By Barbara Brewer La Mere
Kate Winslow fell in love with beads at
age 12 when her mother first took her to
visit a store in Saratoga Springs, Saratoga
Bead.
From that time on, Winslow was there
every other weekend. At age 18, she started
working at the store and knew within a
couple of days that she wanted to own a
bead store of her own one day.
She finds working with beads a great
way to be creative and a very relaxing, fun
medium. In the eight years that followed,
Winslow “could not have asked for a better
teacher” than Saratoga Bead owner Linda
Schrade, either in terms of the craft or the
business, she said.
When Schrade closed Saratoga Bead, Winslow began looking for a venue and eventually found it in 1,000 square feet of basement space located at 49 Front St. in Ballston Spa.
She opened her shop in June, A Bead Just So, with lots of help from family. Business has been picking up steadily as the area beading population discovers that they are no longer bereft of a full-service bead store. People can come in to buy beads and other supplies, make jewelry, and take classes on site. Winslow also does jewelry repair.
Winslow sells beads in various shapes and sizes from all over the world. Materials include wood, glass, porcelain, crystal, and even paper. Small boys, says Winslow, are especially intrigued by the availability of beads made from bone.
A Bead Just So, a one-woman operation, sells beading wire in various gauges as well as cording and leather strips for stringing beads. Winslow said beading projects are available to fit every kind of budget.
Sue Le Cuyer, who taught classes at Saratoga Beads, is teaching at A Bead Just So. The shop is open seven days a week. Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, they are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday hours are from noon to 8 p.m. Sundays are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For Ballston Spa’s First Friday events, A Bead Just So stays open until 9 p.m. Birthday parties can be scheduled, as well as “ladies night out” events. The class schedule can be found on Facebook. Winslow can be e-mailed at winslow.kate.m@gmail.com. The store’s phone number is 309-4070.