The Local Joint: Meet Virginia Berry!

The Local Joint: Meet Virginia Berry!: My bio on the store website. Check it out!

Virginia Berry is a textile artist with training in drawing, painting, sculpture, textile arts and costuming. Berry's design work r...

YazBerry Spring Candle Holders - Right on Trend



Star Tribune

Periodically I get important phone calls from my dad about newsworthy info of which I may be interested. This article was one of those calls. Found last week in the Star Tribune Variety section, a DIY on candle holders made from salvaged furniture springs. The full article can be viewed online here.

Just a couple weeks before I made some YazBerry salvaged spring candle holders. Mine feature very heavy springs and thick teal blue salvaged antique telephone wire insulators as the candle holder. I agree with Designer Kim Yeager of Lark Nest Designs, they can double as bud vases!

YazBerry Fashion Salvaged Spring Candle holders/Vases

Stop in The Local Joint in Northfield, MN to buy a YazBerry Fashion candle holder/vase and save yourself the hunt for the parts as springs aren't as readily available as t

+he article makes them out to be. These springs are the first I've seen in my years of flea marketing.

*Images from the Star Tribune article are copyright their respective owners.

YazBerry Fashion, Juried into Riveralk Market Fair 2012

Exciting news! YazBerry is now available for purchase in two physical locations in Northfield, MN as well as online. I recently received the exciting news that my handmade work has been juried into the Riverwalk Market Fair 2012.

I will be showing as part of a coop booth from The Local Joint store, open daily (!!!), where you can now find my handmade work, vintage wearbles (emphasis on purses and scarves) and new to the YazBerry offering: home decor and kitchy vintage goodies!

I will be showing my work at Riverwalk Market Saturday, June 9, 9 am - 2 pm. Stop by, get your shop on and chat me up! I will be there for sure 1 additional Saturday this summer and possible a couple more. Stay tuned for announcements of my schedule.

Shop the YazBerry Collection 24hrs a day from the comfort of your computer (in your pajamas ;) (or your birthday suit) ) at my newly launched website www.yazberry.com.

Vintage Extravaganza at The Local Joint

Last Friday night the fine pickers of The Local Joint pulled out all of our favorite vintage to share with the lucky shoppers at Northfield's Girl's Nite Out. We donned fun vintage garb and the Mayor entertained us with costume changes throughout the evening. Then we danced the night away with a night cap at The Grand while grooving to tunes played by Sweet 'Stache.

Virginia E. Berry, Designer & Picker in her favorite vintage dress, with a borrowed crinoline from our stash and blue carnations from fellow picker, Ed Kuhlman's real estate group. 

The Mayor of Northfield, Mary Rossing, picker extraordinaire.

Wendy Nordquist can make a hat out of anything! She is our in house hat maker and is pictured here with a hat she fashioned out of a t-shirt she won at the after party at The Grand!

The Local Joint - A Photo Tour

I'm settling in to The Local Joint in Northfield, MN. Though the scenery changes weekly, here is a tour to give you a taste of what's in store! It's YazBerry-centric of course, but includes most of the nooks and crannies in the store.

YazBerry Vintage - Now Available to Buy in Person

YazBerry Fashion will be one of the collaborators at the new handmade and vintage marketplace in Northfield, MN. The Local Joint boasts to be as awesome as Etsy and I will say, on my first visit I was impressed. So impressed that I immediately inquired about getting involved! This week I will move all of my handmade clothing, table linens, some of my handmade purses, a selection of handmade and vintage jewelry and for the first time ever a selection of my fabulous vintage purses! Be sure to stop by regularly: collaborators are bringing in new vintage and handmade daily and our awesome organizer, Linda Schneewind, Owner of Digs (formerly of Northfield, now in Minneapolis) restyles the store every Monday!

For more info check out the blog: thelocaljointnfld.blogspot.com
Also, here is an article with a great slide show for a taste of what's in store: http://northfield.patch.com/articles/not-another-digs#photo-9072694  

What does this mean for YazBerry's online shoppers? A cleaner, more streamlined, more attractive online store. With the shift a bunch of inventory into a retail space, this allows me time to focus on fine tuning yazberryfashion.etsy.com Expect fresh images, exciting descriptions and an easier to navigate shopping experience!

Riverwalk Market Fair, Drowned Today

Sorry folks, we were literally drowned out today, closed up shop around 10:00 AM. Several artists had merchandise damaged, tents broken (including ours) and were generally soggy. We were standing in 6+ inches of water clinging to our tent in a storm that flooded the streets and knocked out the power. My phone was also floating in this water...for a good 30 mins before I noticed. Trying the rice trick.

