Bead Towne

Selections for art exhibit

2011-12-30T14:24:00.000-06:00

End of August is almost here!

2011-08-21T13:13:00.004-05:00

New stock, new classes and almost ready for a new month!

I am looking for new ideas for classes and events here at the shop. Any ideas?

Let me know your ideas and share what kind of events you like best. Some examples are wine and cheese girl's night out, Sunday afternoon tea parties, bead swaps.

Polymer Clay Workshop

2011-07-24T14:41:00.002-05:00

Thanks Linda! Great class this weekend.

Satin cord, crystals and pearls

2011-06-26T16:00:00.003-05:00

New classes that Lacey and I have lined up

A New Bracelet

2011-06-21T16:21:00.003-05:00

I called this one Koi Pond

Knotting isn't just for pearls

2011-06-17T14:56:00.002-05:00

Not just silk for knotting... how about leather, cord, hemp, waxed linen, ribbon...

A break in the weather

2011-02-13T14:06:00.002-06:00

I know that we have mild weather compared to a lot of people but this winter we have seen more snow in one season than we usually get in 5 years.

But the weather is better this week! Hurray!

It was also nice to get new stock in this past week and more coming next week. Hopefully we'll get some customers coming in to get back into their beading.

Rug Hooking Class

2011-01-31T11:47:00.002-06:00

I had a great day Saturday. We hosted a class in rug hooking taught by Lisanne Miller who owns P is for Primitive in Canton MS.

Pardon the pun, but I think I'm hooked!

Listening to Alex White (of www.thegearheart.com). He has a music cd out as a companion for his free audiobook called The Gearheart. Adventure, steampunk, serialized story. And did I mention it is free?

2011-01-25T13:40:00.002-06:00

I was looking for a way to show off some new crystal rondelles. I put them in this square stitch window bracelet. What do you think?

2011-01-21T15:25:00.001-06:00

Stopped shop work for a moment to create a little keychain.

Where has the month gone!?

2011-01-21T11:38:00.001-06:00

I have already been thinking about Valentine's Day. Putting up decorations and coming up with the heart earrings to have as a kit.

Good way to learn basic earrings because you are doing 10 separate wrapped head pins.

I love the new crystal rondelles (the middle bead in the earrings pictured here).

The project I am working on now is a square stitch window bracelet with on of the rondelles in each window.

But I have some customer orders to fill first then back to my bead windows!

September already!

2010-09-12T11:29:00.003-05:00

We have some great classes if you are starting to think about making Christmas presents this year. A basic class on Thursday night (necklace, earrings, bracelet, book mark, key chain...)

This weekend learn to make a drape for a Christmas ornament.

Elegant gifts or for your own tree.

African Trade Beads

2010-08-22T13:00:00.002-05:00

We have a small trunk show of African trade beads. Check the website for some pictures.

The selection includes old agate and carnelian, cow bone, sand cast and others. I am not very knowledgeable about these but Ernie Buchholz who sent the beads will be able to answer any questions that come up. He has been dealing in antique trade beads for 25 years.

What's new?

2010-07-18T15:41:00.002-05:00

Joe has made some great new glass for us! This is a sampling of some of his wonderful pieces.

Thanks to the DeSoto Appeal!

2010-07-11T12:45:00.001-05:00

Bead Towne in the paper - and it was fun!

Guest instructor for wire wrapping

2010-07-04T11:42:00.003-05:00

Saturday August 21st we have a guest instructor teaching a class on wire wrapping pendants.

Gear wear

2010-06-27T11:52:00.003-05:00

This necklace uses three pewter castings my sister got for me. There are some actual watch parts from an old pocket watch in the dangle hanging below the pendant.

So many beads, so little time...

2010-06-22T11:46:00.001-05:00

Shell, pearls, ceramic pendants, lava stone.

2010-06-20T18:04:00.001-05:00

Do you have a toggle that you like? A few assorted beads and charms with a little chain can turn that toggle into a focal piece for a necklace.

Square Bracelet

2010-06-14T16:03:00.001-05:00

This we call square bracelet because of the stitch and it uses cubes.

