As spring blooms into bursts of color, we’re thrilled to welcome the whimsical, bright creations of perhaps one of Londonderry’s most multi-talented residents to the Leach Library. Irene Kravstova of Bluett Arts eludes definition–she seems to do it all, from beading and jewelry-making to knitting and crochet. She makes earrings, statement necklaces, and portraits of figures like Frida Kahlo. And she loves passing her skills onto others, enriching our community with workshops and classes.
Stop into the Leach Library at 276 Mammoth Rd. in Londonderry through May 31 to view her work in the display case just inside the entrance.
ABOUT IRENE
Originally from Minsk, Belarus, Irene discovered her penchant for crafts in middle school. After becoming a biology teacher and having her first child, Irene dove back into her first passion during her maternity leave.
Ten years ago, Irene moved with her family to the United States. This huge life change reignited her passion for crafting as a way of coping with anxiety and stress. She channeled her lifelong fascination with beads into learning seed bead crochet, weaving, embroidery, stringing, and many other techniques.
Her work found recognition in her community–she is a two time finalist in the Fire Mountain Gems contest. And in 2017, she caught the eye of an owner of Manchester Craft Market, who invited her to become a vendor at her store, where she continues to sell her art to this day.
Irene has called Londonderry her home for five years. Like many artists in our area, she finds inspiration in our natural world (including our very own Rail Trail), calm way of life, and kind supportive community. She harnesses her bilingualism and curiosity about the world to constantly grow her repertoire of techniques and designs.
LEARN TO FOSTER YOUR CREATIVITY
After years of developing her art, Irene decided to return to teaching. She became a Certified Crochet Instructor and enjoys nurturing her students’ creativity while helping them relieve stress and boredom, improve motor skills, and boost imagination and focus. She believes that creative work boosts brain function among other positive benefits.
You can connect with Irene and view her upcoming workshop schedule on her Facebook page. Some classes fill up quickly, so we recommend securing a spot early.
DISPLAY YOUR WORK
The Arts Council invites local artists to display their work for a month at the Leach Library. We are currently revamping our application process, so if you are interested in displaying, please simply submit an inquiry using the contact form at the bottom of this page. To date, we have hosted painters, illustrators, photographers, writers, and others.