Die hards. Crazies and home drying out my creations and ourselves. A million thanks to my mother for helping me not lose everything and for impressively not killing each other during this adventure. Here are a few peeks at the aftermath on the home front.

We lost most of our signs (it's ok, they were slated to be updated) some of the beach pottery, ocean artifact jewelry broke, and I suspect a few earrings washed into the Cannon River to become artifacts for some lucky soul in the future. Actual total damage report still pending. Well, it will be a busy week repairing and not creating. Mother nature really is a bitch. I'd also like to curse the meteorologists for with all of the technology they have, still have a difficult time giving an accurate weather forecast. On a positive note, time for new signs and tags and reorganizing.

Write-up on YazBerry on Riverwalk Market Fair Blog

Nice write-up by Amy Acheson on the Riverwalk Market Fair Blog. Here's a quick view, be sure to visit the blog to read about other artists and farmers showcasing their work and produce at the market.

Riverwalk Market Fair Opens Saturday, June 4, 2011 in Northfield, MN

I'm so excited to be involved in this years Riverwalk Market Fair. The fair opens in one week on Saturday, June 4, 2011. It will be open from 9 AM - 1 PM. Busy getting prepared for the show this weekend!!!

Just out, a list of the farmers that will have fresh, localy grown and made edibles, at the fair.

I'm especially excited because there are many names I recognize and people I know from the community that I look forward to sharing this event with throughout the summer. Come check us out!

YazBerry Fashion Selected as Artist for Northfield's Riverwalk Market Fair

I'm pleased to announce the latest, greatest, big news in my life: I have been selected to show my work at the Saturday art & farmer's market in Northfield, MN, the Riverwalk Market Fair. Open Saturdays, June - October, 9 AM - 1 PM. Fair is located along the Cannon River, between 2nd and 5th Streets.

I'm keeping busy when not at my day job making new inventory. I am going to make a collection of table linens using vintage Japanese kimono obi fabric and coordinating fabrics. Stay tuned for these new creations. I will also have my current inventory for sale and plan to make more purses and necktie vests soon too!

Here is a list of the artists who will be showing work throughout the season. I will be there every Saturday, some artist's schedules vary.

Jewelry Giveaway All February in Northfield

It's sale time in the Northfield, MN store at 500 Division St. S. (Same store as Lisa's Alterations and Buttons, Bows & Babydoll Clothes). Stop in and get a free pair of earrings with any purchase of $20 or more. You choose the earrings, valued $20 or less. Free gift wrap all the time - perfect Valentine's Day gift solution for yourself or someone special ;) ;)

Not in Minnesota? Don't worry, you can still shop for YazBerry Valentine's gifts online at yazberryfashion.etsy.com All items come gift wrapped automatically all the time! And remember, if you are my 150th Etsy customer, I will be giving you a free pair of handmade earrings that match you purchase. Will it be you?

Designer Doll Purses by YazBerry

I've been working in a handmade doll clothes store, Buttons, Bows & Babydoll Clothes, which sells clothing and accessories for 15"-18" dolls...Bitty Baby to American Girl size dolls.

Inspired by the adorableness that is the doll world, I have made mini-YazBerry purses for dolls and little girls. Some purses are just for dolls, others are sold in matched sets for little girls too! Have an adorable little girl in your life that needs to accessorize her doll? Stop in The Shops at 5th & Division in Northfield, MN. I have a rack featuring my clothes, purses and jewelry too!

Doll & little girl purses are available exclusively in store.

YazBerry Finds Home in Northfield

My handmade creations are now available all the time in Buttons, Bows & Babydoll Clothes at 500 Division St. S., Northfield, MN 55057. Thank you Eileen Seeley for extending me the offer of space. Here are some pictures of my display:

STORE HOURS:
Mon-Fri 9-5
Sat 10-3

Don't worry, for those of you not living in Minnesota, you can still get your hands on YazBerry goodies on my website, yazberryfashion.etsy.com.

Current Read: The Handmade Marketplace

I just opened a new library card at my hometown library in Northfield, MN (my old one had expired several years ago since I hadn't been living here). I love the library. My favorite sections are DVD's and the new release book section. Even when I was in high school I enjoyed perusing the new release book section. As I am sure you can imagine, with my new card in hand, I charged right over to that section to see what they have.

One thing I have always enjoyed about the Northfield Public Library, is the abundance of arts and crafts books. Living in the woods, we made regular use of those books to keep ourselves entertained as kids. That said, of course there were a few gems in this genre on the new release shelves.

