Aug. 5 2008 for Decatur Living Magazine
A Rainbow of Colors Beckons At The Bead Shoppe
By Mary Swint
At The Bead Shoppe in Avondale Estates, a wide variety of colors and textures attracts the critical eye and
imagination of both skilled artisans who create jewelry for sale and amateur beaders who see the craft as a relaxing
hobby.
Melanie Gulley, who managed another bead store for five years, opened her new shop on June 21 in the Twin Oaks
Shopping Center. With ample parking outside and a light and airy interior, The Bead Shoppe displays beads on
flowerpot holders, quilt racks, and wooden shutters. A lighted table brings out the rich colors of an array of glass
beads and semi-precious stones.
Customers can choose beads from around the world, such as pearls from China, glass beads from the Czech
Republic, Swarovski crystal from Austria, tiny seed beads from Japan, exotic beads from Africa, and ceramic beads
from Greece. There are also shells from New Zealand.
Gulley is enthusiastic about her vintage beads and finished pieces that are particularly popular with young women.
The Bead Shoppe also offers lampworked beads, in which designs are burned into glass, and dichroic glass beads.
Metal beads include sterling silver, pewter, vermeil, copper, brass and gold-filled. The store also has small painting
reproductions on stone pendants.
“We can special order it if we don’t have it,” Gulley says.
A comfortable classroom has a refurbished poker table with spaces to hold beads, a new felt surface and seating for
eight. Customers can get private instruction or attend group classes during the day or evening. Classes include basic
beading, earring making, wire wrapping, knotting and bead weaving for multilayer jewelry and knitting. Girls' nights
out and other parties can also be scheduled at the store.
An antique dentist’s cabinet holds an assortment of tools for sale, such as pliers and felt bead boards for arranging
and measuring necklaces. The Bead Shoppe sells all the findings needed to complete a jewelry piece, such as clasps,
thread and wire. One customer called it “your every need bead store.”
“Customers sometimes say they don’t know how to select colors for a jewelry design,” Gulley says. “I tell them to
find something in nature. A lot of my designs are inspired by peacock feathers.” Her store also displays “inspiration
pieces” made by local jewelry artists.
The staff has heard from many customers that they enjoy designing unique gifts for their relatives and friends and
their work is treasured for years.
A Rainbow of Colors Beckons At The Bead Shoppe
By Mary Swint
At The Bead Shoppe in Avondale Estates, a wide variety of colors and textures attracts the critical eye and
imagination of both skilled artisans who create jewelry for sale and amateur beaders who see the craft as a relaxing
hobby.
Melanie Gulley, who managed another bead store for five years, opened her new shop on June 21 in the Twin Oaks
Shopping Center. With ample parking outside and a light and airy interior, The Bead Shoppe displays beads on
flowerpot holders, quilt racks, and wooden shutters. A lighted table brings out the rich colors of an array of glass
beads and semi-precious stones.
Customers can choose beads from around the world, such as pearls from China, glass beads from the Czech
Republic, Swarovski crystal from Austria, tiny seed beads from Japan, exotic beads from Africa, and ceramic beads
from Greece. There are also shells from New Zealand.
Gulley is enthusiastic about her vintage beads and finished pieces that are particularly popular with young women.
The Bead Shoppe also offers lampworked beads, in which designs are burned into glass, and dichroic glass beads.
Metal beads include sterling silver, pewter, vermeil, copper, brass and gold-filled. The store also has small painting
reproductions on stone pendants.
“We can special order it if we don’t have it,” Gulley says.
A comfortable classroom has a refurbished poker table with spaces to hold beads, a new felt surface and seating for
eight. Customers can get private instruction or attend group classes during the day or evening. Classes include basic
beading, earring making, wire wrapping, knotting and bead weaving for multilayer jewelry and knitting. Girls' nights
out and other parties can also be scheduled at the store.
An antique dentist’s cabinet holds an assortment of tools for sale, such as pliers and felt bead boards for arranging
and measuring necklaces. The Bead Shoppe sells all the findings needed to complete a jewelry piece, such as clasps,
thread and wire. One customer called it “your every need bead store.”
“Customers sometimes say they don’t know how to select colors for a jewelry design,” Gulley says. “I tell them to
find something in nature. A lot of my designs are inspired by peacock feathers.” Her store also displays “inspiration
pieces” made by local jewelry artists.
The staff has heard from many customers that they enjoy designing unique gifts for their relatives and friends and
their work is treasured for years.
| Bangles, Baubles, and Beads |
| 2894 E. College Ave Avondale Estates GA 30030 404 296 9898 beadshoppeatl@yahoo.com |
| Monday through Saturday 11 am to 6 pm Classes by appointment |
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