Galleries : Jewelry, One Bead At A Time
Three years ago, Emma Kiley spied her future shop, then a beat-up shack with chipping paint and tattered awnings near up-Island Cronig's in West Tisbury. "I moved back home the winter after my first jewelry buying trip in California, drove past the shop, and the rest is history," recalls Ms. Kiley, the owner of Citrine Beads & Imports, located at 505 State Road. "Now, the store is really taking on a life of its own, dictated by my customers."
Today, Citrine offers hands-on jewelry-related assistance, which includes advice, repair, and beading classes.
And, of course, shoppers will find plenty of beads ranging from Czech glass, Japanese glass beads, seed beads, and plenty of freshwater pearl and semiprecious offerings, as well as pendants from Nepal, Indonesia, and Thailand.
Photo by M.C. Wallo
The small, cozy space also displays clothing by local designers, such as Leslie Freeman, and a wide variety of imported goods like silk scarves, sarongs, and handbags.
Citrine's new beading class, taught by former art teacher Lindsey Scott, is helping Vineyarders to develop their creativity. "I love working with people and watching their hands catch up to their imaginations," says Ms. Scott, who has worked with beads for the past 20 years and taught a class at the Aquinnah Library last winter. "I was shopping last winter at Citrine for class supplies and mentioned the idea to Emma Kiley, the store's owner. Together, we walked through the steps of buying materials and arranging for the class."
The three-part class meets each Tuesday evening at the store and focuses on honing students' wire working skills, as well as exploring link and chain attachment techniques. "Lindsey is a great instructor, her teaching is very hands-on and she provides individualized instruction," says Ms. Kiley. "Everyone from a nine-year-old girl to second-time students are enrolled, but really, anyone with a spark who wants to learn jewelry making can do it."
Hosting the class at Citrine has been beneficial for both women. "Students are encouraged to bring any materials and tools, but during the class Emma opens the store up as well. It's great to have everything there," says Ms. Scott.
Ms. Kiley, whose passion for jewelry making began during college - she graduated with a BA in jewelry making from Northern California University - loves having her store alive with creative energy. "It's really been a great start, with almost 20 people enrolled and all cozied up in my shop after hours," she says. "It's been really fun."
"Jewelry making has been around for many thousands of years...I think it has transformed from a functional to a more ornamental form in its evolution," says Ms. Kiley. "Regardless, the idea of creating something so beautiful that no one else has is very inspirational and rewarding. For me, it is very peaceful process - almost meditative."
According to students, Ms. Scott's instruction is a helpful guide through the beading process. "Lindsey is great," says Marlene of Vineyard Haven, who has been beading for years and learned about the class while shopping in the store. "She demonstrates tricks to make the process so much easier."
Although the November beading class will conclude with its final class next week, Ms. Scott and Ms. Kiley plan to offer a similar series starting December 2, which will cost $30.
"All it takes is a little direction and a bit of patience and the possibilities are endless," says Ms. Scott.
Andrea Kasprzak is a freelance writer for The Martha's Vineyard Times.
