Jewelry & Beading

Another Bead Shop Adventure

by Tammy Powley on August 28th, 2005

So far, I’ve manage to make 21 bracelets for Baylie, but I want to make more, and of course, I ran out of elastic cord. As it happened, I was working at my part-time library job this weekend and there’s a bead shop within walking distance, so during my half hour lunch break, I decided to drop by and pick some up. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love bead stores, but this particular store normally has some really high prices on just about everything in stock. That, plus I don’t live close by, keeps me out of there more than I’d like. Any way, I decided to go with the hope that the elastic was not more than a few dollars over what I’d expect. I walked in and noticed there was a lampwork bead making class going on, so to their credit, most of the staff was pretty distracted by this, and understandably so. But, once I got someone’s attention and asked about the elastic, she gave me that blank stare.

“Oh, yes, that clear thread, but I don’t think it’s like elastic.”

She brought me over to show me a roll of monofilament.

“No,” I say. “You’re right. This is not elastic.”

Then as I glance around I finally locate a roll in the same general area, but I discover that the roll has been used so the store has been selling it by the foot or yard or whatever. It was even marked: .25 cents/foot. I showed her the roll, explain that this is what I want, and then ask if they had any new rolls. After she tried to convince me the roll hadn’t been used, I finally saw some packaged a little further up on the display, so I did get my roll, and it wasn’t too expensive.

But my point, yet again, is that I basically had to find my own way around this place, and luckily, I knew what I was looking for so I did find it.

I think I learned something valuable too: in any future bead shop stops, I plan to ask more general questions such as “Where is your threading material?” or “Where do you keep your books?” I think this will save me a lot of aggravation.

Ahhh….I look forward, though, to the day when I actually walk into a bead shop, ask for a specific item, and the shop clerk actually knows what I’m talking about.

Share This

Related Stories

Don’t Forget Your Local Bead Shop
Opening a Bead Shop
More on Bead Stringers vs. Weavers
New Crimping Pliers
Belly Up to the Bead Bar

POSTED IN: Beading