Boston Handmade Marketplace this Saturday!

Join the friends and members of Boston Handmade as we host our 2nd annual Marketplace at Union Square in Somerville. The event happens on Saturday July 11th from 3-7PM.

From the website: More than 25 artists, artisans, and craftspeople will be showing and selling handmade jewelry, clothing, accessories, housewares, art, photography, toys, and sculpture along with hands-on craft demonstrations from The Common Cod Fiber Guild and The Eliot School of Fine and Applied Arts.



I will be vending there along with my friends Made In Lowell and The Intuitive Garden. The weather is forecasted to be wonderful, so come out and support your local handmade artists!

June/July Newsletter

* Revised hours for July 4th weekend
* "Christmas in July" classes all month long!
* Upcoming craft shows
* Upcoming bead shows

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Our revised hours for July 4th weekend are as follows:

Friday 7/3: 10-5
Saturday 7/4: 12-5
Sunday 7/5: CLOSED

Lowell is having its fireworks display on Friday the 3rd at 9PM - head on over to the Sampas Pavilion on the Boulevard and watch the fireworks from the river! For directions, go to: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/northeast/llhp.htm

Saturday 7/4 will be First Saturdays Open Studios at Western Avenue, so stop by and say hello!

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Next month, get a jump on your holiday crafting by taking one of our "Christmas in July" beading classes. We will be teaching Christmas Tree earrings, Beaded Ball Ornament, Netted Snowflake, and Undulating Waves - Santa! All classes held on Wednesday nights - check the website for details.

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See owner Liz Stewart at the following craft shows in July:

July 11, 3-7PM - Boston Handmade Marketplace
Union Square, Somerville
Put on by the fabulous Boston Handmade!
http://bostonhandmade.org/2009Marketplace.htm

July 25-27 - Art in the Courtyard at the Lowell Folk Festival
Between Market Street and the Dutton Street Dance Pavilion
Fri 5-8PM, Sat 12-7:30PM, Sun 12-5PM.
I'm sharing a space with Petter Zimmerman Designs in Glass.
http://www.thebrush.org/AIC2009/index.html

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Local bead shows in July include:

July 10-12 in Marlboro, MA
International Gem & Jewelry Show
Royal Plaza Trade Center
181 Boston Post Road West
http://www.intergem.com/

July 18-19 in Nashua, NH
BeadFiesta
Courtyard Marriott
2200 Southwood Drive
http://www.beadfiesta.com/

July 25-26 in Concord, NH
Innovative Beads Expo
Courtyard by Marriott
70 Constitution Avenue
http://www.innovativebeadsexpo.com/show_details.php?id=123

Ugly Necklace contest results!

We had a great turnout for our first Ugly Necklace contest - thank you so much to everyone who submitted pieces and voted for our winners!

We received 14 entries that were put up on the walls of the 3rd floor A-Mill:



We received over 200 votes in the contest! Here's how the voting for the Ugly Necklace went:

58 votes for "Double Ugly" by Pat Wymore - First Place!


37 votes for "Hawaiian Lei From Hell!" by Horribly Wonky Jewelry - Second Place!


28 votes for "Tonto's Revenge" by Ilene Richard - Third Place!


25 votes for "Trees & Toast with Flies"
13 votes for "To The Pain"
12 votes for "'B' is for Beautiful"
7 votes for "The Nancy"
6 votes for "This Necklace is made of FAIL"
6 votes for "Double Strand Horrendousness"
4 votes for "Ocean Tsunami"
4 votes for "SeaDreams"
3 votes for "Animal Stew"
2 votes for "Absolutely Normal Chaos"
1 vote for "Twisted"




We also asked voters to indicate if their were any necklace(s) they secretly liked or would wear. Here are the results of that section of the ballot:

36 votes for "Twisted"
30 votes for "Ocean Tsunami"
13 votes for "Hawaiian Lei From Hell!"
12 votes for Absolutely Normal Chaos"
11 votes for "This Necklace is Made of FAIL"
8 votes for "The Nancy"
8 votes for "Tonto's Revenge"
4 votes for "Double Ugly"
4 votes for "Animal Stew"
3 votes for "SeaDreams"
3 votes for "Double Strand Horrendousness"
1 vote for "Trees & Toast with Flies"
0 votes for "'B' is for Beautiful"
0 votes for "To the Pain"

5 years in business - a retrospective

This weekend, I am celebrating 5 years in business.

5 YEARS! Honestly, I can't believe it myself.

Before looking forward, let's take a (pictorial) look back at the history of the shop.

In December 2003, I looked at an empty storefront on Merrimack Street in downtown Lowell. In February 2004, I called to see if it was still available, and it was! I signed a lease a few weeks after that. At the beginning of May 2004, my shop opened at 122 Merrimack Street in downtown Lowell, MA.

The day before I opened, I hung up my sign. Don't I look happy?


Just before the ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday May 5, 2004. I was goofing around. Best viewed while humming the Chariots of Fire theme, because that's what I was humming at the time...


