Now Open: Lulu Bea's in Downtown Lakeville

Lakeville has a new shop downtown that has opened just in time for the holidays.

Lulu Bea's opened on Dec. 5. The owner, who goes by the name Lulu Bea, describes herself as an upcycling artist, which is also the type of products sold at her shop. 

Lulu Bea and other artists featured at the store make items out of recycled materials, such as neckties, old sweaters, socks, t-shirts and old cabinet doors. Even the price tags on items at Lulu Bea's are made out of cardboard food boxes, as are the store's business cards.

Lulu Bea sells a variety of handmade items sold at her store, including scarves, hats, skirts and jewelry. 

"I love the beauty of handmade products," she said.

Lulu Bea credits her grandmother with giving her an interest in knitting and crocheting. She said that she always wanted to learn how to create the type of work that her grandmother did, and in 2009 she began to teach herself how to knit and sew. After she had posted her work on Facebook for a time, a friend suggested that she sell her work. 

Lulu Bea began selling her work from her Lakeville home and has been in business as an artist for four years. Lulu Bea's in Lakeville is her first store location. The name "Lulu" is her nickname and "Bea" comes from her grandmother's name, Beatrice.

There are also art, sewing, knitting and other creative arts classes offered at the store. 

"I want to show people that it's not hard," Lulu Bea said. "There's an inner satisfaction when making something with your own two hands."

There will be a new set of classes for all ages each month.

Lulu Bea's is open:

• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
• 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday
• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday
• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday