When Kim was visiting in August I got the wonderful opportunity to be introduced to a new craft: beading and jewelry making! And what a craft it is! Kim owns and operates Murch Gems and has some great talent. While in Ottawa she wanted to browse some bead stores to add to her stash. So she picked a couple stores and we went on a little Beading Store Tour.
Sassy Bead Co.
Our first stop was the Sassy Bead Co. in downtown Ottawa in the Byward Market area. This would be my first time in a full out bead store and Wow! I was amazed! Beads everywhere! Kim, being a seasoned player in this field, seemed less impressed. We wandered about but then left soon after entering. Kim, knowing her stuff, was unimpressed with the quality of the stock and un-matching high prices. I was unimpressed with the rude uncaring staff. Sassy Bead Co. is NOT on our return list.
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| Beads when walking into the store |
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| Strings and chains |
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| Work table |
There was a work table available for beading, perhaps its original purpose was for teaching or something, but when Kim and I visited the lady who sat there stared and scoffed at us the entire time as if we were intruding in her home. Not the best environment for bead shopping.
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| Sink O' Beads |
So overall, the Sassy Bead Co was a bad experience. Not only were staff members uncaring and at times rude, but the prices were too high especially for such low quality stock. This is not a shop we plan on returning to.
Rainbow Minerals and Beading
The next (and last) bead shop we purposefully ventured too was Rainbow Minerals and Beading in the St. Laurent area of Ottawa. It was quite a bus ride but was very much worth the travel. It was a given that I'd be in awe (still getting used to the beading craft environments), but from the moment we stepped in Kim was impressed. This place was well organized, professionally set up, kind staff to greet us... This place took beading seriously and was for serious jewelry makers. |
| Locker system |
As we walked in they had a neat locker system. Each locker was named for a mineral and we were to keep are purses locked away in one of them, the key stayed with us. I found this to be a nice little touch. I'm sure theft is a big issue in the beading industry, it must be much easier to throw a bead in your purse than it is to throw a couple meters of fabric or a ball of yarn. This idea of mineral lockers is a wonderfully creative idea and seems much less offensive than being diligently and suspiciously watched the entire time one is shopping.
There were plenty of beads and a full range of prices. There were 3 sale racks with nice low prices, perfect for a frugal female such as myself :). Kim and I both went on and explored at our own paces. It was a very nice shopping experience.
And of course what local craft store is complete without a random wandering pet to bring a smile to the shopper's faces. There was a small dog that wandered about and played host; visiting people for a quick little pet then moving on.
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| Wall of bead strings |
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| Some strings and chains |
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| Kim found lots of great supplies for her stash |
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| Kim at the sale rack with a wandering pet :) |
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| Browsing some good quality beads for my start up stash |
Both Kim and I were very impressed with this shop. There was a minimum purchase of 50$ required, but since we were both together it was easy to obtain. If you present your small business registration number the 50$ minimum is waved. The staff were friendly and courteous. At one point the manager/owner seemed a little harsh to one of her workers, but everything else was great and I believe we plan on returning when Kim comes back to Ottawa for a visit.
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| Some quality supplies for my new beading stash |
Now that I have the beginnings of a beading/jewelry making stash I look forward to diving in and creating some piece to keep, to give and to sell. With a great crafter like Kim Murch to instruct me, I'm sure it'll be great fun and fruitful!
Keep Crafty Everyone!
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