4058 Forest Hill Blvd.
West Palm Beach
FL 33406
t: 561.649.9909
f: 561.649.0234

Store Hours
Monday 10am - 9pm
Tues to Fri 10am - 7pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm
 

Thursday, May 17th 2007
Great news for everyone. I know several people have been in and said that we were really low on seed beads. Well what we are actually doing is pulling out all the excessive duplicates, and making a spot for every color that is available from our supplier, and then fill them! So far we have completed all of the 8/0 and are 1/2 way thru the 11/0's. I know that when we get this all done it will be great. We will be able to find colors, and order and keep in stock all the colors! Stop in soon to see our progress.

Saturday, April 14th 2007
Hello everyone. I Hope you all had a nice spring holiday! I was doing some much needed cleaning and sorting around the house. I feel like it was the first time I have had a chance to go thru things since the Hurricanes 2 years ago. Now back to business... We got in some great new colors from Swarovski that are very well received. Dk Red Coral, Mint Alabaster, and Rosewater. My daughter Liisa created some great new necklaces with the large Swarovski leaves, and deco pieces, in the fancy colors. Be sure to stop in to see them.

I am hope that everyone makes it a point to look at the New Items area on the web site often because that is where we try to post the new items.. Today was fun for me. Erkki, my son, had his first movie filming. It was in Miami and it was a very interesting experience for both of us. The Movie is Bachelor Party 2. No, he is't the bachelor. It should be out in the fall. I am sure this is just the beginning for him. We have a few guest teachers coming before the summer so be sure to check it out on the web site under guest teachers. Several of the teachers are teaching at Bead and Button and their classes have sold out already. This is a great opportunity to learn for the top of the top and at a better price too!

Speaking of which Jen Ursillo, one of our teachers here is getting ready to go to teach at Bead and Button too! 2 of her classes are sold out already. Well hope to see everyone soon. In other news... we are working on a new easier to navigate web site and I am really hoping that the shopping cart will be up by the end of April. We won't be able to have everything on it but I think you will find it very much like the store. Well have a great week everyone. Glenda

Saturday, February 3rd 2007
Hello from the desert. Yes, I am here in Tucson attending the largest show in the USA. Actually there are 38 shows going on at the same time here. I am hunting down all kinds of new and exciting treasures for you. So far I have found some fabulous Larimar beads, the color is just yummy, and some Italian Lucite donuts and chain looking mother of pearl strands that seem very New Yorkish and trendy. I have had selected lots and lots of cabochons. Everyone who took the Sherry Serafini class, or who is doing beaded cabochon embroidery will definitly want to come in and get first pick. The cabs are also great for wire wrap cabs. I got a few strands of spinny oyster chips. Of course I love the orange and red color!

I picked up a new selection of mother of pearl carved flowers and have some new design ideas.

Looking thru my stash I see some new beads from John Winter. His new design which is very Betty Rubble looking. There is a strand of white coral branch and red coral branch. For those of you who like to accent your designs with a focal centerpiece I hove lots of new sterling silver and stone pendants for you to choose from. I picked up some of the new Paula Radke beads, and some outrageously fantastic Swarovski crystal pendants in colors and sizes that I have not had before. I can't wait to get some of these into some new designs. I found some new glass leaves that are just gorgeous, and then placed orders for new 10/0 delica's, more 8/0 triangles, and the new Tierra Cast products.. I did all this in just three days and have 3 more to go!...

