Bead In Hand

Cute little bead store. Not a great selection, unless you’re into seed beads and more «primative» styles – glass and base metal and other cute beads and findings… I’d just like to see more natural gemstones and such.
I was in the area bc my girlfriends took me to brunch for my bday and I popped in for a look around. I did like that they had some of the gemstones (of the handful they carry) loose, so you could pick what you wanted. After I selected, and was ready to check out, the woman at the counter (who had been very helpful til then), asked me about my baby. I hadn’t heard her at first, and said «pardon?». She had a cringe on her face and apologized, and only then had I realized what she’d asked. And NO, I am not pregnant. Just happen to have had a crappy couple years and all my grained weight is right there. Frankly, if I hadn’t spent several minutes selecting the items I wanted, I would have walked out. It kinda ruined my afternoon. I did, however, sharply say «next time maybe you don’t say anything til there’s crowning.» And I kinda almost feel like for the small amt I was spending there (as in ~5 for my single bead and some silk cord), after that rudeness, she should have just handed it to me and eaten the cost. I’m actually wishing i had walked out now, because I probably won’t look at the necklace I was going to make without thinking of this. :/​. A little tact goes a really long way. Happy birthday to me.

Bead In Hand has been under new ownership for a past several years now. It has always been a great bead store, but the place has a fresher, more friendly vibe these days. I have never been disappointed with the selection and it has opened my mind to many new ideas. Bead on!

Bead In Hand is great for all your bead needs! I came here today looking for a new chain for my necklace. Alice helped measure the chain I picked out.
Bead In Hand is located in Oak Park’s art district along Harrison Avenue, between Austin and Ridgeland.
They have beads here from Africa, Japan and North Carolina.
They’ve been here 20 years, but the original owner, Kim, has owned the business for a year and-​a-​half.
It’s a tiny shop, but full of people who know beads – and everything they entail!

Bead In Hand (BIH) is where I took my first bead class, about 7+ yrs. ago. One day after work, some time after I took the beading class, I stopped by to shop and got this feeling that my presence was??? I was so outdone, I sent an email and did receive a response. I always wondered if it was me and NO, it wasn’t…FAST FORWARD…
6÷19÷09, while shopping @ one of my favorite bead shops, I met a fellow beader, someone new (1 month) to the bead scene and she mentioned that she took a class @ BIH also and coincidentally expressed on occassions when she has went there, experienced the same unwelcoming atmosphere that I felt, though she recalled one short-​haired person in particular.
I haven’t returned to Bead in Hand since and have found other bead shops to spend my green & silver. Yes, my dough is green & silver too!
*I’ll update this review when I locate exact dates, esp. the date I was @ BIH and proclaimed NEVER to return again. I think I still have the email I sent and the response I received.*

Wow… am I really reviewing a bead shop???
YES! and it’s a great one. I am pretty new to the all thing and so far have been ordering my supplies online (it’s much cheaper) but I ran out of Swarowski black round beads 4 mm (I am telling you, I am serious) when I was making a thank-​you bracelet and didn’t want to wait a week to finish it. I called around to see if anybody was carrying any and Bead in Hand was. Hurray! To my knowledge it’s the only store in the area that does have Swarowski — a huge plus! It’s a smallish store situated in the Art District but they have a lot of things… a lot… I particularly like their vintage items and their collection of pendants and charms. Tons of findings too. This section of the store kind of looks like your grandpa’s garage/​tool display — it’s a huge wall of tiny drawers — but it’s all the more charming. Don’t be too clumsy though… could be a huge potential mess!

I came here not knowing a thing about beading and the salesperson was incredibly helpful in spite of being very busy. It was very nice and I will certainly go back here for supplies before going to a big box craft store.

Gorgeous, comprehensive collection, and friendly people. This is a dangerous place. Well worth the quick drive from Chicago if you’re into vintage and hard to find beads.

Nothing is more personal than a handmade gift. Here you can make your sweety a love necklace with thousands of beads and findings to choose from. Or you like, you can create a one of a kind pair of earings or both. This store just has so many possibilities. Also, I found that it’s a good bonding experience to go here with a group of friends.

My wife seems to love this place. The selection is almost too much to take in, you can find just about everything it seems. She’s put together all kinds of bracelets together from the beads and charms here. Made for great wedding gifts to her Bridesmaids. I thought it was a little expensive for beads, but in the end its a lot cheaper than making pre-​made jewelry. Good deal all in all.