Winners!

We are happy to announce the winners of the Big Village Design-A-Bead contest. 

Over 30 entries were received and it was a difficult decision to make.  We based our decision on overall design elements, appeal to a wide audience, usability, and whether the design would work with the raw elements used to create the beads (i.e. recycled glass, clay molds, kiln).

During our most recent trip to Ghana, we presented the submissions to our partners, TK Beads, who reviewed each one and helped us make the final decision. 

Without further ado, congratulations go to:

Winning bead design, Lindsay Dyck, for her “Infinity” bead.

Winning pendant design, Sarah Vurma, for her large ring pendant [picture currently unavailable].

Due to the timing of our trip in Ghana – the busiest season of the year – we were not able to bring home the finished product for these beads, although TK Beads is currently working on them.  Once finished, we will post more details about the process to make these beads and then carry them as a regular feature in our collection.  We have a few design ideas in mind – as do Sarah and Lindsay, I’m sure - and we can’t wait to try them out!  We think you’ll enjoy them too.  Stay tuned!

Reason to skip the malls

We’re in Ghana

 It’s been a great couple of days reconnecting with our Ghanaian friends and restocking our supply of beads.  We’re in bead heaven here! 

Internet service here is quite slow, so we won’t be able to publish our collection of photos and videos until after the trip. If you’d like to follow *as it happens*, check in on our Facebook Big Village page for our “Picture of the Day” or read our almost daily blog, www.xanga.com/crossing_cultures.

See you when we get back!

No margaritas, but…

We’ll be at the Molson Centre Xmas Craft Show  from Friday until Sunday.  It took us over an hour to put up the thatch roof.  Other vendors were asking us if we were selling margaritas.  Nope, just unique jewellery made of recycled glass beads from Ghana, West Africa, is all!

Hope to see you there!

Design-A-Bead Contest

If you enjoy our recycled glass beads, if you are creative and welcome an artistic challenge, then you won’t want to miss our Design-A-Bead Contest.   

Big Village and our Ghanaian partners, TK Beads, are expanding our bead line. We thought you might want to join in the fun by designing a one-of-a-kind recycled glass bead or pendant exclusive to Big Village.  TK Beads has agreed to produce a bead from the best design submission.  The design will then become part of our ongoing collection. 

Boo-tiful Jewellery

While we share most common holidays with Ghana, such as Christmas and New Year’s Eve, or have similar celebrations, such as Mother’s Day or Thanksgiving (Homowo), Ghanaians do not celebrate Halloween.  Doesn’t mean these beads can’t be used for a festive look this season!

Necklace retails at $52, bracelets at $16 ea.

Happy Halloween!

Check out Our Designs for more inspiration for the fall season. 

Nothing says “Autumn” like it

We’re at the Elmvale Fall Fair today and Saturday. Enjoying the parade, petting zoo, tractor pull, variety show and crowds. Love small town living!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our October newsletter will be coming out soon.  To find out about upcoming events, news, and sales, please sign up by e-mail at bigvillage[at]ymail[dot]com.

A spontaneous trend

Our bracelets have always been a popular sales item, as they are an affordable way to jazz up an outfit, a one-of-a-kind item (no two are alike), and a great price point for gift-giving.  More than a few of you have admitted to your Big Village bracelet addiction! 

 

One type of bracelet in particular has developed into an interesting trend.  Our bracelets made from small recycled glass beads in random colours have been made or bought by Big Village customers for nursing moms.  Moms can track which side they last fed baby by switching which wrist they wear the bracelet on. 

 

Because the beads are small, they are light-weight and easy to wear all the time, no matter what the activity.  Some moms have commented that they like that they’re fashionable, unlike similar types of bracelets which draw too much attention to their practical use, rather than beauty.  The random colours mean they’ll go with any outfit.

 

Whether you’re a nursing mom or not, you can grab these bracelets for $14 each or 2 for $25.  Or make your own at a workshop for $10.

September start up

Next Saturday morning, September 12, Big Village is in Shanty Bay for the Festival at the Village Green. It’s a short and sweet sale, starting at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is where we made our successful debut last year.

For directions to the Village Green, Google “Church Street” (or “Bay Street”), “Shanty Bay.”  You will see the green space in between Bay and Church, which is the Village Green

Let’s hope this beautiful weather sticks around a bit longer for the sale! See you there!

Ayekoo! Open House

Big Village is celebrating our one year anniversary and we want you to celebrate with us at our Ayekoo! Open House on August 15. 

Ayekoo! is Congrats! in Ghanaian dialect.  We want to extend Ayekoo! to you, who have made Big Village’s first year a success, and to our partners in Ghana who have worked hard to provide us with beads of high quality and beauty.

Here are the details of the open house:

Date: August 15

Time: Drop in any time between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Location: 214 Livingstone Street EAST, Barrie (Left Side Entrance, will be marked)

Products for sale: 

• Jewellery featuring Ghanaian recycled glass beads
• Loose and packaged recycled glass and “lost wax” brass beads
• Cheeky Baby Slings made from African batik and print
• African batik and print by the yard

Promotions:

• Draw for a kit of Ghanaian beads , worth over $100
• Draw for jewellery set, worth over $75 
• Sales on various jewellery pieces and beads

Please drop in and give us the chance to thank you personally!