Friday, December 15th 2006
Oops...I just realized how long it has been since I last wrote.. As we all know time does fly.. I am can't believe it is December again... We will be getting ready to do inventory right after the first of the year and of course It is fun to have South Florida's Largest Bead Inventory until you have to count it. That is why we have started having our month long December count down to the new years sale. Every day a new item goes on sale and stays on sale till the end of the year or until we run out.. There are some great pearls 50% off, and Saturday December 16th selected gemstones are 35% off.. Selected kits 40% off and a lots of items that we just need to let go of because we want to make space for new items. So come on in and see all the goodies. As many of you know my daughter Lisa came back from Finland with her husband Jaani. She is helping me get the shopping cart up. Finally... I have had it for years but now we will get some items up for sale on there.. I think we will have the grand opening in January. Of course at first it won't have everything but hopefully it should be fun. I love having her around because she is very creative and helps us make all the new samples! Speaking of samples.. Jen made a new Silver Icicles with a big turquoise nugget in it. It is really neat. Be sure to ask to see it next time you are in. Danielle's last day was today... We wish Danielle and Cory lots of happy times with their 2 children. We will really miss her. So as we prepare to say good bye to 2006 I would like to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt "Thank You" to all of our great customers. Thank you for your constant and continued support, and thank you for taking the time to bring in your wonderful beaded creations for us to see. The Crystal Creations Gang wish you and yours a Wonderful Holiday Season, and a Happy New Year! Glenda, Debbie, Sue, Kathy, Danielle, Jen, Michelle, Heidi, Wendy, Jason, Preston, Sheila, Kelly, Lisa, Erkki, Linkin, Lilly

Sunday, August 20th 2006
My Daughter Lisa is in town visiting from Finland and we went to the mall tonight. Every time I go shopping I get totally overwhelmed with new ideas. My head starts spinning and all I want to do is get home and start beading. The first thing I noticed was chain, EVERYWHERE! Big loops, small loops, round loops, square loops and odd shaped loops. Loops in loops, and loops dangling from loops. Hammered loops, smooth loops, and etched loops. Loops, loops and more loops..

I am really glad that we introduced the soldered chain class last month because in that class you can learn to make exactly what’s being shown out there in the fashion world. I know that we have quite a few classes coming up, and we will continue to hold as many as we need so that everyone can learn to make their own chain!

I also noticed that long necklaces, fibers, and eclectic bead mixes within a single item are all in. Leather wrapped with beads, bangles wrapped with wire and beads - so many of the techniques we teach in our classes and new ones I am now motivated to teach. Most exciting is that beads are still in everything possible. From Bags, to shoes, to clothes to jewelry… Beads and more beads. I was also excited to see the amount of crystal encrusted clothing; especially since we are getting ready for our first “Swarovski Hot Fix Class”. That’s where you can learn all the techniques for applying crystals to fabric with the Hot Fix Crystals. I was very impressed to hear that once on the material, if applied properly, the crystals are permanent. Well I am off to start beading… Hope to see you in the store soon.

Tuesday, August 1st 2006
I recently attended the Bead and Button show in Milwaukee. It was a great time for me because I got to touch base with the teachers who have taught here, or are scheduled to teach here. I love to see what new classes they are working on. Lea Zinke (who’s lampwork beads we carry at the shop) won a blue ribbon award from Bead and Button. Laura McCabe, Nancy Cain and Sherry Serafini were some of the other award winners and all are scheduled to teach here.

I am so happy that these talented artists teach here at the Bead Institute. There are only a handful of stores in the US that offer the variety of classes we do, with nationally recognized guest teachers.

Bead and Button recently did a great article on copy right infringement. I have always asked students, whether it is one of our classes, or a guest teacher class, to respect the copy rights of individual artists whether it is in their instruction or designs. Ethics are very important to me. I was shocked when I saw a vendor at the Bead and Button show who was selling knock off glass beads from artists who were actually exhibiting at the show.

It makes me really sad, because I know and respect the artists that worked hard to create a unique style for themselves. I overheard a customer looking at one of the beads in question and remarking – Wow! So and so’s work is not as it used to be. It was clear to me that they recognized the real artist by the bead style. That’s when I butted in and said the beads were mass produced, copies of his style and not the original work of the artist.

To buy beads from an artist and then have them reproduced in mass quantities to sell a cheaper bead is a real insult to the industry. I understand everyone wants things cheaper and cheaper, but it is just not right to pirate an artist’s work.

I guess as long as there are people willing to purchase these items, it will continue to happen.

I personally buy beads directly from the artist and I will not purchase knock off beads to sell and I hope that you join with me in helping to ensure that we maintain integrity in our field.

I know knock off’s happen in every industry, I just never had it happen to close and respected friends of mine. I wish people would realize that it does hurt the artists whose livelihood depends upon the sale of their art.