Come visit "The Bead Empress" booth at Richmond Craft Mafia's "Handmade Holiday" this coming Friday and Saturday (December llth & 12th). Wine reception kicks off the event at 7PM Friday night, followed by a full day of holiday shopping on Saturday. Check off that Christmas gift list, support your local artists and drop by Melanie's booth to say hello and see her latest wearable found objects line--high-mileage jewelry fit for a queen!

Well, dear friends, we're beginning to exhale... Yes, it's been two months today since we relocated and expanded the "Little Bead Shop that Could" and what a change it's been! It is truly my greatest joy to watch people enter the shop and say, "WOW"! It's especially gratifying to hear this from returning customers who supported our little shop in its infancy and helped us to transform our humble beginnings into the full-range bead shop that it has blossomed into today. We have so much gratitude in our hearts for all that YOU have done to support us. We hope that we can continue to nurture, inspire and provide technical support for all of your creative pursuits. If there is something you need for a project that we don't carry in the shop, please let us know and we'll do our best to add it to our inventory. In the meantime, Bead On!

Our New Instructor!

Meet Cynthia Bouvier, our newest instructor!

Here's how Cynthia introduced herself on our website:

Jewelry, as an art form, has the power to create moods, provoke opinions and produce reactions. This is the design philosophy that San Francisco native, Cynthia Bouvier, follows in creating and developing her own unique collection of jewelry. Cynthia uses primarily precious metals and gemstones in her work. Her ultimate goal is evoking confidence, elegance, sex appeal, and femininity through the use of striking color and inventive design in each of her pieces, which is what gives her jewelry its signature look.

Cynthia lived in Paris, France for three years and credits many of her designs as inspired by French fashion.

Cynthia has traveled the world and uses the places she has visited to inspire many of her designs.

WE DID IT!!!

We are all moved in--and we did in in an unbelievable two-day whirlwind of activity! Yes, the paper is off the windows and the doors are open!!!! Thanks to all of our dearest friends--and their spouses--for helping us navigate this daunting move. We're exhausted yet thrilled that the new shop is ready for business ahead of schedule and we can't WAIT to share our excitement, beads and classes with you!

While our "soft opening" began today, our "Relocation & Expansion Sale-bration" day is Saturday, October 3rd when we offer 20% off all beads. Mark your calendars now so that you can take advantage of this special "sale-bration" to stock up on beads for all of your holiday shows and gift-giving projects!

We're Dancin' as Fast as We Can!!!

Boy, have I got a lot of news--but first those long-promised pics from my trip to the Czech Republic. I told you I'd figure out

this blog-thingy...

Wow--now THAT's hot! The furnace I mean!

This could be a bead around YOUR neck--just give it a few minutes for the process to unfold. This was part of the Czech "pressed glass" factory tour.

Yeah, I know there aren't any beads in this picture, still i love it. It's a humble little corner in one of the Czech bead factories that we visited where the employees could take "5". Less really is more, isn't it?

Aren't these GORGEOUS??? Button samples from one of the factories we visited in the Czech Republic.

OK, onto business...did I mention there is SO MUCH going on around here? Thanks to Mike and Basil, our trusty construction dudes with the most'est, we are wayyyyyyy ahead of schedule. Hence, we will be closing the shop, Sunday September 6th to begin the move and will remain closed until the following Thursday, September l0th when we will re-open at 10AM (the bead goddess willing!). So much to do in between now and then, but it's all great and will knock your beads off when you see it all come together!

As if that isn't exciting enough, we just got word that our second shipment of Czech beads that we hand-picked from the Czech Republic is in route. Now who knows exactly what that means, but as least the beads are out of the factory and on their way into our beady, i mean greedy, little hands. We've been saving the beads as they roll in for our "Grand Relocation & Expansion Salebration" on Saturday, October 3rd...stay tuned and pray the boat gets here in time for our opening!!!

Lastly, be sure to mark your Fall calendar to visit two local shows that the Bead Empress does each year:

*Saturday, 9/19 - 43rd St. Festival of the Arts . Love, love, love this show--it's like "Old Home Week". Proceeds go to the Food Bank so come, shop local, support your local artists and contribute to a favorite local fundraising effort--while you're there, be sure to thank Robyn Cage for putting this all together year after year after year. It's way more work than you or I can imagine...

*Sunday, 10/4 - University of Richmond's "Arts Around the Lake" . Another favorite...and best yet, "Arts Around the Lake" finally moved back next to the lake last year making it all the more enjoyable. Bring the family or your best pals and enjoy the lovely Fall weather while supporting your local artists.

Mel is on Etsy now!

Check it out!

This is just the first round ... We hope to continue updating over the next few weeks!

Demolition -- let the games begin... yes, that's dave painting 'the buttercup lounge', aka, stockroom. who says stockrooms have to be gray and ugly??