By By ANDY HAMILTON / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Thanks to a local jeweler, Hunter Ice Festival visitors now have a way to freeze the atmosphere of the event for the entire year. Meg Truesdell, owner of Red Shoe Jewelry, has created new snowflake-shaped pieces inspired by the upcoming festival.
The snowflakes range in size as well as purpose. Truesdell created the larger items, which she said take a little longer to make, as ornaments. The smaller pieces have been handcrafted by Truesdell into earrings, necklaces and even bookmarks.
Though the snowflakes fit in with the holiday spirit, Truesdell says the pieces are really crafted to accompany the upcoming festival.
Besides a few items created by friends and sold at Red Shoe Jewelry, Truesdell handcrafts everything in the store.
To create the festival pieces, Truesdell starts with a thin wire piece in the shape of a spoke. She then uses jewelers' adhesive or epoxy to attach the Czech Crystals to the spokes and complete the snowflake.
Normal business hours for Red Shoe Jewelry are Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Truesdell said the shop will have extended hours during the weekend of the Hunter Ice Festival and will also be serving free coffee, hot spice cider and snacks. She will extend store hours until 9 p.m. on Friday and will also open on Sunday.