Maura Beres || Catch a Falling Jar

Qween City is thrilled to be highlighting the city & region’s myriad artisan makers this holiday season. If you would like to be highlighted in the Craftiste directory, please shoot an email to [email protected].

How long have you been an artisan & business owner in Buffalo?

I have been dabbling in different kinds of art for 20 years but started the business last February.

Where are you located in the city / region?

I live in Alden but travel throughout the Buffalo and Rochester area for shows.

Please describe your work / product; if applicable, please include your artist / personal statement or mission.

Art has given me a chance to connect with people and myself through self-expression. I feel that I have been artistic in different ways throughout my life, whether it was learning dressage in my teens or learning how to paint in my twenties. My current form of expression is creating LED lanterns and mason jars. Each piece is coated with a glitter frosted look. The inside contains LED lights which illuminate various kinds of silhouettes and positive quotes.

This inspiration was born out of self-preservation. I had knee surgery last year and had to find a way to save my sanity and reduce the chance of further injury. I have been lucky enough to turn a hobby into a business that seems to touch people’s lives in ways I didn’t expect. I recently had an order on Etsy from England for a jar that had the phrase, “I love you to the Moon and back.” I couldn’t understand why someone would want to pay more for the shipping than the actual product. I then read the personal note from the customer that said her husband says that phrase to her every night and he is currently going through chemotherapy. She wanted the jar so he knew how much he means to her. I have been a therapist for the last 20 years and I feel that this is just another way of helping others while continuing on my journey for self-development.