If you love vibrant, rich colors, gems, crystals, whimsical charms and you like to make your own jewelry, have I got a place for you! Pedro and I were on our way to a clothing shop on West Division when this store caught our attention. It is a generously sized space filled with just about anything you could want to make jewelry or to pick up smaller sized rough cut or or tumbled gems.
The owners, Mary and Andrea, are upbeat, helpful, welcoming and fun. They offer an interesting selection of classes, from getting to know your findings, handmade hoops, hammered bangles, how to string, know, wear and care for your pearls, remaking your old jewelry or hand me downs, as well as metal stamping workshops.
The space feels fabulous, and you can easily get lost in the many visual delights that the store has to offer. The strands of gems here offered a cheery alternative to the gloomy lack of sunshine outside, and Spring is almost here. The pieces in the box are also gemstones.
Of course I didn’t think of it until after I returned home and uploaded these photos, but the Stretchy Cord and the food charms would have made a cute little casual summer bracelet. I loved the food charms, which had everything from vegetables, fruit, cheese, sushi, cupcakes and donuts. For the non-foodie, among the large inventory of just too cute charms were owls, shoes, medallions and butterflies. There is also a selection of Hilltribe Silver as well as an interesting selection of gold colored beads and other accoutrement’s.
Be sure to click on any photo to see more of these gorgeous gems!
The deep, vibrant, rich colors here just made me want to stare at these pieces, and would certainly make gorgeous necklaces.
You can find all of the above, and much, much more in this lovely shop in the Bucktown/Wicker Park area.
Beadniks
http://www.beadniks.com/chicago/
1937 W. Division
773 / 276-2323
