Auntie's Beads Blog – Beading & Jewelry Making

To Bead or Not To Bead 

This was the question I asked myself about 4 years ago. I was working as a software analyst for a worldwide company and spending my cash buying handmade jewelry from one of our programmers who had a great China connection. After handing over yet another wad of cash, I decided to Google beads in our area. Lo and behold, what did I find but Auntie’s Beads retail store in Grapevine, less than a 10 minute trip from the office. Excited about my find and wanting to see just exactly what a bead store looked like, I sped over to Grapevine during my lunch. Walking into the store and seeing all of those beads was quite overwhelming. Frances, the store manager, walked over to me and asked if she could help with anything. I told her I was going to start making my own jewelry. She immediately got excited right along with me, showing me the classes that were taught there and all the instructional books/magazines that she carried. Her enthusiasm was definitely contagious! I was hooked! After getting the grand tour of the store and ogling a few beautiful strands of beads, I made my purchase and went back to work excited about embarking on this new adventure.  Several days passed before I got a chance to return to Auntie’s Beads but when I walked in, there was Frances welcoming me and asking how my  new found hobby was going. Needless to say, I spent many wonderful lunch hours at Auntie’s, sometimes 2 or 3 times a week! As my skill improved, I would bring in new pieces to show to the girls at the store and was always greeted warmly. I truly felt at home. Since then, I have retired from the stressful world of systems, done a few national craft shows and, as if it was meant to be,  saw a part time help wanted sign on the door of, none other than, Auntie’s Beads. I knew this is what I wanted to do! I have been working at Auntie’s Beads, in one capacity or another since then.

Deb Leon,

Auntie’s Beads Designer