June flowers

2010-06-06T13:09:00.003-05:00

The day lilies are incredible now. The orange ones are blooming all down Hwy 305 and the yellow ones in our yard make you happy just to see them.

But here is what is blooming in the bead shop!

We have made these amazing little beaded beads in all sorts of color combinations.

Classes this week

2010-05-30T11:40:00.004-05:00

Our hours Monday are the normal hours of 11-6.

The pictures show our classes this week.

My favorite colors

2010-05-27T15:16:00.001-05:00

Beaded Beads

2010-05-27T15:15:00.001-05:00

These beautiful little beads fit over a chain like Pandora or Troll style chains.

Classes this week

2010-05-23T12:17:00.004-05:00

We have a class Thursday night (May 27th at 6:00) that I am calling Basic Beading Bootcamp. It covers stringing and crimping on jewelry wire, making a pendant out of beads, stretch bracelet, earrings and leather or ribbon necklace.

The fee for the class is $40 and includes a kit. Call for a reservation and to request a color. This set is pink crystals and rose quartz. You can choose pink, brown, purple and jet black.

Saturday May 29th we don't have a morning class but the afternoon class is a brick stitch bracelet taught by Betsy. Class fee is $20 plus supplies. You can choose your beads before class or let us know if you want a kit assembled.

Hello from Bead Towne

2010-05-23T11:56:00.004-05:00

We have some customers that have work to show off: This shows what some double ab crystals can do... bling!

These are new creations from Shirley. This is the St Petersburg pattern in the June Bead & Button.

In other news, don't forget that we have some great new classes coming up. There is a resin class coming up on June 9th teaching a technique for making faux amber taught by Renee. And Lacey has a class in making a beaded bead that fits a Pandora or Troll style bracelet (two classes for this one on June 5th and another on June 10th).

Pictures for those on the website.

Here is a charity auction donation -

and here is a description from Facebook about the event:
Thursday May 27th at Neils in Midtown Memphis 8:00 Musicians for Millington jam to raise money for Millington Flood victims. No Cover Charge at the door, but we ain't lettin' you in without a monetary donation. Silent Auction items. All money goes to help buy materials to rebuild damaged homes in Millington. Props to Eric Hughes and Eddie Smith bands for agreeing to do this, and to Derric Curran for the idea.

New classes and new stock

2010-05-16T16:55:00.002-05:00

Basic Beading Workshop Thursday May 20th at 6:00

Saturday May 22nd, pick your own Basic project at 11:00

Also on May 22nd Saturday afternoon at 2:00, River of Beads Bracelet

Need more beads?

2010-05-12T11:52:00.001-05:00

We are always on the lookout for unusual beads and findings to help you create your next masterpiece. Come visit us to see the latest.

New skills

2010-05-02T15:35:00.002-05:00

Last weekend I learned to make a felted scarf. The picture shows my classmates showing off their scarves. My scarf is the green one.

New classes

2010-05-02T15:32:00.002-05:00

2 classes this week and May Fest in Old Towne Olive Branch!

Wednesday, making resin jewelry... Thursday using leather cord to make necklace/earring set... Saturday street fair right outside our door! May Fest is Saturday May 8th.

Busy Day at the Shop

2010-04-29T16:53:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Fox 13 and Valerie Calhoun for introducing Bead Towne to a lot of new people. Hopefully they will chose us as their beading home.

Now I feel challenged to come up with new classes to keep interest and excitement high!

Rainy Saturday

2010-04-24T14:04:00.003-05:00

Rainy and grey today but thanks to the wonderful customers who braved the weather to come in and shop.

Tomorrow I am going to learn felting. Another new skill!

My resin jewelry is almost ready and I look forward to trying that again!

My pictures of resin pieces is never as pretty as the real thing. Too much reflection I guess.

Wear your pajamas to work day!

2010-04-18T15:23:00.002-05:00

We had a milk and cookies party to celebrate National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day!

It was nice to just hang out and see what everyone was working on. And thanks to Becky for bringing her paper embossing supplies and demonstrating for us by making a pendant.

Here is the pendant put on a beaded chain.

Hopefully she will be able to put together a class for us sometime.

