Saturday, May 26, 2012

Studio Saturday with Erin Siegel

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard.
The following week we choose a random winner.

This week's winner is Carol Creech. Congratulations! You have won a Nina Designs bronze charm and a pair of ceramic links from Melanie Brooks of Earthenwood Studio! Send Melanie an e-mail with your address and she will get your prize out to you soon!
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This week we visit the studio of
Erin Siegel of Erin Siegel Jewelry
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In my last Studio Saturday post, I mentioned that I used to work and teach jewelry-making classes at The Riverwalk Bead Shop and Gallery. Well, I'm actually there right now, as you are reading this, celebrating the release of the book, Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry, authored by myself and Lorelei Eurto! (Lorelei, I wish you could be here!) This shop has really been a center point in my life and my jewelry-making career. You can read more about my discovery of the store and my involvement with it in a recent post on my blog, here.

Today the shop is hosting a book launch party for me and my friends and family. It's a very special day in my little corner of the world and it all revolves around this amazing place where I got my start, The Riverwalk Bead Shop and Gallery in Amesbury, Massachusetts. The shop is half bead store, half art gallery. Below, I share some photos of the space:
The Riverwalk Bead Shop and Gallery
Here's a shot of the art gallery side. The shop carries all kinds of local handcrafted items such as jewelry, clothing, handbags, pottery, paintings, wall hangings, baskets, home accessories, cards and stationary and much more. 

Some of the handcrafted jewelry and art on display.

Here's the bead shop side. The wall O' gemstones! I love this wall. What beader wouldn't love this?

Bead shop side. Students taking a class from fellow teacher and jewelry artist, Maggie Mehaffey.

The Riverwalk Bead Shop and Gallery
32 Elm Street
Amesbury, MA. 01913
www.riverwalkbeads.com
Riverwalk on Facebook
If you are in the area, come by the shop today from 10am-5pm. I'd love to meet you!

I feel so very blessed to have this place close by. A space that I can go to nurture my creative spirit. A beautiful, inspiring place that supports local artists and not to mention, the most important thing, a place to buy beads! So, that leads me to my questions for you:

Do you have a local bead store to go to? Or perhaps an art gallery or shop where you can sell your handmade jewelry? 
Tell me if you have a business or organization near by that supports you creatively!
 

Leave us a comment on this post and you will be entered to win a copy of  the book, Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry: 50 Designs Using Leather, Ribbons and Cords SIGNED by both me and Lorelei!

Erin Siegel is a jewelry designer, beading instructor and co-author of the jewelry book, Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry: 50 Designs Using Leather, Ribbon and Cords. To find out more, visit her blog, Erin Siegel Jewelry

24 comments:

Alice said...

What a fabulous place to be inspired! The closest bead shops to me are over 80 miles away so I mostly buy online. I do sell my jewelry at a gallery in Kansas City--about 70 miles away, but would like to also get some shops that are much closer.

It would be awesome to win your fabulous book! Congratulations on such a great accomplishment!

jeanniek said...

There are no bead stores near by, but I live in an area full of artists. It's actually zoned The Art District which I'm very proud to be apart of. There is an art store I love to visit called Wet Paint and I teach classes there.

Shirley said...

Moonstone Beads is my local shop. They are such sweet, creative ladies, and it does feel like my second home there. I love to go hang out. However, everytime I try to bead, I end up having to rip it out later, because I was talking too much to follow the pattern! :) I love the pics of the shop, what a wonderful store!

Anonymous said...

Oh, this is an easy question. My absolute favorite bead store is an independent shop called The Bouncing Bead in La Mesa, CA. This is where I took my first jewelry making class. And it's the great service, selection, and awesome, knowledgeable people that keep me coming back.
Lynda

Norma's Bag Boutique said...

It looks like a wonderful place to find treasures. My local bead store is the internet. Here in Puerto Rico there's only good bead stores in the capital and I'm a country girl. Thank God for the internet. I will love to win a copy of your book. You are both great jewelry artists.

Erin S said...

we have a HUGE bead store about 1/2 hour away, but I don't get there too often. I'd love to win a copy of the book!

Patti Vanderbloemen said...

What a great shop! There is a great bead shop in Occoquan, Virginia - a quaint little town nestled along the Occoquan River. It is surrounded by antique shops and art galleries - a truly lovely place to visit. It is only about 25 minutes from my house (it's really quite close, but the traffic in Northern Virginia is HORRIBLE)! In writing about it today, I feel a visit in the near future is necessary! Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

it is a beautiful store/gallery, I really like the greenery throughout the space.

Kristen said...

