Sometimes you need to recharge your creative batteries with a change of scenery. For me, I like to got to museums, take nature walks, go thrifting, or visit some craft stores. Last Friday, my craft BFF Vicki O’Dell and I met up in the lovely Medina, Ohio to check out a bead shop, eat some lunch, and recharge those batteries together!
We met up and headed off to the Potomac Bead Shop– an amazingly renovated two-level storefront just off the square. The space was GORGEOUS- brick and wood and exposed ductwork. All of this made a lovely backdrop for beads, beads, and MORE BEADS.
The shop also offers a full calendar of classes- multiple daily! I was sorely tempted to sit down and take one, but there was more beads to see.
I had a hard time making decisions- there were a lot of great crystal beads, wood beads, natural gem beads, wire, leather, and metal findings.
I did pause to snap a selfie of Vicki and I. We realized that we were drawn to COMPLETELY different beads…but isn’t it wonderful to find a yin to your yang?
I kept getting pulled back to the greens and blues, while Vicki was drawn to the reds and earth tones. Maybe I was just overly influenced by my shirt. What do you think?
After lunch, we wandered into a yarn shop, Studio Knit. I wasn’t in the market for yarn, but this dyed home spuns made me swoon.
Again, the shops in Medina do an amazing job of making a fresh, welcoming space in historic buildings. As you can see, Vicki found something she couldn’t live without.
I was surprised to see a paint-you-own-pottery shop on the Medina square, too- and there were folks in happily painting away. We didn’t stop in, but made a mental note for the next time.
However, we couldn’t resist the lure of a thrift shop! Again, you can see that Vicki found an amazing treasure to take home.
Don’t worry, though, crafty friends. I did find lots of beady goodness to take home with me. Like I mentioned, I was definitely drawn to to the blues and greens…and these Lava beads were too intriguing to pass up.
I cannot tell you how incredibly refreshing it was to A) spend some quality time with my bestie and B) walk the square in late summer splendor. (BUT…. the traffic situation with half of the square’s repaving project was not so bucolic! HA!) We are planning a follow-up visit later this fall after the asphalt cools. And in the meanwhile, you can bet that I’ve got a few ideas for those lovelies up there in that pic. More to come!
And please take a visit to Vicki O’Dell The Creative Goddess blog today to see the photos she took and her treasures!
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jengd says
Looks like a great day!