I am the shop owner, but in January, 2008, I moved to San Clemente, California, so I rely on my trusted staff to keep things running smoothly. I come in periodically to check on the shop and bring new beads from my shopping trips. It’s hard to believe it has been over two years that I have been here. Many thanks to Julia Schaefer, who was the store manager until June of this year, and now to Kim Humphrey, who has taken over as store manager. I couldn’t do this without them.
I was in the shop in June and I will be back in August. I have been busy at home working on scheduling great classes. We have reworked our Third Friday classes to a Jump-Start Beading class – it’s a great class to get started with! In two hours, you can make up a quick jewelry item using one of our kits or bring in something broken of your own and remake it. You’ll learn the basics in this class – and there is a lot you can do with just the basics!
I also have been making jewelry to sell, now that I have a little more free time, and my work is currently for sale at the San Clemente Art Gallery in San Clemente, California. San Clemente is a beautiful city – right on the Pacific Ocean in Southern California. It’s a destination for tourists, and especially surfers. There are surfers in the water every day of the year. If you find yourself in this area, let me know!
This group of young ladies has been meeting at Bead in Hand for classes with me since April, 1999. Left to right, they are Loretta, Marian, Estella, Carol, Pat, me and Nancy. One of these ladies is close to 90 years young. (Estella – but don’t tell her I told you.) I’m happy to say that they have continued to come in monthly since I have been gone, and we get together when I am in town. We still have fun beading together!
When Diane Carter was asked by Trib Local to contribute to their article about Bead in Hand, this is what she said:
I began beading when Doris opened her store, about 15 years ago. My daughter Alison was a teenager and got interested in stringing beads and since she couldn’t drive yet, I’d drive her to different bead stores in the city. I would just stand around and look while she bought beads. We were thrilled when Bead in Hand opened and I took her there and stood around again and looked while she bought beads. I noticed a sign in the store for an upcoming class to make earrings with seed beads. Alison couldn’t go, so I thought I’d take the class and show her, not quite knowing what the class would be like. After the first few minutes of class, I was hooked, and the rest is history. I’ve been an avid beader ever since. I most like to do off loom beadweaving but also enjoy stringing beads to make bracelets and necklaces. Alison, by the way, is working on her doctorate at the University of Wisconsin, studying beads in Cambodia and Thailand.
I have never worked at the store but Alison was their first employee!
I love to do bead work mostly, I think, because it is relaxing, and very satisfying to be able to make a beautiful work of art, even if it takes a long time. I think the journey of working on a piece is even more satisfying than finishing it. And through beadwork, I have met many wonderful and inspiring women(and a few men!). I would say that beads, and Bead in Hand, have been a very important part of my life for many years.
Thank you, Diane, and to see more about Diane’s daughter Alison and her PhD work, look at our links and go to Alison’s bead blog.
In March, 2009 I taught the senior group my San Clemente Links bracelet. Nancy went further and made this gorgeous necklace!
As always, I thank you for your business. Keep on beading!