This book is on my Amazon wish list, I sure would love to win it! There was a great consignment gallery in my town where I sold my jewelry but it closed. I need to find another place but I've been concentrating on my etsy supplies shop. My family lives in MA, maybe I'll check out this bead store on the future.

Off the Beadin' Path said...

The Riverwalk Bead Shop & Gallery looks like a beader's dream come true! Lucky you!! Our local bead store was pretty well known, but closed. So I buy mostly on line and at shows. I have 3 galleries in tourist areas that have my jewelry for the summer and fall. Each one is unique and I like to design jewelry "just for" each one of them. Thanks for the chance to win your awesome book because I don't have a copy yet!

Linda Landig said...

Erin-
I just got my copy of your book this week and I am so thrilled with it! You are blessed to have a special place that nurtures your creative soul. My favorite bead shop is Wynwoods Bead Shop in Port Townsend, WA. It isn't very big, but the owner has a knack for finding really unusual beads that I never see anywhere else.

Unknown said...

I have a great bead store near me, although they moved to a less traveled area recently, to cut overhead cost and to concentrate on their wholesale division. I work mainly in PC and they don't carry much in this vein, but they do have fantastic findings especially bali silver. They often have trunk shows from others, but do not have enough inventory to participate (yet!).

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on you book party and release! This shop looks wonderful. A beaders dream. I would love to win a copy of your book. Bohemian style is my favorite!

Zan

Unknown said...

a beautiful shop - so inspiring! Thank you for sharing!!!

Paula Lee M. said...

What a great looking shop! I have several shops near me, but the one that was dearest to my heart is half gone. It was a bead and yarn store, but due to the economy the beads were discontinued. In the beginning I bought most of my supplies there, then I learned to beadweave there, and in the last few months I taught there. The new owner, Rebecca, has become a dear friend a mine and I still support her shop through my use of fiber and the needle arts.

Lola said...

The Riverwalk looks like such an awesome place! The exterior screams “happy place inside” while the interior confirms it with all its lovely treasures. Can you hear an angel choir sing when you walk in or is that just my imagination? =)

Living in Milwaukee I am blessed to have access to many bead stores and galleries … inspiration and supplies are everywhere! If I’m ever in MA, however, The Riverwalk will definitely be one of my must see places. Thanks for sharing it with us and congratulations on your book!

ChandlerHolli said...

Just went to Beads Galore in Tempe AZ for the first time yesterday. It was overwhelming... so much to look at! I'm 1/2 Czech (Bohemia baby!), so very interested in your new book.

CraftyHope said...

First off, congratulations on the book. I know you are so very proud!

I'm lucky enough to have several bead shops in my area. I've made friends with the owner of one (she's about my age) and love to walk in there and hear her or her husband say "Hi Hope" like I'm Norm from Cheers! Their store feels like home to me and they let me browse and touch without feeling like I'm a pest. The other stores are just as nice and I've been shopping at them longer, but they don't feel as homey to me. I do love my local bead shops though in general!

Lois Moon said...

Nope, no bead shop under two hours away. There are a few galleries, but the 50%+ commission is a little daunting. Recently I discovered that a nearby arts center has a sales gallery featuring artists' work under $100.

Oh how I wish there was a beadshop/gallery like Riverwalk!

Lynda said...

Don't know what I did wrong, but my previous comment about my favorite store, The Bouncing Bead, came up as Anonymous! Oops.
I'll try again and include my site in the comment.

Lynda
Fresh Baked Designs
http://freshbakeddesigns.wordpress.com

Beaditi said...

Wow - I would LOVE to have a signed copy of the book :)

Beadazzled is an awesome resource in Washington DC and Northern VA - they have a vibrant variety of beads and they also host trunk shows from bead sellers from Africa, Indonesia, etc every once in a while !
They are FUN - classes offering new techniques, season themed competitions + exhibits, and ofcourse some displays for sale as a customer appreciation gesture...
Beaditi

Cynthia said...

What a lovely shop! I also have a LBS: Potomac Beads in Doylestown, PA. They have walls and walls of beads, like yours. And you can sit and create there, if you want.
In the last year, one of the employees there started a Bead Society! We meet once a month, and so far, it's been a very fun and nurturing experience. It's so nice to get together with other people that understand your obsession!!

Cynthia said...

Oh yeah - I forgot to say congrats on the book! My copy arrived in my mailbox, and it is an awesome book! You & Lorelei really did a great job!! Love it!

Creations by Kari said...

I am so lucky to have a great little bead shop in such a small town! Bead It in Kailua, HI is where I first discovered and fell in love with making jewelry, through one of their classes. The shop is great, the beads are yummy and the staff is super-friendly! (Fingers crossed to win your book-I can't wait to look through it!)