Findings, a store for bead artists

October 16, 6:03 AMSoutheast MI Home & Living ExaminerJackie DiGiovanni

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Logo from Findings

Findings is located at 3925 Jackson Road in Ann Arbor. Gerry Dimond has owned and operated this popular bead store for 15 years. Hand fashioned beaded jewelry and decorated items are always popular and make wonderful gifts.

Gerry's colorful store is filled with inspiration, beads, charms, pendants, wires and cording, tools, and of course, findings—the working hardware for the finished jewelry.

The beads are displayed by color and size, and Gerry carries 600 colors. There are beads made of glass, agate, onyx, bone, coral, shell, crystal, silver, stone, Oje de Venado, pewter, jasper, and dinosaur bone. Prices range from a few cents to $76 per bead. Some are on a string or in plastic containers, and some are singles. There are even designer beads. My favorite is a green frog on a log.

There are displays of pin backings, earring backings, bookmarks complete with jump rings, and finished projects to get your creative energies flowing. Check out the back corner where there are baskets labeled "orphan beads." These are the collections with too few beads to keep in stock. Great bargains for smaller projects.

Findings offers classes on this enduring medium. Gerry teaches the beginning class on the linked wire bracelet. This class gives the bead artist a thorough introduction to the basic link techniques. Gerry calls this the "instant gratification" project because the results are quickly evident. There are several teachers who offer courses in the store. Customers are channeled into a project that meets their skill level and will produce a piece they can be proud to wear or give as a gift.

Click here for complete class information. These classes are currently scheduled:

Oct 24 - Holiday Ornament
Oct 25 - Knotted Necklace
Oct 28 - Straight Shot
Nov 1 - Linked Wire Bracelet
Nov 7 - Hexadrop Earrings

Classes fill up, so plan ahead. The class description will let you know if materials are included in the cost. If you see a class you want to take, but it is not currently offered, use the handy "please offer this class again" form on the page.

When buying for your family or your friends, spend your Michigan dollars in Michigan.

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