I got my paws on: The Handmade Marketplace; How to sell your crafts locally, globally and online, By Kari Chapin. It was published this year and is filled with valuable information for independent artists and crafters. Heck, I bet any business owner looking to learn how to better market online would benefit from this book.

With $3.49 to my name at the moment, I am looking for any information I can to grow my handmade fashion business. This is one of my favorite topics to read about online and I try to find out what I can in my free time. The $3.49, numerous rejections from office job applications and frighteningly lethargic sales on my Etsy.com store this holiday season are what provoked me to give this book a careful and thorough read. It is oh so timely I stumbled across it at the library.

This book is current and a wealth of information for anyone looking to improve their small business marketing efforts. I'm reading it armed with pen and paper and have nearly filled a small notepad with ideas...lots and lots of ideas and tasks I wish to execute sooner rather than later.

One of my favorite bonus aspects of this book: it fits in my purse!

Available on Amazon.com.

A Secret Garden for Bead Lovers in Northfield

This is a must read: I rarely to never give out my favorite supply places, I guard these trade secrets like the recipe for the pizza dough & sauce at your favorite pizza place. But, I am just so pleased, and because they are big I know they won't run out, with the great selection at Glass Garden Beads in Northfield, MN.

I've been slowly exploring the retail in downtown Northfield as it has changed a lot since I lived here in high school. A few of my old standby favorites are still here but so many new faces (and by new they could've been here for 10 years and I never made it in ;) ) have popped up all over town. Plus, the stores are constantly offering new curiosities. If you are having a hard time finding the right gifts for your favorite people, I highly recommend a stroll down Division St. in Northfield. I am certain you will find that certain something you are looking for.

Glass Garden Beads is a store that I remember being there for several years, but when I would come home on visits, I was not an avid jewelry maker and thus never ventured in. If I had sooner, I am certain I would've started making a lot more jewelry. Firstly, compared to the compact store fronts I had grown accustomed to in NY and MA, Northfield's retail spaces are in general, quite large. Glass Garden Beads is no exception, they're huge! and in the most delightful ways.

I was impressed right away to see they were offering findings that are right on trend with the steampunk aesthetic that is sweeping artist marketplaces such as Etsy.com. Right up front they have over flowing bins of vintage keys (so much more convenient than scouring junk shops like I have in the past for desirable aged keys), deconstructed watch components and these oh so sweet 'tarts', shapes punched from vintage metal containers. LOVE.

As you meander through the store the walls are filled with beautiful beads and the tables too. Sorted by color...DOUBLE LOVE, and within reach so us tactile shoppers can get our fix.

I will let you in on yet another secret: you don't have to be in Minnesota to shop at Glass Garden Beads; they offer online shopping too! Here is their web shop.

Again, this is one of the first and only leaks I'm putting out there on best available supply places. Feast your creative minds folks!

Image found on: http://blog.glassgardenbeads.com/ 12/17/10 Copyright Glass Garden Beads.

YazBerry Trunk Show to Continue Through December!

It was a ton of fun doing a trunk show in my home town. A couple of long lost friends, Ms. Laura Marks and Mrs. Sarah Martin Jordan (and her cute son!) stopped in to visit! How fun. Thanks for coming in to say hello.

A special thanks to Lisa Emery of Lisa's Alterations & Tailoring and Eileen Seeley of Buttons, Bows and Babydoll Clothes for hosting my trunk show in their space at 500 Division St. S. in Northfield, MN.

EXCITING NEWS: I have been invited to continue my trunk show through December. So, if you missed me during Winterfest & Winter Walk, you can still shop for my handmade, artist made creations up through the end of the month. Just in time for holiday gift giving. Even if you don't come to shop, I would love to see your smiling face; the hugs are free. I'll be there 12-3 daily this week and 12-5 daily the following week + Saturdays but you can stop in anytime 9-5.

Insiders secret: many of the items listed on my Etsy.com store www.yazberryfashion.etsy.com are on sale for $5 and $10.

I'm really pleased with how my display came out. Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure:

PRESS RELEASE: 500 Division St. S., One of the Greenest Addresses in Northfield

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

500 Division St. S., One of the Greenest Addresses in Northfield

Lisa's Alterations & Tailoring and Buttons, Bows & Baby Doll Clothes offer green solutions and products for people of all ages.

