I enjoy listening to music of all kinds, cooking and am hopelessly addicted to bad reality TV!

Tears are a universal symbol of grief. A Glass Tear represents a pledge from one person to another, to support them as they mourn the loss of a loved one. Glass Tears are not a casual gift that should be given without the deepest, sincere, heartfelt intent to offer support. A Glass Tear is intended to be a lasting gesture that survives the traditional flowers and cards of other well-wishers. Glass Tears are a monument to the love and support that you intend to offer.

Just wanted to post some pics of the newest Shop Local, Shop Emmaus poster series…and who are those two gorgeous ladies?…oh, wait, they look familiar…THEY ARE US!! Yep, that’s my Mom (Val) and me (Lauren) posing in the gallery, just smiling away. Man, we’re some happy gals!

So look for the poster in the Emmaus area, coming soon. Don’t draw any mustaches on us, pretty please. *wink*

Support them this holiday season!

The Main Street Partners have created a shoppers promotional card for the holidays, and we’re happy to be a part of the many participating businesses.

Here’s how it works:

• It’s FREE! To get started, just pick up a card from the Main Street Partner’s office or any of the businesses…we have a whole bunch if you need ‘em!
• Shop at least 12 businesses on the card, and with each purchase, you will receive a stamp or initial.
• Submit to any of the participants, or drop by the MSP’s office (they have a mail slot!), by December 2nd. You’ll be entered into a drawing for a cash prize, and winners will be announced on December 3rd at the Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration!
• Make sure that your name and phone number are on the back of the card so you may be contacted if you win.
• Don’t worry about the ticket price of your purchase…this promotion is to get people out and about, taking the time to visit at least 12 stores and/or restaurants, and purchasing what you can. It does not have to be expensive to count.
• Have fun! Somehow, I know you’ll have a good time checking out all of the great spots this town has to offer.

Best of luck to you all! Thanks for continually supporting Emmaus…it’s YOU we need.

An avid photographer since she was introduced to her mother’s Brownie Hawkeye camera, Linda’s work in digital photography is supported by a love for travel, a passion for nature, and a love of the great outdoors.

Linda and Dave reside in lovely Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with their sons David and Joshua and the family Weimaraner, Mr. Deuce, a new and frequent photo subject. Linda is also a frequent contributor to The Bucks County Herald where she is known as River Voice.

After high school Kristine went to the Fashion Institute of Technology where she received a BFA in Interior Design. She eventually fell in love with the jewelry making process and went on to get an AAS in Jewelry Studio. She also completed several intensive classes with Cecelia Bauer, specializing in a technique called granulation and learning the art of hand-engraving while on the job. Kristine worked in the jewelry industry starting in 1994 and is still doing custom design work and hand-engraving today.

Now caring for her children at home, Kristine was reintroduced to knitting. At that time, felting wool and knitting handbags helped her satisfy her unyielding need to create. With the kids no longer toddlers, a business plan was developed that moved beyond hand-knits alone and into up-cycling sweaters and other natural fibers. Combining these with other eco-friendly fabric options, Kristine returned to her family roots and created the limited edition and one-of-a-kind handbags and accessories that you see today. Please Enjoy!

We are extremely happy to include him as a member of our talented team, and we take great pride in having him as our featured artisan. Take a moment and get to know Jon Parker…he’s really one in a million.

OOOH:  How would you describe the craft you work in? What sets your items apart from other artisans?

JP: I design and build unique woodcraft from recycled lumber and salvaged logs. Many times the found wood has an aged patina that cannot be duplicated using new lumber.

OOOH:  How long have you been crafting? Have your interests and materials changed over the years?

JP: I started as a young boy making my own toys with wood from salvaged vegetable and fruit crates. The warmth and organic character of wood have never lost their charm.

OOOH: Typically, what steps do you take when working with reclaimed wood to enhance its beauty?

JP: I choose the most beautiful or interesting “face” of each board for the outside surface, carefully join the parts, progressively sand to enhance the grain and figure, and carefully finish to achieve a soft “hand”.

OOOH: Each of your creations has a story. Do you have a piece that had a particularly interesting story or one that you are most proud of?

JP: From roadside cast-offs to dead trees, wood is everywhere and mostly free for the taking. I received a pile of partially burned, huge barn floor planks from my neighbor for helping clean up after his historic mid 1700s barn was destroyed by arson. The 300 to 400 year old virgin red oak planks made 30 benches and tables that naturally finished to a deep golden brown color that only aged lumber can provide.

OOOH:  Where do you find inspiration and how do you keep up with the latest trends?

JP: The simple Shaker type designs that showcase the woods beauty lends itself to using reclaimed wood. The wood tells me what I can get out of it to maximize use and minimize waste. Usually, the small quantity of found wood limits production to “one of a kind” pieces while avoiding the trend to mass produce.

OOOH:  Do you have any plans for future work? What would you like to accomplish?

JP: To create more sculptural designs in the Wharton Esherick tradition would be satisfying.

OOOH:  What would be your best advice for someone interested in crafting unique furniture and accessories from reclaimed wood?

JP: Start looking for wood, it’s everywhere. Don’t be scared, in woodcraft one only gets better with practice.

I enjoy working with my hands, and I find that the tactile experience of printmaking provides me with as much enjoyment as the final piece.

My prints still find their inspiration in wildlife, but my subjects have also turned to historical buildings, landscapes, and the pets with whom I share my home. My nature drawings have illustrated The Lehigh Valley, a concise study of this Eastern Pennsylvania region’s natural history by Drs. Robert Halma & Carl S. Oplinger, and I contributed a set of historically-inspired prints to illustrate Dr. Mark Graham’s How Islam Created the Modern World.

I am currently working on a series of prints which focus on native song birds and flowers, the brilliant colors and refined beauty of which are representative of the themes my art seeks to capture, for the benefit of others to enjoy. I hope that you find as much pleasure in viewing your print as I had in making it.

Ms. Buesgen’s passion for ceramics ranges from hand-built pots to finely crafted jewelry, with the jewelry being a relatively new venture. “I have recently started to work on the smaller scale of ceramics,” says Buesgen, “I enjoy making delicate things.” Also, she is well-known for her dynamic glazes and organic, nature-inspired motifs. “I’m always…experimenting with glazes, textures and styles,” she says.

Though written to be informational and to comment on the town as a whole, I wish they would have gone into all the wonderful businesses we have to offer. People JUST. DON’T. KNOW. It boggles my mind when a customer comes in and says, “I’ve lived in Emmaus for X-amount of years, and never stepped foot in any of the shops.” Sometimes they live a block away! It makes me cry at night. Okay, that’s a little dramatic.

But still…residents of the Valley often go to Bethlehem for the specialty shops they love to browse and purchase in, when really what they are looking for may be right in their backyard (literally). Even if a store doesn’t carry the things you need and just gotta have at that very moment, please do yourself a favor and just go to look. Meet the owners and sales associates. You probably know them. Or if you don’t actually know them, you’ll leave the store feeling like you just chatted with a friend. We’re very welcoming here in this little charming town.

Thank you, Lehigh Valley Style, for giving us that shout-out. We really appreciate your kind words encouraging readers to check it out!

And please keep ALL of our businesses in mind when you’re gearing up for the holidays. I promise you’ll enjoy discovering what we have to offer.