Bead/Glass shops in atlanta or orlando?

[Becca]

Hi All - I will be traveling in a couple of weeks and will have alittle time to shop in atlanta and orlando. I don't want to miss the chance to check out a new bead/glass shop!! Any recommendations? Thanks!! cha ching!

[michey]

Haven't been to these:

-Mr Beady is in Orlando. New-ish lampworking place, classes and supplies. Has a website which I am sure is a version of the name.
-Beads by Design in Atlanta. The Atlanta lampworking group meets there for meetings or did. Group name will be in the Links area of ISGB, it is something like Southern Fire? Southern something anyway.

When I was in Orlando about 3 years ago I stopped by Bead Bar Depends on what you are looking for but they are a nice bead shop. Typical retail store prices but fun to dig through for hands on. There is another bead store in Orlando too but I'm hazy on where it was as I didn't go to it. Near or in a mall is all I can remember.

michey

[Karen]

Michey's reply made me laugh. I started my spiral into glass with $6.95 pearls at the Bead Bar. Nice shop, not much lampwork if any (but I haven't been there in over a year so things may have changed), and those ladies can lure you into spending lots more than you intended. It is in a really beautiful mostly residential section of Orlando and after all that glitz, it's quite an experience!

Beads by Design in Marietta is also a very good bead shop with lampwork. Home of the Southern Flames, I believe. I think they also sell beadmaking supplies now. A traffic jam delayed us and we didn't make it there this vacation (but my DH tried!)

Mr. Beady's in Orlando is great. Moretti and boro glass, Lauscha clear, books, tools, and supplies. Plus - they rent torchtime! Not surprisingly, they also sell lampwork and small sculptures. It's a wonderful place and Lance and Maureen are very enthusiastic and helpful! The studio is really nice with lots of room between stations and all kinds of fascinating things. They have regular classes - check their website. It's easy to get to, but once you find the address (small light industrial park that doesn't look like it), turn in and they are in the last space in the last building on the right.

(I only realized yesterday, 1 week after our return, that since all this started in Orlando with those pearls, maybe I shouldn't have bought that boro there! Who knows where this may lead!)

[sarakay]

Beads by Design is in Marietta. That's were I rent a torch on Saturdays. Email me if you'd like directions.

sara

[Karen]

Wonderful - you can rent a torch in both Orlando and Marietta! You can take an hour in each place and avoid the embarrassment of torch withdrawal!