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Packed with shiny and glittery beads, the Bead Menagerie can’t help but tempt your inner
crow.
And if you take a gander at owner Jenny King’s elaborate and fanciful necklaces, it’s clear that she has the same sharp-eyed and acquisitive nature of the pesky birds, too.
“I’ve liked beads,” King said, then clarifying, “For at least 12 years. I’ve been obsessed with them, and I just wanted to surround myself with beads all day long.”
The Bar Harbor Bead Menagerie does the trick. Opened last summer, the shop sells thousands of beads ranging from vintage Lucite in citrus hues to German glass beads. Silver, plastic, resin, Fimo, wood, bone, ceramic, seed, nut and metal beads are carefully arranged in wooden trays. Prices go from 15 cents to $3 per piece. People also can sit down and make their own jewelry.
The walls are painted in serene swirls of blue and green and dotted with cute signs that evoke a chuckle or a groan: “Don’t worry, bead happy,” one extols. Another reminds us that “to err is human, to bead divine.”
On a recent overcast morning, the hip shop hummed with activity as women, girls and even a guy or two sorted through the myriad beads and industriously created necklaces, bracelets and earrings at worktables.
Lizzy McGarvey of Bangor is a five-time repeat customer. The 7-year-old had just assembled a striking necklace of red and black pottery beads.
“It’s fun to make beads here,” the self-described tomboy said with a smile.
Her mother, Terri McGarvey, concurred.
“We’re bead regulars,” she said. “We just love it here. We love to make things.”
King offers classes as well. Beading basics are taught such as how to finish necklaces and bracelets professionally and how to create simple earrings. People also can learn wire wrapping, how to make double chain earrings, and how to use Swarovski crystals and fabric to embellish a copper heart pendant.
Beading parties for adults and children are available, and beading birthday parties proved a
hit.
“It’s really nice when I have a store full of people quietly picking out beads and sitting at the tables making stuff,” she said. “Or loudly. Loudly’s fine, too.”
The Bar Harbor Bead Menagerie is at 71 Cottage St. For more information, call 288-1147 or
e-mail barharborbeadmenagerie
@yahoo.com.
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