About Us

Hi, I'm Debb Masterson and I founded Minnesota Nice Spice in 2011 as a way to help a local day program for artists with disabilities where my sister Lucy Johnson "Picasso" is an artist. I started handcrafting organic spice blends creating my own recipes for unique seasoning that emphasize natural health properties, like antioxidants, to add a little spice and lots of flavor to your healthy lifestyle. My business is 100% women owned and supports local artisans.

In 2017 we added many themed gift boxes, self designed apparel, flour sack towels and more as a way to offer a variety of items for your gifting needs. We curate all LOCAL Minnesconsin products into unique gift boxes and even CUSTOM MAKE gift boxes in all price ranges.

Even NICER, in the true spirit of community, we continue to donate proceeds from each sale to benefit Interact Center, a one-of-a-kind nonprofit organization that supports over 125 theater and visual artists with disabilities.

Whether you are purchasing gifts for yourself, as a personal gift, for bridal shower gifts, wedding gifts & wedding favors, or as corporate gifts, or even fundraisers, we provide you with healthy, charitable, unique and custom made items that are handcrafted. WE LOVE TO HELP YOU LEAVE A LASTING IMPRESSION! We make custom gifts for you or your business as well.

Nice up your spice or spice up your nice! Either way… that’s what we help you do!

Meet Debb

Debb Masterson is a self-proclaimed spice gypsy, naturalist, world traveler, and founder of Minnesota Nice Spice. From a young age, Debb’s affinity for creating deliciously unique recipes was evident. She learned French culinary techniques from her grandmother and became a master of substitution and experimentation when faced with limited ingredients. (As the second child of five, it’s no wonder ingredients weren’t plentiful!) One of Debb’s favorite sayings is, “ Recipes are only suggestions, ideas to be altered, to make them more personal.”

Debb believes in a “do-good, live well” philosophy.

Meet Lucy

Lucy Johnson is Debb’s very special sister and everyone who meets Lucy instantly knows what a truly amazing person and visual artist she is. Lucy spends her days at the Interact Center For Artists With Disabilities in St. Paul where she graces everyone with her sparkling personality.

In her spare time, Lucy is an avid sports fan. Lucy loves all the Minnesota sports teams, including the Minnesota Vikings, Wild, and Timberwolves, but she is especially fond of the Twins. She even has her name on the Twin’s Wall of Fame, has a Viking's Legacy Brick outside the stadium, and was named one of 100 top Minnesota Viking's womens fans in 2019! She is a collector of sports memorabilia and never fails to set up her shrine for each and every game she watches.

In addition to her love of sports, Lucy enjoys meeting and spending time with animals of all sorts. At home, Lucy has two cats that she spoils with lots of love and attention. When it comes to her art, Lucy is drawn to expressing her love for animals (land and aquatic) through her painting talent. She also has an innate ability to sell her art and our gift items too!

Severe osteoporosis keeps Lucy fairly low key these days, but she tries her best to stay active with riding the stationary bike, a 3-wheel bike seasonally, and getting crazy on four-wheelers with friends and family on summer weekends.

And did I mention that Lucy is my seasoning muse? She was the inspiration for one of our top selling blends, Lucy’s Pub Blend. Thank you Lucy!

Check out Lucy’s mini cooking show!