Glass pearls

2010-02-21T14:37:00.000-06:00

Here is Lacey's class for next Sunday. Nice way to end the month!

Hearts

2010-01-28T14:10:00.002-06:00

I want to show off the work of my friend Linda. Here is one of her polymer clay hearts. She has a bouquet of them in different colors but of course my favorite was blue/green.

Valentine's Day

2010-01-28T14:01:00.002-06:00

How about a Valentine's Day sale (on Feb 13th) that features a grab bag. In your present from the grab bag there might be a Swarovski heart or might be a discount good for all purchases that day.

Might work.

Tea Party

2009-12-07T12:36:00.001-06:00

Sunday was great! Thanks to everyone who attended the tea party. It was so much fun that I think we'll have to repeat it. Maybe next month... because this Saturday is the pot luck Christmas party. See you there.

Myra

Halloween in Old Towne

2009-11-01T08:43:00.002-06:00

The Old Towne Halloween celebration was wonderful.

Congratulations to our Leah who won third place in the pumpkin carving contest.

New gemstone strands

2009-10-21T17:37:00.001-05:00

I am so excited to get the consignment box of semi precious stones. They are very beautiful! I plan to have them set out in time for a little preview party Friday night.

Setting up an Etsy shop

2009-10-12T15:49:00.002-05:00

Wow, lots of steps to set up the shop... taking pictures is the most challenging. Pictures that look good enlarged and up close. I have a lot to learn!

Halloween

2009-10-09T09:46:00.003-05:00

Got special plans for Halloween? Olive Branch Old Towne is having an afternoon celebration with merchants handing out treats - nice safe way to take little ones Trick or Treating.

Girl's Night Out

2009-09-14T11:07:00.000-05:00

Friday night is our first girl's night out party at the new shop.

New Classes

2009-08-25T07:34:00.001-05:00

I think the most difficult thing this week is trying to come up with new classes. It is difficult to arrange multi session classes. Hard to get customers to commit to that. Everyone is so busy and understandably wants some instant gratification.

Sale

2009-08-18T07:29:00.001-05:00

The whole Old Towne area is having a sidewalk sale this Friday and Saturday. I am trying to decide what is on sale and for how much.

Since events like this bring more general shoppers rather than beaders I usually put jewelry on sale.

So many beads, so little time

2009-07-16T11:08:00.002-05:00

We have added so much new stock lately and new classes that it is hard to keep up!

Old buildings

2009-05-31T20:18:00.003-05:00

It is nice to have a location on a historic walking tour but one drawback of a place built in 1915 is it is certainly a challenge to keep cool in hot weather!

New classes

2009-04-29T14:29:00.001-05:00

Lots of new classes added to the schedule. Check the website for photos, times and dates.

New gemstone strands

2009-04-29T14:23:00.001-05:00

Somehow... we have to find room to hang 2700 new strands of gemstones!

Grand Opening at New Location

2009-04-19T18:37:00.003-05:00

Thanks to everyone who came out Saturday - we had a great day seeing the look on customer's faces who had not seen the new space we have now.

Added new classes to the website! Check it out to see the great classes we have coming up.

We are in our new home!

2009-03-30T09:58:00.001-05:00

Hurrah! We've made it to our new home.

World's Best Customer

2009-03-18T10:14:00.003-05:00

We have the best customers in the world! Thanks for all the volunteers helping us move. It will turn into a block party :-)

Growing Pains

2009-03-16T13:18:00.000-05:00

This month we move to a new location (still in Old Towne Olive Branch) down the street. It is a bigger place and we do need that.

But it is scary too. So much to do. But hopefully lots of room for new beaders!

The picture shows two of my raku faces. The one on the right was a bead embroidery project done by Lacey. She is one of my part time employees, only 17 year old and extremely creative. She calls hers Bob Marley (she even beaded dreadlocks).

Bead Addict

2009-03-15T11:49:00.000-05:00

I took my first beading class nine years ago... and have not tired of this hobby yet. It has gone from hobby to business as my sister and I just had our fifth anniversary of Bead Towne. Our little shop in Olive Branch MS has grown a bit every year and we hope that we'll still be beading our way through many more years.