That is me with the mayor (left) and the head of the Chamber of Commerce (right). Those scissors are just bizarre - they are cardboard and do not cut. I am holding a stealth pair of metal scissors behind them. Maybe you can spot them?


The shop on opening day. Oh glorious day!


In August 2005, the shop moved next door to 120 Merrimack Street. It was at least twice the size of the original space. Growth!


I spent 3 years at that location, and I really liked it. My business went through a lot of ups and downs during that period, and towards the end of my time there the economy was really starting to tank.

In August 2008 the shop moved again, this time to the Western Avenue Studios. The space is smaller and the creative environment is fantastic. I am really happy here.

Upcoming Workshops

Tomorrow night (Thu 4/9) we are having a workshop to make stitch markers! The workshop is free, just pay $5 for a materials kit. There will be refreshments!

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Join our neighbors on the 4th floor on Friday, April 24th from 6-7:15PM for a Fused Glass Pendant workshop! You will design your pendants and leave them to be fired. They will be available for pickup on Saturday May 2nd. Space is limited, so email glassandclay [at] yahoo [dot] com to reserve a spot! The cost of this workshop is $20.

March 2009 Newsletter

March 2009 Newsletter

* Glass Fusing Workshop this Thursday 3/27!
* Lush Beads Ugly Necklace Contest!
* Upcoming classes
* Western Avenue Studios First Saturdays 4/4/09 12-5PM
* After Hours Thursdays with Hub Mills Store: Thurs 4/9/09
* Looking forward - our 5 year anniversary celebration! May 2-3, 2009

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Spring is almost here! I, for one, cannot wait. I've been using lots of spring colors in my beadwork lately. What about you?

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This is a workshop offered by artists on the 4th floor at the Western Avenue Studios. Contact them if you are interested!

"Join Samantha & Barbara for an intro to glass fusing workshop. Students will be designing their own fused glass pendants. Barbara and Samantha will be providing the instruction, glass and firing. Pendants will be ready to pick up on Saturday 4/4/09 during Open Studio hours 12-5. Sign up now for the upcoming session on March 27th 6pm-7:15pm.

Sign up is on a first come/pay, first serve basis. Those who send in their workshop fee of $20 per person (per 4" tile) will be in the first session 6pm-7:15pm. Any overflow registrations will be in session 2 the same evening. We will only hold session 2 if session 1 is full."

Drop a note to glassandclay@yahoo.com if you are interested!

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In conjunction with our 5-year anniversary celebration in May, Lush Beads is holding its first ever Ugly Necklace Contest! Show off your mistakes in style and have the chance to win prizes. This is going to be a lot of fun, so I encourage you all to enter!

There is no fee to enter this contest. One entry per person. Submissions are due by April 30th. Submissions will be displayed from May 1-3, 2009. Voting will take place on May 2nd, and the winners will be announced on May 3rd. First prize is a $50 beady gift basket from Lush Beads!

For rules and submission forms, visit:
http://lushbeads.com/uglynecklace.php

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Upcoming classes:
Hugs & Kisses Bracelet - Tue March 31, 6:30-8:30PM - Chelmsford High
Basic Stringing - Wed April 1 7-9PM - Lush Beads
Caterpillar Bracelet - Tue April 7&14, 6:30-8:30PM - Chelmsford High
Basic Earrings - Wed April 8 7-8:30PM - Lush Beads
Spiral Stitch Bracelet - Wed April 15, 7-9PM - Lush Beads
Shell Pendant - Tue April 21, 6:30-8:30PM - Chelmsford High
Ndebele Bracelet - Tue April 28, 6:30-9PM - Chelmsford High
Frantic Faeries - Tue May 5, 6:30-8:30PM - Chelmsford High

Visit Chelmsford Community Education or Lush Beads for class details!

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First Saturdays is coming soon. Come on by the Western Avenue Studios on Saturday 4/4/09 from 12-5PM. The 2nd floor of the main building is now populated with artists, so welcome our new neighbors!

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Lush Beads is teaming up with the Hub Mills Store on the 4th floor of our building for After Hours Thursdays! Join us for projects and refreshments on Thursday April 9th from 5-7PM. I will be teaching how to make stitch markers. The Hub Mills Store will be doing a knit-along.

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Lush Beads will be 5 this year, and I am planning a big weekend celebration on May 2-3, 2009. Donna Pagano Denny is joining us to teach 3 classes: Scalloped Necklace, Razzamatazz Bracelet/Necklace, and Triangle Beaded Pendant. We will have our Pick A Chip Sale, refreshments, the Ugly Necklace Contest judging, and more!

For more info: http://lushbeads.com/5thanniversary.php

CALL FOR ENTRIES: Ugly Necklace Contest

In conjunction with our 5-year anniversary celebration on May 2, 2009, I am sponsoring an Ugly Necklace Contest! Submissions must be received by April 30. Submitted entries will be judged by the artists and folks attending First Saturdays Open Studios on May 2nd, and winners will be announced on May 3rd. Visit the link for rules and submission forms.