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MOUNT KISCO, N.Y.— New jewelry store Maddy Creations, Inc. has come to Mount Kisco, bringing with it one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry from Nepal.
The business at 237 E. Main St. celebrated its grand opening Tuesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Mayor Cindrich. Two percent of every sale that day went to a fund for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, said owner Ram Bista.
“The jewelry we have, even in Nepal you couldn’t get this kind of jewelry,” said Bista, who owns the store with his wife, Madhura, source of the store’s name.
Bista, who spent 22 years as a jeweler in Nepal, said in his country, which is home to Mount Everest and the Himalayas, precious stones like aquamarine, tourmaline, garnets, emeralds and rubies are one of the natural resources.
His unique products first got noticed through strategic promotion at sales in the area, Bista said. He spent a lot of time showing off his selection of pendants, earrings, rings and accessories at sales and exhibitions like the Mount Kisco Sidewalk Sales, as well as events in New York City.
“Everyone was wondering, ‘Where can we get your product?’ And I thought, why not have a local store?” said Bista, who works as a paralegal for a lawyer in Mount Kisco and is a member of the Mount Kisco Lions Club.
Besides jewelry, precious stones and specialty items like watches and wedding rings, the store also sells decorative Nepalese tapestries called “thangkas,” paintings on canvas made with gold thread and stones that tell a story based on Buddhist texts. These tapestries, which range from $20 to $10,000, can take four to five months to complete.
Customers can also order custom made jewelry at the store, which is a member of the village's Chamber of Commerce, Bista said. The design is sent to a factory in Nepal and returned within 10 to 15 days. Customers can specify the size, cut and color of stone, the settings, band and basic design.
Bista's twin brother, Laxman, also works at Maddy’s, helping Bista’s wife design the jewelry and taking custom orders. “We don’t consider this jewelry. We consider this a piece of art," said Laxman Bista.
Bista said his brother travels all over Europe and helps with networking for the product line; he speaks eight languages including Japanese, German and Russian, while Bista speaks six.
Maddy Creations is open every day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Call the store at 914- 218-3730, email maddycreation@yahoo.com or go to the store's website for more information.
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