Sammamish Farmers Market vendors share stories of personal connection and growth
Amidst the alluring scents of locally sourced foods and the lively tunes of musical performers, the Sammamish Farmers Market invites all who pass by to pause and indulge. For vendors like Forever Beauty and Simply Kettle Company, the market is more than just a place of business—it is a platform to connect with others.
Forever Beauty was founded by Nozomi Baines, 51, in 2022. Baines creates handcrafted crystal bead jewelry as a way to help herself and others heal.
“One of the reasons why I love jewelry is because there’s so much meaning going behind it. Gemstones have a lot of healing properties that can help people,” Baines said in an interview with the Sammamish Independent.
Making jewelry has always been therapeutic for Baines. She recalls that the art was particularly helpful to her during a tough time.
“I’ve always had a harder lifestyle, having gotten off of an abusive relationship as a single mother. I wanted to do something different, and since wearing and making jewelry has helped me relieve stress, I thought, why not do that?” Baines said.
While meeting new customers at the Sammamish Farmers Market, Baines hopes her story and jewelry will help others heal as well.
Personalization is one of Baines’ specialties. She enjoys hearing her customers’ stories and reflecting them in her pieces.
“I try to make all of my jewelry individual and personal. I never make the same product twice because jewelry should be unique. With each customer, I will form a connection between me, the jewelry, and them,” Baines said.
Another vendor at the Sammamish Farmers Market tells the story of how running a small business has helped him connect with his own identity.
The Simply Kettle Company was founded in 2012. In late 2021, the owner’s son, Philip Couture, 28, took over the business. Since becoming a small business owner, Couture has enjoyed a new perspective on the value of his identity as both an immigrant and a veteran.
Couture, a Vietnamese American born in Hanoi, Vietnam, came to Redmond, Washington, when he was two years old. His background initially posed some challenges.
“Growing up being half Vietnamese and half white, I never really belonged to a particular group. That sense of identity was something that I struggled with,” Couture said.
Yet, owning and operating The Simply Kettle Company has shown Couture that his ethnicity helps him connect with his customers.
“As a minority, I can relate to people more, especially considering how, since the minority community in this entire region–whether the Latino or Asian community–is growing,” Couture said.
Couture’s background as a veteran also influences how he operates his business.
Although Couture had initially resisted following the footsteps of his male relatives, he served several years in the U.S. Army in Fort Liberty, North Carolina. The life skills learned in the military translate to his work in his company.
“In military structure, you start from the bottom and work your way up. This brought me a lot of humility. After scrubbing toilets and mopping floors, I’ve come to appreciate small things,” Couture said.
Overall, Couture describes running The Simply Kettle Company as having helped him connect with and value himself more.
“[Previously], I’ve struggled a lot with anxiety and depression and addiction, which make you feel like you are less than you are. But, over the last two years, I’ve been able to find value in myself,” Couture said.
The Sammamish Farmers Market will be at the Sammamish Commons, 801 228th Ave SE, every Wednesday through mid-September.
