Bronze Koi Beads: new shop caters to the inner beader
Published 5:00 pm Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Bronze Koi Beads is a new beading shop in Astoria that’s part treasure hunt, part archaeological dig and part toy store for craft-minded grownups.
This eclectic shop offers delicate, colorful riches to explore at every turn hanging on the walls and arranged in intriguing tabletop displays.
Owner and jewelry artisan Terra Glaspey also owns Terra Tones, a boutique on Commercial Street downtown. She said customer demand led her to open this second store after she realized Terra Tones didn’t have enough room to display her inventory of beads and supplies.
Glaspey said beading is relaxing and can quickly captivate novices. Similar to other artisan pursuits like knitting, it’s a meditative pastime that nets participants tangible benefits in this case, stylish, personalized jewelry.
The bead displays at Bronze Koi are a visual and tactile delight; partly because customers can pick up just about anything in the store and hold it in their hands. The place has the look of a collection of exotic, polished specimens – and some are.
“We have organic beads,” Glaspey said, “made of bone, wood or coral.”
The shop opened in July and held a grand opening in September. Glaspey said beading has become very popular in recent years.
“Oregon is one of the top beading states,” she said. “We have so many rainy days here, and it’s fun and peaceful to do.”
Inside the front window of the shop is a large bronze fountain shaped like a koi, or goldfish.
The fixture had at one time been for sale at Terra Tones. Glaspey said she and her two employees, Emily and Sally Harper, liked the fountain so much that it became the inspiration for the store’s name.
The fountain now holds a school of small koi, a soothing complement to the shop’s pleasing ambiance.
Glaspey said her store sells complete beading supplies, including sterling silver wire and 49-strand stainless steel cable, a fine metal wire that is difficult to break.
People don’t have to know anything about beading to begin Glaspey and her staff will be happy to help newbies get started.
“We will also look at offering classes in a few months,” she said. “People can sign up in the store.”
Glaspey is a serious beading enthus-iast, and got her start in business in the region seven years ago through the Astoria Sunday and Ilwaco markets, where she still operates vending booths.
“I’ve been making jewelry since I was 12,” she said serenely. “It’s kind of my addiction.”
Bronze Koi Beads
Address: 1230 Marine Dr., Suite. 101, Astoria
Phone: (503) 325-2669
Hours: Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday Noon to 4:30 p.m.
