Q1:  Fall is a time to start new hobbies, and with beaded jewelry all over the fashion pages, there’s been a huge resurgence in the desire to learn how to bead

For about last 7 years, the making and wearing of beaded necklaces and jewelry has been hot. Think about it, for both men and women, the adornment of beads for ornamentation goes back to ancient civilizations.

Besides the beauty of the beads and the finished items, “more and more people use it as a tool to relax”, says Ruth Shine, former owner of the grandmamma store of them all – the Bead Emporium – which had opened in 1974 (and recently closed). Beading can be repetitive, so it is soothing. It is also a hobby that doesn’t take up much space.

Q2:  Is it just beading necklaces, or are there other ways, this hobby is taking off?

– Beads are also moving out of the traditional stringing them on a string routine. For instance, they have been fashioned by Pandora in Denmark as charm bracelet items to be given one at a time for special occasions.
– Beads  are being used to make art cards.
– Beads can be a history or geography lesson, if you want to learn where they come from.
– Shine also uses beads as the theme of escorted vacation touring in Mexico.
– Rare bead specimens from all corners of the world are also bought and sold to collectors.

Q3:  Is it hard to do?  Where can we take lessons?

Bead Box, 17B Cartier Ave at Bord du Lac, Pointe Claire. Phone: 514-697-4224. Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 12 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is a passion here for teaching beading, so that you too can create beautiful jewelry. For those who are looking for something special, it’s their unique beads and colors that follow the fashion trends which makes their customers happy.

This is the store which sells the Pandora charm bracelets from Denmark. You can add silver, gold, semi-precious and Murano glass beads to it. Beginner courses start at $40 (plus materials) for two hours, and then you can go on to crocheting with wire thread, wire wrapping and looping, peyote stitch and more. Looking at the rainbow wall of beads (natural, semi-precious, Swarovski, pearls, resin, silver) and displays of finished work which will entice you to sign up.

Club Bead +,  65 Cremazie Blvd. West at St. Laurent Blvd. Phone: 514-389-1616. Hours: Monday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This treasure chest is full of seed beads from China, Czech Republic fire polished ones, crystal beads (the whole line of Swarovski) along with wood, bone, horn, cat’s eye, golden coral and semi-precious stones in special shapes.

Titanium and aluminum jump rings in wild colors and colored copper wire can be purchased. The club has the largest selection of English and French books on beading, and offers workshops. The beginner artisan workshop lasts five weeks, and you learn the basics of beading and jewelry making for $125. Club membership is free with your first $100 purchase and after that, if you spend over $50 you’ll get your 30% discount.  www.clubbeadplus.com

Q4:  You always seem to find a place to buy it for less, do you have one for beads?

Frabels, 5580 Pare St. at Devonshire Rd. Phone: 514-842-8561. Hours: Monday to Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you’re into making jewelry, this wholesaler has sixty-four years of knowledge. Hy Stern started the business back in 1942 after being introduced to the Swarovski crystal beads by F.B. Allen, so they were the first to sell them here – and you can still check out their sparkling Swarovski wall.

Their airy bright new showroom is oriented to the retail trade (you must spend at least $200) and is packed with findings, beads, rhinestones, pearls, semi precious stones and resin beads for jewelry-making. All kinds of rhinestone trim, tools, chain, wire, leather cord, etc. are here along with catalogues you can look through to find exactly what else you might need.

You will discover things here that are not found in the other businesses mentioned – perhaps large crystal pendants, donuts (semi-precious discs) or even crystal chandelier components. www.frabels.com