SPOTLIGHT ON ... STORE
August 2007

Our featured bead store for this month is Beaded Nomad.

A friend of mine told me about a fantastic bead shop in downtown Napa, the Beaded Nomad, where she felt right at home. The staff was really friendly, they knew customers by name, and were very knowledgeable. She liked the tables arranged by color and the wall dripping with semi-precious stones.

So I decided to take a trip to the Beaded Nomad. Well, my friend was right. It was everything she said and more! Before I could even get in the door I noticed a large beaded Yoruba figure in the window and jewelry from around the world. Upon entering the store I felt I had been transported to another country. There were beads, textiles and masks on the walls, bronze statues and carved figures under the tables and on the floors. Then I noticed all of the beads, each table arranged by color, even the boxes of vintage beads. Of course, they had the usual lampwork from the Czech Republic, seed beads, and Chinese carved bone. I was really impressed with the large display case brimming with sterling silver beads, cubic zirconium, Austrian crystal and more. My friend said, "If you go, don't miss the best selection of sterling silver, vermeil and gold filled clasps in Napa or Sonoma". I couldn't believe my eyes, even the clasps were organized in a book by style. I had never seen such a selection other than at bead shows.

My friend never even mentioned all the jewelry from around the world. There was silver jewelry from Mexico, beaded pieces from India, and pendants in all shapes and sizes. That was only the beginning. The collection of African trade beads and the ethnographic items were really impressive. At times I felt I was in a museum.

As you can tell I could go on and on. I was enamored with the Beaded Nomad. It is a fantastic store. A feast for the eyes! Next time I return I'll allow myself ample time to browse and ask questions. It will take several visits for me to peruse the plethora of beads, jewelry, and other great items that this gem of a store has to offer. Maybe they will even remember my name.

The Beaded Nomad is located at 1238 First Street in the heart of downtown Napa.
Their phone number is 707-258-8004
They are open 11:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Saturday
12:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Sundays
Classes are on going