other states are coming here.  I even have people from Germany, France, all over," says Mayer.

Mayer says when you stop in and buy a decoration for your cottage or home...or even buy a Leland Blue necklace, you're not only helping her, but also the local economy.

"They say for every dollar spent in Michigan, three-quarters of that comes back to our local economy.  So in turn, that helps us all out," says Mayer.

Michigan's Gifts & Treasures has Facebook and Twitter accounts.  For more information, check out their website: http://michigansgiftsandtreasures.com/