We’re Moving

Big Village is growing, and fast, thanks to your amazing support!

We’re almost two years old and experiencing some growing pains.  This blog will no longer meet all our needs to supply our customers with information and ways to purchase our products.

We are moving to a new website address:  www.bigvillage.ca. As of now, we have been able to move most things over, but we have set a deadline to have online shopping available by the end of June.

Please visit us at our new place and feel free to offer suggestions of what you’d like to see/access when you visit our site.

Thanks so much for making this possible.  See you soon!

Big Village taking part in Barrie’s 1st Annual Eco-Fest

Big Village celebrates the earth on Saturday, June 12 from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. at the 1st Annual Eco-Fest at Barrie’s Waterfront.  Big Village joins other vendors to offer all kinds of ways to live green.

We will be showcasing our beads made from old bottles and window panes.  We’ll be selling raw beads and completed pieces, as well as our Bolga Baskets – the ultimate reusable bag.

Hope you can join us!

Red-y for summer!

Add spice to your summer wardrobe with this “knotty” necklace made with recycled glass Otaka beads.

Artisans at the Distillery

If we’ve been a little quiet over here it’s because we’re prepping for our second artisan show at The Distillery District, in Toronto, taking place this weekend.  This was one of our favourite shows last year as it is a great place to take in the scenery, culinary delights, and generally cool atmosphere of this historic area, whether selling jewellery or not!

Here are some of the things we’ve been working on.

Dare you to wear it!

I’ve actually been holding onto this lost wax recycled brass pendant for a couple years.  Now that I’ve completed the piece, I’m going to have to search for a few more like it on my next trip to Ghana.

I created this necklace to showcase the ring pendant dreamed up by Sarah Vurma in our Design-A-Bead Contest at the beginning of the year.  I have really been inspired by this bead… expect more necklace designs with it soon!

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Hope to see you there!

The fun continues…

Thanks to everyone who came by the Open House in Barrie.  We had an absolute blast with all of you and loved hearing all the great ways you use the beads, baskets and batik!

The fun continues in Mississauga on Saturday.  You are invited!

Big Village Bolga Baskets

In an effort to increase our fair-trade line (read: share more fabulous stuff made in Ghana), we have started to bring in gorgeous baskets from Bolgatanga, a region at the very top of Ghana.  Bolgatanga baskets are made from “elephant” grass (the tall grass which is indigenous to Africa and a favourite foraging food of, you guessed it, elephants).

These baskets are made by a women’s co-operative in an effort to alleviate rural poverty.  I’ll let you decide whether the bonus is that you are contributing to a great cause, or that you end up with a beautiful, durable product. 

Bolga baskets are perfect for:

Decor (display towels in the bathroom, magazines in the livingroom, toys in the playroom…)

Beach (hold your towel, sunscreen, and magazine… for you or your whole family)

Park (spacious enough to hold lunch and a blanket, and resilient to the elements)

Travel (perfect size for overnight and, for longer trips, many styles are collapsible to store in your luggage)

Shopping (the ultimate reusable bag!)

Big Village Bolga Basket are now available at My Front Porch, in Wyebridge. It’s worth the (scenic) drive!

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For retail opportunities, please contact Loreli at bigvillage[at]ymail.com.

CNN reports on our beads

CNN recently posted this video report on the growing trend of wearing traditional beads in Ghanaian culture.

Photo courtesy of Walter Callen, Belgium

We agree on their point – the beads are beautiful in traditional and modern-day apparel!

Play Date

March Break is here – the perfect time to relax and enjoy a creative activity! 

We’re opening our place this Wednesday, March 17th (St. Patrick’s Day) for drop-in beading. 

Come on over to play with our fair-trade, recycled glass beads without a time crunch. Drop in any time between 12 and 8 p.m. and create beautiful jewellery at your leisure. 

Add spring to your wardrobe! 

Kids are welcome too! (Recommended for children over 7 years of age.)

We’re located at 214 Livingstone Street East (side entrance), Barrie. 

Please call (705) 331-9553 or e-mail bigvillage[at]ymail.com if you think you’d like to attend so we can make sure to set up a seat for you!  Hope to see you here!

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Workshop prices apply.  We accept payment by cash or cheque.

My Front Porch moves to new location bringing Big Village with it

One of the places we sell Big Village jewellery is at a gift store called My Front Porch. Previously, My Front Porch was located on Oro Line 3, but it has recently moved to Wyebridge, on Hwy 93, into this beautiful new location.

The space is just gorgeous.  The owner, Yvonne, has filled it with all kinds of lovely and unique gift ideas, mostly made by local artisans. And, oh yes, she carries a great selection of Big Village jewellery!

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You can also purchase Big Village jewellery at MacLaren Art Centre Gallery Store in Barrie, Marty’s Cafe & Bistro in Barrie (bracelets only), by appointment/order, or at various craft shows around Ontario (list to follow).  Stay tuned for news about our online shopping option in the weeks to come!

We put the play in workshop

Our workshops are a great way to “play” with the beautiful recycled glass beads we bring in from Ghana, West Africa.   (So much so, we’re thinking of calling them “playshops!” )

You can be a part of a workshop either by hosting one in your home with a group of friends, or by attending one of ours.

Here are the dates for the next few workshops hosted by us.  Please RSVP to bigvillage[at]ymail[dot]com as seating is limited!

Thursday, January 28 at 7 p.m. (Barrie and Toronto)
Wednesday, February 10 at 7 p.m. (Barrie)
Thursday, February 18 at 7 p.m. (Barrie)
Thursday, February 25 at 7 p.m. (Toronto)

For more information on hosting a workshop in your home, see Our Workshops tab and/or contact us by e-mail bigvillage[at]ymail[dot]com.