Finally…Shopping in Berea Kentucky

…continuing with our road trip to Kentucky this past October.  We’d explored several attractions in and around Lexington and now Laurie and I headed back to Berea to do a bit of shopping.  Unfortunately, Bonnie and Bill had to get back to St. Louis earlier than we thought, so they missed this second try at shopping.

Our first stop was in the Artisan Village area of Berea.  The first 2 photos provide a feel for the small shops that line Broadway Street, occupy Artisan Circle…and in at least one case…is located just off Broadway on a side street.

If you follow my blog site, you may recall the second photo.  This is the former Louisville and Nashville Railway depot that was built in 1917.  It is located on Artisan Circle and it’s a good place to start you exploration…and shopping.  Of course, this is where our little group originally learned that Artisan Village is almost completely closed on Sundays.

My previous post about this area included a number of artistic “hands” that had decorated the town a few years earlier… Many are still on exhibit and I think that they’re fun objects.  As for the flowers, I’ve included that photo because at this time of the year they represent hope and our upcoming spring season.

These photos were taken in ‘Honeysuckle Vine’, a shop at 2 Artist Circle that’s adjacent to the old depot/visitor’s center.  This shop had a bit of something for everyone.  Greeting cards created by local artists, corn-shuck items, coal art, wooden utensils and salad bowls, a variety of Kentucky food products and plenty of country style home décor items.  Also, handmade Christmas decorations are available year round. 

It was a Monday…and unfortunately not all of the shops were open for business.  We would recommend shopping on Tuesdays through Saturday in order to maximize your selection of arts and crafts items. 

There were still enough shops open to occupy Laurie and myself… One stop was at the Weston Glass Studio.  Not only is there an interesting and creative display of items available for purchase, but we were also able to watch a glass blower at work!  The pliable glass is drawn from the 2,050 F oven and then shaped into unique creations.

These photos offer examples of the creativity and variety available for visitors to the Weston Glass Studio.  Love the glass ornament and that glass sea shell is fabulous!  Of course, the Christmas tree is also mostly glass... 

The shop offers ornaments, vases, starfish, pumpkins and many more items at affordable prices.  Weston Glass Studio is located at 217 Adams Street, just off Broadway.  Call ahead if you want to time your visit for when they are actually glass blowing.  Phone: 859-985-0150.  They are on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WestonGlass/ or you can learn more about this studio/shop on their website at https://www.westonglassgallery.org/.  

This store offered a wide array of hand crafted items and we thought that the quality was outstanding.  Top Drawer Gallery offers hand crafted items in jewelry, glass, ceramics, textiles, wood and metal.  Art, furniture and décor items fill the store.  We particularly liked the wooden craft items, the furniture and pottery.

Top Drawer Gallery is located Berea Kentucky’s Artisan Village at 202 North Broadway Street.  To learn more about this gallery or to shop on-line, just go to https://shoptopdrawergallery.com/.  

For general information about Berea’s Artisan Village and its many shops, go to https://visitberea.com/shopping/artisan-village/.

That’s enough shopping for now!  Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave