Greater Burlington and Waterford community blog

beautiful china beads store

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:31:50 GMT

A rekindled interest in homemade one-of-a-kind gifts and a new, expanded able fuelling a local entrepreneur success in the rocky economic times.

Justine Jacus, 47 and mother of two children, was the owner of beads Galore for 15 years. It was recently expanded their store Maltman driving to a place with twice as high as the area information in Sutton Way, next to garden bakery flour.

Tables abundance of stained glass beads, semi-precious stone, shell, bone and ceramic beads fill the camp. Strands of turquoise, coral and agate depend on the walls.

Between Longs and Safeway, the touchable jewelry pieces are attracting pedestrian traffic and a whole series of new customers who have discovered the world of pearls. Since moving a half months, that business has nearly doubled its revenue, Ryan said.

With the additional space,Ryan, going beyond pearls to offer workshops in collage picture frames, mosaics and crochet and knitting classes. A number of basic foodstuffs glass beads and free form wiring classes for beginners to experienced jewelry makers are still options.

"The classes are booming bead, but I want to go further with him," said Ryan.

Glass Beads Game Public Participation in Decision-making and silver smithing are also on the horizon in a classroom at the rear of the business. Artists show their pottery, felted bags, retro furniture and designer jewelry in the store's craft gallery.

"I'm looking for craftsmen to teach and artists to sell their wares," said Ryan.

Jacus has always been her own boss, starting from the date it sells bikinis sewn at home with her friends at the beach of Waikiki. By the time she was in her 20's, she was with four yogurt and coffee shops in San Francisco.

"I was an entrepreneur my whole life. I've never worked for someone else. I have always done my own thing," said Ryan.

Then she decided to slow down and out of the city. Zog after Nevada County, where their mother lived, and opened her bead store on Maltman Drive, in Grass Valley.

Jacus is also the owner of the Scotch Broom, a women's clothing store in Commercial Street in Nevada City. While the economy has forced some people to conserve by less money for clothing, the people have learned they can make a Sundance-style necklace or earrings at a fraction of the cost.

"I think the people who learn more about their gifts. I think the people would rather receive something that you have made," said Ryan.

Others are training new thread beads her grandmother into something more modern.
"Pearls come from all parts of the world. I want to wholesale beads. I look for unusual, new colors, new shapes. I like semi-precious, but not?" Ryan.said.

Large Chunky pieces with saturated colors, which now Ryan said.

"Like all your jewel tones. People want more color," said Ryan.

A table is located in the center allows customers to sit down and bead creations in their own house.

"You can sit and listen to your own if you need some instructions," she said. "I think one of the things that we are known, is customer service. It is with enormous me," said Ryan.

The Excitement of Back to School

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:53:31 GMT

What is the best part of the kids going back to school? Is it the peace and quiet? The structure? Something for the kids to do?

For me, it is all of the above. While I have enjoyed having my 13 year old son home this summer, it has been a challenge to keep from hearing him utter those thrilling words, "Mom, I am bored." So, he has been to the library, gone swimming, ridden his bike, kept up with a regimen of chores, gone to festivals, fairs and baseball games.

With all of those activities, I am tired and ready for a few quiet mornings reading the paper on the porch with a steaming cup of coffee. So, tell me, what are you looking forward to about the first day of school?

Dollars well-spent?

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:07:37 GMT

Controversy seems to follow Bridget Lois. It began as soon as she was hired to be the city of Burlington treasurer despite being the daughter of the then-mayor and lacking experience.

Lately, that was compounded when she was given a big raise after only a short time on the job. City administrator Kevin Lahner defends the decision on his blog, writing that her performance warrants it.

So what's the sentiment? Is this nepotism and wasteful spending or a fair wage to keep a budding star on board?

Watered down dreams

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:57:05 GMT

Here are some quotes from Phillip Klamm, who I interviewed last week after the Town of Burlington rejected his plan to build two more homes on his Teut Road property -- one for each of his sons:

"They said that they were concerned about water. When you put a new house up, you get runoff and such. … So I had the engineers check it out, and they figured out that if I put in, like, a 10-by-12 rain graden for each of these houses, that would more than make up for any water that gets displaced by a roof and a driveway and a sidewalk and a patio, whatever else you put in."

"They just flat out, ‘No’. Somebody made this pond out here [part of the Wal-Mart project] too small, which overflowed the swamp and put water into my neighbor’s yard. So everybody’s all upset about that over here."

"So the night of the town board meeting … I found out they had all gotten a petition out. [Of 42 property owners], 41 of them signed a petition said, 'No, I don’t want any more houses on this road.' What they used for an excuse was the water situation."

"I tried to explain to [the town] that it’d be healthier property when I’m done than it was before I started, and it’s not gonna cost them anything."

"I am getting closer to retirement and not looking for a five-year fight. Nor do I have any money to fight – I spent significant amount of money getting this far, engineering and surveys and whatever expenses."

"So I guess we just decided we’re going to go someplace else, because if the community doesn’t want us, then we certainly don’t want to be in the community, Because a community by definition is everybody working together. If they don’t want to work with me or if they think I’m working against them, then I’m obviously in the wrong community. Forty-one to one, it isn’t like it’s a debate."

Klamm also wonders if there's lingering resentment over the police attention their home receives because they're longtime foster parents. The couple is now looking to buy a place in the Delavan area.

Where's the Bargains?

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:28:36 GMT

Did anyone get out to Maxwell Street Days? Boy, it has certainly changed since I was a kid in the 60's. Remember all the stores we had downtown and the great bargains? I remember my mom buying all my back to school clothes from Wee Moderns for fabulous prices. My brothers received shiny new trucks from Firestone and Ben Franklin and Kesslers always had a huge supply of great toys and trinkets.

Things have certainly changed--there are few stores left, and those that are here don't have many good deals. Stunned by the lack of merchandise, I wandered through Wehmhoff Park and my eye caught a bunch of brightly colored handbags. Always a sucker for a nice handbag I raced over in search of a bargain. Was I ever surprised. The surprise was definitely on me however, as the cheapest handbag that I could find hovered right around $95. OK, maybe at the Mall, but certainly not for Maxwell Street days when most people are looking for something great to buy with the change they unloaded from their piggy banks. So, instead, I focused on the library book sale--now that was a bargain and I still had enough left over to refill my pig!

Yard Sale Pet Peeves

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:53:10 GMT

I love a good yard sale like most people--it's fun to hunt for bargains for the house, or gently used clothing for the grandkids. It's cheap and it's fun. My big pet peeve though are the giant signs with numerous arrows directing traffic to a specific address--only to drive the entire circuitous route and find out that the sale was last week! My goodness, please, after those garage sales are over--please take your signs down. It is quite frustrating to be driving around for nothing. While I am at it--some of the signs are incredibly tiny and hard to read--I wish people would just add a couple of inches to their letters so the signs are visible from the road. This will bring tons more traffic to you sale and net you more money, which is why you went to all the trouble to set up the sale in the first place!

Brett

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:04:39 GMT

I am not a huge Packer fan, but have respect for the team and it's history. I am on the verge of losing all respect! How can the Packers let Brett go? And for who, Aaron who.... Rogers? Not starting a Brett who want to play for the Pack is just the worse football choice in all history. I feel for the fans! How can Mr. Thompson do something this stupid and not lose his job?