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??

We're MOVING...

OK, let's see who's reading the blog? If it's you, then you're the first to know:

WE'RE MOVING!!!

Yes, we're relocating--but only two doors down so you won't have any hassles finding more fabulous beads to add to your bead stash. We're in the process of building out the former

Ave Maria shop just down the sidewalk from our current shop. We'll have over twice as much

room (so you can actually turn around w/o hitting another customer), a larger class room,

and of course, more delicious beads all hung at eye level so you can get to them more easily.

Leave us your well wishes by hitting "comment" below and you'll receive a one-time 20%

discount off your next purchase!

Wow--where did June go?!!

Can it really be a month since the last blog? Sorry about that but I hit the road (air?) again only this time to France with my daughter, Laurel, who is a French teacher at James River H.S. here in Chesterfield. Interestingly, on this trip we found a LOT more little bead shops in France than on previous trips. Most of them are quite small, sparse by American bead store standards, but have a lovely village feel about them and their share of beady-eyed followers. Photos to follow soon--I promise! Now that Laurel is through teaching for the summer she's going to tutor her mother on posting photographs on the blog, right Laurel?

V. exciting news! I just heard that beads from my Czech trip have cleared customs and are to arrive in Chicago tomorrow. They have to find their way down the bead chain to me but boy, am I excited! Now the problem is: WHERE to put these fabulous finds??? Stay tuned...

Yes, I KNOW dear customers....still have not got those images from Czechoslovakia up yet. You know why? Because I've been soooooo busy ordering new beads for YOU! Seriously, we have a bunch o' shipments coming in this week and are so busy getting ready for our 5th Annual Anniversary Bead Sale on Saturday, June 13th that I haven't had a minute to focus on getting those pics up. And did I mention my new Canon camera broke? No, really, it did. Anyway, am so onto this. I will get those pics posted, I will, I will, I will! But first Laurel (my daughter & website designer extraordinaire) needs to show me how to post pics on the blog. (Let's see if she really reads my blogs??? Are you reading this, Laurel?) In the meantime everyone, mark your calendars for our 5th Anniverary Bead Sale on the 13th. Pick up a free customer appreciation gift and get 20% off all loose beads and bead strands (no sterling---btw, are you guys watching the precious metals market 'cuz here we go again...). We also have a secret. Stay tuned...

Czech Republic "Bead Trip of a Lifetime"

Wow....what can I say? We're back from our trip to Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic with major jet lag and oodles of pictures to download to the blog. Give me a couple of days and hopefully I'll get some images up here for you to enjoy. In the meantime, we're expecting shipment of our hand-picked Czech beads within two months. Yes, it takes a verrrrryyyy long time to get these beads shipped to us as well as time to get them up on the walls. It's hard for us to wait, too, but know that it will be worth the wait everyone.