Interview by Lindsay McHolme Posted on the Rapidian

Our own Grand Rapids hyperlocal news source, The Rapidian, now features an ariticle about Rhododendron Crafts.  Lindsay McHolme, who writes for both The Rapidian and Rapid Growth, met me at Dik Bir and Dil Maya Powdyel’s house to interview all of us.  Prasha Maharjan translated for us and we were treated to a wonderful Nepali meal afterwards courtesy of Dik Bir and Dil Maya.  It was delicious.   I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of daal, curry, and rice.  Check out the finished article here! 

As the article mentions, we are recruiting people to host craft shows in their homes this spring.  We had a great time last year both at my home and at the home of Thornapple ECC member Cheri Fox.  We sold alot of rugs and met some great people as well.  If you’d like to host a sale, it’s easy- we set everything up, and even bring tasty Nepali chai tea – all you have to do is open up your home and invite your friends!  Email rhododendroncrafts@gmail.com for more information.

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March 5, 2011

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Global Infusion

Last month we were excited to announce our rugs being featured at The Bridge in Holland, MI.  Now they are also available in our hometown of Grand Rapids at Global Infusion.  I love this, since Global Infusion is my favorite place to sip tea, buy herbs, and browse fair trade items from around the world (and down the street! Rose Beerhorst, living about 3 blocks from the shop makes some pretty sweet tea cozies that they have for sale).

So, stop by Global Infusion, order some tea or a wheatgrass shot, and check out our rugs – and the other great Fair Trade items from around the world!

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February 11, 2011

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Rhododendron Crafts Rugs – Now at The Bridge in Holland!

I’m so excited about this: last night Prasha and I went to Holland, MI to show our rugs to The Bridge, a fair trade store in Holland, and not only did they like the rugs, but they decided to carry them and bought several from us on the spot! So, next time you’re in Holland, go check them out and show some love to an amazing store with beautiful products.  I was impressed by their inventory and their willingness to bring fair trade to the local level.  Our artisans live here in West Michigan, bringing skills from around the world when they come here as refugees, but often fair trade opportunities are only available to those living internationally.  I hope 2011 will be full of many more opportunities for Rhododendron Crafts to improve our products and reach an even wider market!

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January 7, 2011

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Listen to Us on WYCE’s Catalyst Radio

I (Jessica) was on WYCE today!  Thanks to Denise Cheng and Linda Gellasch for interviewing me.  I got to explain a little more about how our organization started and where we’re going.  Check it out here.

The next big thing for Rhododendron Crafts is going to be ArtPrize September 22-October 10 .  We will be showing our work at 45 Coldbrook NW.  Stay tuned for more information!

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July 23, 2010

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Avenue for the Arts

We’ll be at the Avenue for the Arts downtown the following dates:

June 5

July 11

August 14

September 11

We’ll also be at the Blandford Nature Center’s Field of Green Festival next Saturday, June 12.

The Fulton St. Artists’ Market starts Sunday, June 13.

And World Refugee Day is Saturday, June 19.

Yes, it will be a busy summer for Rhododendron Crafts!  See you out there!

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June 4, 2010

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Our Etsy Shop

Thanks to Jenn, an intern at the Bethany office, we have a new Etsy page. You can now buy our goods online at www.etsy.com/rhododendroncrafts.  This is an exciting new development for us, because it will allow people all over to access our goods and learn about our project.  Visit our site today.  We offer free deliveries in the Grand Rapids area!

<<< See the left sidebar for a preview of what we have to offer.

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April 28, 2010

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Rhododendron Crafts at Art. Downtown. This Friday Night [April 16]!

