A Little Catch-Up from the Studio
Hi, friends.
It feels a little wild to look up from the bench and realize how long it's been since I last wrote here. The short version: we've been busy in the best way. The longer version is what this post is for.
Since Calathea Collective opened up shop back in November 2024, more than 3,000 of our handmade little somethings have made their way to homes in 47 states. That number still stops me in my tracks. Every order represents someone choosing a piece I picked beads for, knotted, finished and packed by hand at the kitchen-table-turned-studio in Middletown. I will never get over that.
A few things worth sharing from the last little while:
The jade collection landed. Cool-toned, grounding and just a little bit moody — exactly what I wanted it to be. These have been some of my favorite bracelets to string, and they've been flying off the shelves faster than I can restock.
The moth charm bracelet has quietly become a favorite around here. Something about that small antiqued brass moth on a sage-toned strand feels like late-summer evenings on the porch.
The patriotic bracelet collection is out and ready for the USA 250th and the Fourth of July weekend. Red, white, blue and just enough sparkle. If you've been eyeing one, this is your nudge.
Pop-ups have been a highlight. We've done a handful so far — Newark Winterfest, Middletown High School — and honestly, nothing compares to seeing one of you pick up a piece in person and watching it click.
So what's next? Honestly, more of everything. New collections. Behind-the-scenes peeks at how a piece actually comes together (lots of beads on the floor, fair warning). Pop-up dates as they get confirmed. Probably a few stories about what it's really like to run a tiny handmade business out of your house while keeping a full-time day job and your sanity.
I'm planning to be back here more often — think shorter posts, more often, more of the real stuff. So bookmark us, hop on the email list if you haven't yet and keep an eye out for what's coming.
Thanks for being here. Truly.
xo, Jacki
