If you think that the earrings at Anthropologie are pretty but absurdly overpriced, or if you broke your favorite necklace and have lost all hope, have no fear! Beadworks is a haven for the arts and crafts dork, or for the boy who wants to impress his girlfriend with something hand-made. "We cater towards anyone from the novice to the jewelry designer," says store manager Jennifer Wechsler. With six locations across the U.S., Beadworks has been "the premier bead store in Philadelphia" for almost thirteen years. Nevertheless, few Penn students patronize it, leaving the store a well-kept secret among locals.
Walking into the South Street location can be overwhelming, as the store is filled with bins of every kind of bead imaginable, and the possibilities are endless. From seed beads to semiprecious stones, Beadworks carries beads in different price ranges and of varying qualities. The store also sells all the tools, string, and wire needed to make the perfect piece of jewelry. You can come in knowing exactly what you want to make, or browse their binders for ideas.
Once you've picked out your beads, either take the materials home, or sit down at the table and make your jewelry right there. If you don't know the difference between wire-cutters and round-nosed pliers, you may be an idiot, but Beadworks can help you. They offer a variety of advanced and beginner classes to help you with your bead-making needs. If you simply have basic questions and want to make your jewelry in the store, the friendly staff is on-hand to help, and the atmosphere and music played in the spacious store is relaxing. So, if you're going to cut class this week anyway, why not head off-campus and make something cool?