We are happy to announce that Rhododendron Crafts will be participating this Friday night in Art. Downtown.!  This is going to be an amazing event with over 400 artists and 25 gallery destinations.  We will be setting up shop at Take Hold Church (133 S Division Ave).  This is the former site of The Euclid/Skelletones.  We’ll be there along with a few other local artists from 6-11pm.  We’re very excited to be teaming up with Take Hold, a church that started meeting this summer.  Come check us out and buy some crafts.  We’ll have rugs, bags, apparel, and other surprise items.  Stop by and say hello to some of our artists and check out the beautiful work coming out of Grand Rapids and the Heartside neighborhood. 

If you would like to volunteer to sit at our table Friday night and/or run the register, call Jessica at (512) 934-0411.

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April 10, 2010

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Sunday Soup GR

Today Rhododendron Crafts was honored to be a part of a new Grand Rapids tradition: GR Sunday Soup at the DAAC.   There were four entries:  us, Can’t Pocket this Love (a great zine & cd project), the Quick Library (a creative effort to learn collaboratively), and Nibs and Noms (a zine, food blog, and so much more that I can’t even comprehend).  It was $5 to attend the event, eat, and vote.  First, we all ate tasty soup.  Then, each entry got a few minutes to talk about their project.  We all voted.  The votes were tallied and the winner announced:  Rhododendron Crafts!  The winning proposal got the sum of everyone’s $5 entry fee.  Since there were 40 participants, we got $200!  

We are already trying to get creative about how we will spend the money (did someone say “revolving loan fund?”), and gearing up for our next sale (in April, location TBA).  Keep updated either here or on our facebook page for more information forthcoming.  If anyone has an idea for a great sale location, let us know, we are open to suggestions and collaboration.  Here is a photo of us all eating soup (courtesy of the DAAC):

Not only was money pooled for a good cause, but valuable connections were made.  Sunday Soup is going to be a great initiative well into Grand Rapids’ future if we all keep supporting it, so I encourage you all to mark your calendars for Sunday Soup #2 on April 25th, there are sure to be even more great proposals to choose from!

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March 29, 2010

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Photos from the March 14 Sale

As promised, here are the photos from our first sale (courtesy of Prasha Maharjan):

Some of our Bhutanese artisans.

Winter wear, Bhutanese style.

Jewelry from Higher Grounds co-op in Nepal, working with women coming out of sex trafficking.

This is one of Durga’s first rugs on her new loom (thanks to Carl’s carpentry skills!).

A Powdyel original.

A selection of our Bhutanese rugs.

Our first customers!

A customer with her new scarf.

Rusmel is a Cuban artists who specializes in sculpture.

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March 28, 2010

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A Smashing Success!

I don’t think there are any other words that could better describe our first craft sale.  There were people coming in and out all day, and the house was especially full during the first two hours of the afternoon.  We were treated to excellent Nepali tea and biscuits from Prasha, and listened to enlightening Aradhna music.  I was encouraged by how many new and old friends stopped by to shop and chat.  Quite a few of our artisans were on hand to answer questions and discuss custom orders.  Not to focus on numbers, but we also made a TON of money!  100% of the Rhododendron Crafts money will go towards the artisans who made the goods, and all of the Higher Grounds (jewelry) money will go towards victims of human trafficking in Nepal.   The money from Salai’s poetry books will go towards fighting poverty in Malaysia, and the money from the Himalchuli CD’s is going towards Chris Hale, a musician who has made the CD available to any Bhutanese refugee for free. 

Also, we were featured on Fox News 17 at 10:00 PM!  Wow.  When a reporter showed up at my house, I was extremely surprised, but excited about how the word had spread. 

Thanks to all of you who came out for the sale!  Remember, even if all you did was tell some friends or co-workers to stop by, you made this sale a success.  If you would like to be added to the email list for future sales, please comment on this blog with your email address or email jennis@bethany.org.  This is also the address you can email if you need custom orders of rugs, bags, or scarves, or if you have any other questions.  As always, you can find us on facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Grand-Rapids-MI/Rhododendron-Crafts/296352698541 I hope to post pictures of the craft sale tomorrow, so please stay tuned!

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March 15, 2010

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