Council ReSale in Berkley Offers Creative Fun with Jars of Vintage Jewelry
(Council ReSale, Dec. 14, 2020)
Berkley, MI – As mental health issues increase exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Council Re|Sale thrift store in Berkley is offering metro Detroiters a new way to express their creativity and improve their mental health. Broken vintage jewelry, a new craft trend seen online, is now being sold in ‘Craft Jars’ at Council Re|Sale (3297 W. 12 Mile Road, Berkley, MI 48072). Just in time for the holiday season, the jars have been stuffed with beautiful and unusual jewelry items to encourage metro Detroiters to let their creative juices flow and, at the same time, improve their mental well-being. The jewelry can be repurposed to make new jewelry designs, decorate photo frames, create holiday ornaments or garden chimes, decorate a belt buckle or beautify mirror frames. The ‘Craft Jars’ cost from $25 to $50 depending on size. Photos of the ‘Craft Jars’ are available here.
One of the oldest resale shops in metro Detroit, Council Re|Sale is operated by the National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan (NCJW|MI), the non-profit organization which works to improve the lives of local families. All proceeds go to the many community and social advocacy projects of NCJW|MI. In addition, the store is bringing festive joy at bargain prices with a special Celebrate the Holidays Sale, now through December 26, 2020, where each day a different category of items will be on sale for 65 percent off.
“We have so much fantastic jewelry donated, we had the idea of parceling broken items into jars and selling it to customers to for their own arts and crafts project. We know that working with your hands is really good for your brain as it can create nerve pathways, reduce stress and boost your mood,” said Amy Cutler, President of NCJW|MI. “As we approach this pandemic winter, anything you can do to keep your hands busy is going to be beneficial for your wellbeing.”
Studies indicate that art allows people to forget about their condition for a while, allowing them to focus on the positive things in their life. Being wholly focused on a craft project can have an effect similar to meditation, which research suggests can help in the management of anxiety and depression.
Council Re|Sale was forced to close at the start of the pandemic to keep its staff and customers safe. In July 2020 it reopened with stringent safety measures in place, including sanitation stations, quarantining of donations and returns, social distancing practiced by staff and customers, masks worn by all in the store, and only 10 shoppers allowed in the store at one time.
The store was originally founded in Detroit in 1934 and is now known for having high-end clothing, including designer wear and other hidden treasures. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday; donations of clothing (not books currently) are accepted Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information on Council Re|Sale go to www.councilresale.net; for more information on National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan go to www.ncjwmi.org