When I was a little girl, I used to love making jewelry. I would buy tons of beads, string and clasps and carry around my jewelry making kit in a little train case wherever I went. I even used to “sell” my pieces to family members for a whopping one dollar. So last weekend, as I was wondering around Coolidge Corner and I stumbled upon a small bead shop tucked away on the corner of Beacon Street, I was immediately entranced. My inner child came out to play and within minutes of walking through the door of The Pear Tree, I began planning at least ten different necklaces and bracelets I wanted to make.
The beads came in every color and style imaginable. Bright and bold glass beads, to luscious metals and precious stones.
And every wall was covered in strands of beads and fun hand made jewelry to help inspire your creations.
I examined just about every bead in the store, trying to decide which would be best for each project I wanted to do. However, after careful selection and a few different color combinations, I found exactly what I was looking for. The best part about The Pear Tree is that I was able to do just about everything on my own and when I hit a snag or needed a little help, I reached out to the staff for help. Everyone was knowledgeable and friendly and easy to help. I am quite independent and wanted to complete my projects on my own, but for a small fee the staff can finish off your necklace for you if you’re not sure what to do and would prefer someone with experience finish the job.
Below is a little Beaded Bracelet DIY I assembled based on a beaded bracelet I made while at the shop.
Directions:
- Measure your wrist and determine the length of your bracelet (average length should be 6-8 inches).
- Cut your round rubber string to the desired length, leaving a few extra inches on each end to work with.
- Choose your beads and arrange them on a bead design board in your desired layout.
- Begin to string your beads onto the string in the order you laid them out on the design board.
- Continue to string the beads until they have all been added.
- Gently add a small knot to the end of the string and measure the bracelet on your wrist to make sure it is the right size. Add or remove beads as needed.
- One the bracelet is the correct size, tie the string into a strong knot.
- Add a few drops of super glue to keep the knot in place and let dry.
- Trim the ends of the string so that the knot is barely visible.
The Pear Tree is located at 1298 Beacon St, Brookline, MA.