Stars align for local business owner

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This article was published 21/1/2019 (366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When the opportunity to buy her business came about, she had to put herself in the frame.

Bev — a.k.a. Lizzy Burt — is the owner and operator of Bevvy Teyems’ Custom Picture Framing, which is located at 565 St. Mary’s Rd. And for the last few months, she has been busy establishing her new business in the heart of Old St. Vital.

"This was my 10-year goal, so it’s been fast forwarded very quickly," said Bev, who has a studio in Winnipeg’s Exchange District, and is originally from Selkirk.

"I wasn’t expecting it to happen this quickly, at all."   

In what turned out be a series of serendipitous events, a friend initially told Bev about an advertisement for the space her business occupies, and she subsequently found out that a picture framer wasn’t planning on renewing his lease, and was selling his equipment, and that she had an option of taking things over.

"This is what I’d wanted in the future, so it was a very cosmic thing, and it blew my mind. I feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing, in terms of work. So far, it’s been an amazing experience. I’ve had a lot of support, and a lot of people donating frames to me to repurpose. Establishing the business has been a challenge in the best kind of way," she said.

Specializing in professional framing services using new and repurposed materials, Bev uses the term "reloved frames" to describe some of the pieces she lovingly works on. She said some frames can be broken down and rebuilt — "I do a lot of rebuilding for clients" — while others can’t be broken down because "their particular profile is too difficult to work with."

Having previously worked in a picture framing shop, Bev said she has slowly learned her craft and trained under "some really phenomenal people" in the picture framing business.

"It’s meticulous work, which I really like, as I can be a perfectionist, which is something that’s also transferred into my music."

The music Bev refers to is, in this instance, her role as lead vocalist and guitarist in the four-piece band Juniper Bush, which includes three songwriters/composers, she said. The band also includes Danny Hacking, Kyle Loewen, and Adrian Schroeder.

Going by her real name of Lizzy Burt when talking all things music, she said Juniper Bush — which she describes as "psych-rock’ and "shoegaze" — is currently working on its first album.

"We’re almost ready to start releasing things this year, and there’s also a video in the works," she said, adding the group was scheduled to play a live session on UMFM on Jan. 20.

Having been involved in the Winnipeg music scene for "going on 10 years," the 26-year-old was previously in the band Basic Nature.

In terms of the business, Bev is looking forward to its continued evolution in the community, which includes hosting different events, including Bevvy Teyems’ Valentine Market, which will be held on Sat., Feb. 9 from noon to 6 p.m.

"I’d say the business is just past infancy, and now into the toddler stage. I feel it’s the beginning of something pretty big and pretty cool, and we’ll have different events here such as exhibits, live modelling, and live music. I hope to be here for a handful of years," she said.

And regarding the location of her business, Bev — who is new on the board of the Old St. Vital BIZ — is happy to be nestled in southeast Winnipeg.

"It’s close to the river, and there are some great businesses down here. It’s a nice, welcoming area, and I’ll be learning more about it."  

Go online at bevvyteyems.com for more information about the business, and visit Juniper Bush on Facebook for more about the band.