Calling All Beaders

The owner of , Susan Rabbitt, started out as just another “beader.” Rabbitt said she had always been into “artsy-craftsy stuff” and quickly switched from regular-sized beads to the super-small seed beads.

“You can do stitch work with them, and it can be really elaborate,” she said.

After years of traveling to Arizona to stock up on supplies at huge annual bead shows and conventions, she began to ponder entering the business herself. However, with a successful career in publishing and retail management, it wasn't until a tragic event caused some self-examination that she set out on her own.

“I had been thinking about wanting to do it, and then, unfortunately, my mother passed away,” Rabbitt said. “That was the impetus because her philosophy always was, ‘You better do it today because you don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow.’”

Rabbitt added that it was her mother, Selma Williams, who instilled in her a love of crafts. So she took the plunge and purchased some retail space. Now, eight years later, Lady Bug Beads is one of the largest bead shops in the Midwest.

The business occupies both floors of a small office building on 7616 Big Bend Blvd. in Shrewsbury, with the bottom half given over to the retail store and the top half used for classrooms and workshops. The shelves are stocked with buckets of beads in an explosion of colors, along with everything else necessary to make intricate jewelry pieces—stones, charms and strands of wire or string.

The store also encourages social crafting by allowing customers space to work on their projects.

“People are welcome to come in here and sit and use our tools to make things. We teach all the basics for free,” Rabbitt said.

There are also free classes for beginners every Saturday morning. A schedule is available on the store’s website, along with information about the more advanced “designer series” classes.

While the majority of Rabbitt’s customers are adult women, she maintained that anyone can get into the hobby. As an example, she pointed to a retired gentleman who comes into her store several times a week.

“He has been doing projects that take, like, six months,” Rabbit said. “He comes in a few times a week and loves it. He makes beautiful things.”

“Just walk in the door, and we can addict you real fast,” she said.

For more information about Lady Bug Beads and to see examples of jewelry featuring beadwork, visit the store’s website. Lady Bug Beads is hosting its annual yard sale Thursday through Sunday, which will feature clearance prices on discontinued items. Crafters can also stock up on yarn and related supplies nearby at Ewe Knit Yarns at 7976 Big Bend Blvd.