Jewelry artist to join Harrisburg’s 518 Marketplace
Aug. 21, 2019
A jewelry artist who has been selling her creations at festivals, including Saturday’s 605 Made Night Market, is opening a store in the 518 Marketplace in Harrisburg.
Amy Balster started BluMoon Designs two years ago.
“As the business has grown over the past two years, I’ve had customers who ask about a storefront and where they can buy pieces, and that drove the process for me to find a space to open a store.”
Balster, who lives on a farm near Alvord, Iowa, read articles about the marketplace and reached out to Pam Harris of Emer-GenZ Eats & Treats who had the idea of creating the shared space for businesses.
“I thought that it looked like a really interesting concept,” Balster said. “I met with the group, and they’re a great fit for me.”
Balster works in human resources for a Sioux Falls business, so the Harrisburg shop is conveniently between work and home.
She’s hoping to open Sept. 1 and is busy making jewelry pieces to stock the shop.
Balster said she’s constantly working on new designs, so shoppers will be able to find a variety of necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings.
“I use a wide variety of materials, a lot of gemstones,” she said.
She also does custom work.
“If they don’t find exactly what they’re looking for, I’ll do that. Maybe it’s a different size or color.”
Balster was influenced by her mother to start BluMoon.
“I originally started in my youth. My mom was big into arts and crafts, and I helped with her business,” she said. Once Balster’s children “got a little older and weren’t so dependent, I decided to start up my own business.”
Balster’s mother lives in Arizona now but makes items for her to sell and sometimes flies here to help at shows.
It’s common for Balster to work on new jewelry while she’s at a show, and she envisions occasionally setting up a working area at one of the marketplace’s tables and creating pieces as shoppers watch.
In addition to jewelry, BluMoon will carry handcrafted gift items and bath and body merchandise made by other local makers.
“A lot of the products that I’ll have will be made by makers I’ve met over the years doing shows.”
The marketplace features a central checkout counter, so Balster won’t have to be at the shop to handle sales.
Harris is excited to add another offering to the marketplace’s mix.
“Amy and her BluMoon Designs brings yet another unique business to the 518 Marketplace and Harrisburg. Her beautiful handcrafted jewelry is unique to the area and will bring us one step closer to being the premier one-stop shop for gifts, decor, coffee and food.”
