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Crystal wreaths 

By: Ben Polzin

 

Some people really love tacky shit, like those christmas wreaths that people buy during the holiday season. Ya know, the one that looks like everyone else's with the huge red bow and dumb fake red berries. You throw it away at the end of the year and then next year you buy a new one, perpetuating the cycle of mass consumerism. If this is you, I’m sorry that I talked shit about your seasonal decor, I was just trying to come up with a catchy introduction to this blog. 

 

That’s why I started making Crystal Wreaths. I love a wreath, and I love crystals but I think that seasonal wreaths are super overplayed and boring. When I started making them, I made them for myself as a way to add an extra layer of protection at my front door. I had one on my door, and it made me so happy to walk through my door and have that extra layer of crystal goodness.

 

Cut to like 10 years later and I’m in St Paul at Keg & Case selling my crystal wreaths at the holiday market. I was super insecure because my wreath was the same price as the seasonal one made with the ugly fake berries. I didn’t think they’d sell. Then towards the end of the night a very special human purchased one.  I’ll never forget the first person who bought one, I wasn’t sure if anyone was going to like them and when someone did it literally made my entire month. (We are still friends, shout out to Shewon if you are reading this!!!!) I was super insecure about the price point that I had to charge for them. Once I realized that I was making a high quality, one of a kind piece of decor made with ethically sourced crystals, they really started to feel like they were truly a deal.

 

Now I make them in different styles, colors, and they’re all one of a kind. I’ve always thought of myself as an artist, but felt like a fake cus all I did was mediocre art. Then I started making these, now I feel like a real artist and I love it. When I bring them to the Minneapolis Farmers Market Annex, they sell like hot cakes. It’s super awesome and fun to see people connect with my hand made crystal art and take them home. There have been a lot of people buying them as gifts which boggles my mind and makes me literally feel like a celebrity. 

 

They’re made to last forever, that's why I wire the crystals through the wreath and don’t use hot glue. I paint them all individual colors based on what is inspiring me at the time, and use a paint that is sealed so they shouldn’t fade too much. And they’re not tacky and dumb like everyone else's seasonal wreaths. It makes me so happy to think about the fact that my little wreaths are on people's door, and that every time someone walks through the door they are adorned with the positive energy of the wreath. 

 

Also, they’re hand made by a local gay. So you know that you are getting the best quality product and the lowest possible price. Cus who doesn’t love a deal!? These one of a kind crystal wreaths are only available at Pebbles St Paul or by getting them at the Bloom Bums Booth at the Minneapolis Farmers Market Annex.