Wolf's Den

So while on vacation, we went to 2 different bead shops in 2 different towns.


The first was in Mason, Michigan, and was recommended by my Mom, of all people. She apparently takes my niece Emily, there sometimes. How well she knows me...





The Trellis bead and gift shop is a dream bead shop, really. Name it and they either have it, or will order it to carry on hand. The only thing they didn't have that I could find, was Delicas. They did, however, have half hanks of Czech glass seed beads, semi precious stone strands, lampwork, Swarovski crystals, metal findings, and more.

This is what I got there... The photos aren't the best, but...

Starting with the half hanks of Czech seed beads...


'Olive Solage'... or what I think looks like very pale moss green. I should have gotten several of these, but oh well.


'Chalk'... but who we fooling? It's matte white.


'Bright Silver' Yup. That they are. I snagged 2 of these.


'Garnet Matte' These are absolutely gorgeous in person. Again, I should have snagged more. They're a red tone, matte finish, in iridescent colors.


'Jet Matte' Yup, matte black. Two half hanks. I can never have enough matte black.


'Brown Iris' The name is exactly what they are- brown, glossy with iris/iridescent finish. Very nice.



Several sterling silver clasps of varying styles.


I've not seen FireLine actually marketed as bead thread, let alone used 'crystal'. Heck, I buy it in the fishing section at Wal-mart.



I like Lava Rocks. I got the 4 ovals and the lone square at The Trellis. I have ideas for them, nothing fully formed yet, but ideas.

And last but certainly not least, from The Trellis...


A strand of gorgeous Iolite drops. I looked for singles, or other sizes, chips even, but nope, this was what they had. So I snagged one. Expensive, but worth it.

On the way home, we drive through Marshall, Michigan, where color_full had mentioned seeing a bead shop when she went the wrong way, on the way to the cookout at my parents' house. I spotted it on the way to Mason, and we decided we'd stop in on the way home. I'm glad we did...


Just Bead It is on the main drag through Marshall, nearly directly across the street from Louie's Bakery (omnomnom). They don't have as much as The Trellis did, but they did have a small selection of Delicas, as well as COPPER findings.


I picked up a strand of smaller squares of lava rock. I have ideas for these too.



I also picked up several vials of 2 different sizes of Triangle Delicas in plated sterling. I've not worked with triangles before, this should be fun.


Bright, shiny copper Celtic knotwork beads to use as accents in beadwork...


A couple of interesting skeleton key charms, in antique silver, antique gold and antique copper. Not sure what I'll use them in, but they were neat looking, even if they are only one sided.

And last but not least...


Did I mention copper findings? Real copper toggle clasps in two sizes, and copper BAR CLASPS! Yay! Not too badly priced either! I was thrilled!

Next year, we'll definitely go back to both shops. I could easily have spent lots more than I did in either. Guess I better start saving now...