Northfield, MN - December, 10, 2010 - Lisa Emery of Lisa's Alterations & Tailoring has served the Northfield area out of her home for many years. Now located on the corner of Division St. and 5th St., 500 Division St. S. (the former Downtown Dancewear store) is home to both Lisa's Alterations & Tailoring and Buttons, Bows & Baby Doll Clothes. This holiday season owners Emery and Eileen Seeley have invited Designer, Virginia E. Berry of YazBerry Handmade Fashion to showcase her clothing and accessories line. Emery, Seeley and Berry all offer green products and services to diverse clientele.

Emery has been a Seamstress and Tailor for many years in Northfield. She ran her workshop out of her home until three months ago when she opened up shop on Division St. in Northfield at The Shops at 500 Division St. S. location. Emery's service of alterations and tailoring allows customers to give a second life to their clothing, stretch those wardrobe pennies a little further and obtain garments that fit properly that may otherwise end up in the donation piles; a frugal and green option.

Seeley is a Jane of many trades and has put her skills to work designing and sewing handmade doll clothes for American Girl and Bitty Baby sized dolls, 15" - 18" tall. The clothes are often made from scraps of fabric used in other projects, fabric that makes its way to her through many channels and is recycled into beautiful, heirloom quality doll clothing.

Both little girls and grandmas enjoy browsing the racks in Buttons, Bows and Baby Doll Clothes. By recycling scraps of fabric, Seeley is creating green toys for children and keeping textile waste out of the landfills. She mixes recycled fabrics, scrap fabrics and new fabrics to create the doll clothes. Also available are handmade dresses by another Seamstress out of Farmington, and specialty manufactured shoes and career wear such as nurses’ uniforms.

During the recent Winter Walk event in Downtown Northfield, Emery & Seeley invited Northfield native, Virginia E. Berry to display her handmade, artist made clothing, purses and jewelry. Berry has an independent design label which she sells predominantly online, YazBerry Fashion. Her full collection is available on www.yazberryfashion.etsy.com, her shop on the online marketplace, Etsy.com.

Berry also works with recycled and repurposed materials. Many of her pieces include recycled textiles, found objects and vintage items mixed with new components. Berry considers her green creations "sustainable fashion"; by reusing and giving a second life to materials, they are kept out of the dumps and don't require the need to manufacture new materials, depleting our available resources and often adding to the pollution problems.

Emery and Seeley have invited Berry to showcase her designs throughout December. Be sure to stop in to see what shopping local and shopping green looks like in The Shops at 500 Division St. S., Northfield, MN. Don’t be confused by the pink walls, these ladies are green and armed with sewing machines.

YazBerry Fashion
Virginia E. Berry
http://yazberryfashion.etsy.com
berry @ yazberry.com
500 Division St. S.
Northfield, MN 55057
507-664-3890
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(515 words)

YazBerry Trunk Show at Northfield, MN Winter Walk

Please join Northfield Native Virginia E. Berry, Designer of YazBerry Fashion as she offers a first ever trunk show featuring her collection of artist made clothing, purses, jewelry, belts and more during Northfield's Winter Walk.

For a complete listing of all the free performances, hands on activities and more vist the Northfield Tourism link for a schedule of events.

YazBerry is vintage inspired design featuring bold colors, unusual textiles and found objects. Wearable art sure to dress up your wardrobe or that of a loved one. YazBerry will leave people asking you where you got it!

A special thanks to the hostesses Lisa's Alterations & Tailoring and The American Girl Doll Clothes store at 500 Division St. S.!

Where: Lisa's Alterations & Tailoring, 500 Division St S, Northfield, MN 55057 (& The American Girl Doll Clothes Store)
Date: December 9, 2010
Time: 5:00pm–8:00pm

Features: Families, Free, Kids, Open to All, Seniors, Teens
Website: http://yazberryfashion.etsy.com
Email: berry@yazberry.com
Price: FREE

For full event listing visit the NorthfieldPatch.com

FINAL CLEARANCE SALE ALL VINTAGE CLOTHES MUST GO!

As many of you know I am moving to Northfield, Minnesota in November. Accordingly, I need to lighten my inventory a bit before I move. You are in luck, I am liquidating my entire vintage clothing inventory. So, all vintage clothing is now 50-75% OFF!

Many sweet treasures can be found in both the 50% OFF Sale and 75% OFF Sale sections. Be sure to check it out as once October 31 rolls around, I am donating all of the clothes (including a couple of bags from my personal wardrobe) to the Recycle For Hunger Thrift Shop in Peabody, MA that supports the area food bank. Kathy who manages the store is wonderful and has been so kind as to donate wire hangers to me for some projects!

Don't worry, I will be keeping the purses and scarves :) not all vintage will be liquidated. Just need to lighten things a little!