New boutique owner wants residents to slow down, enjoy


Sherry Kelly opened Lily of the Valley, a boutique that has much more than clothing, in rural Blair last month.            (Times photograph by Andrew Dannehy)

As life seems to get busier for everyone, Sherry Kelly is offering a place where people can escape and slow down at Lily of the Valley.

“I want people to get back to the basics in life, to simplify things,” Kelly said. “That’s what I’m trying to create here. Let’s slow down a bit and do those fun family things that we don’t seem to do anymore.”

At Lily of the Valley, located at W18870 Peterson Coulee Road in Blair, Kelly has plenty of options — and space — to help people unwind and enjoy life.

Kelly’s motivation for opening the store was her grandmother, Lennice Simmons.

“She was always crafting, repurposing, refurbishing, using scraps to come up with any kind of craft,” Kelly said.

Opening the store had been a dream of Kelly’s for several years, she said, but, like many people, she didn’t think she’d have the time to pull it off.

“I have always had an interest in crafts and making things pretty,” Kelly said. “So this had been brewing in my head and in my heart, I just didn’t ever think I had enough time to do it.”

As her children began to get older, though, Kelly realized her dream could come to fruition.

In the store, Kelly sells many typical boutique items, including a full clothing line, jewelry, home decor, crafts and gifts, but she offers so much more. In addition to traditional items, Kelly sells wine, meat and cheese from local businesses and has a floral shop.

“I took everything I love and wrapped into a store,” Kelly said.

But her business is more than just a store. She has a community room that is available to be rented out and a pond that was put in for visitors to enjoy.

This Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., she’s going to offer live music with Blondie Blue, as well as several vendors. (See advertisement below for more information)

On Nov. 14 and 15, she will have a holiday open house and a grand opening. She’ll introduce her winter clothing line, along with selling Christmas decorations — including Christmas trees — gifts and hopes to be able to offer sleigh rides. Should the COVID-19 activity slow down by then, she also hopes to be able to offer baked goods and beverages.

“I want people to have an experience when they come here and literally sit with their friends, sit and visit,” she said. “The cell service isn’t very good here so you have to visit, you don’t get to play on your phone.”

Kelly credits her children — daughter Paige, 14, and son, Payton, 12 — for helping her dream come true.

“(My children) literally helped build this,” Kelly said. “They help work in it and enjoy it.”

Kelly said her daughter is already making plans to start a franchise and open her own store along the Mississippi River.

She also said her husband Justin — owner of Kelly Electric — was  instrumental in making her dream come true. 

“He has been more than supportive in the journey,” she said. “He worked day and night for months to make sure it was complete by the goal date. It would not have happened without his dedication and handyman skills.”

The Kelly family has been active in the community. Both of her children are active in school sports, they volunteer for the Rita Tranberg Memorial Benefit and the Blair Sportsmen’s Club, among others.

Sherry Kelly opened her store on Sept. 19 and said that the support she has received from the community has been more than she could’ve asked for.

“It just blows my mind, how supportive the community has been,” she

Special Sections

Comment Here