SPOTLIGHT ON ... STORE
March 2009
Our featured bead store this month is Dragonfly Beads
Cherylyn Payton, the owner of Dragonfly Beads, was taught to bead by her mother during a time when she was being treated for cancer. Her response to beading was, "Right on, this is so cool!" After catching "bead fever," she spent the next couple of years beading and selling her work around Wyoming. She opened Dragonfly Beads because Casper had no bead store, she had been doing all her shopping on the Internet, and because the local hobby store's quality and variety was simply insufficient. Happily, she found that she was not the only "bead nut" that needed the availability of high quality beads and materials for her work.
Dragonfly Beads opened in March, 2003, in a small dark storefront in downtown Casper, Wyoming. Dragonfly Beads spent 3 years in that 800 square foot space before the business simply outgrew itself. After the birth of the owner's fourth child, Sara, Dragonfly Beads moved to its current location.
Since its inception, Dragonfly Beads' mission has been to provide customer service with a happy smile. "Being a small business enables us to provide customer service, which in many businesses doesn't seem to exist anymore. We get to know our customers by name. Our policy is to greet each customer and help as much as possible with finding the right bead, locating needed materials, and helping with design, technique and color," says Cheryl. Dragonfly Beads also offers full-day workshops, 2-hour classes, Big Girl Parties, Birthday Parties, custom jewelry design, jewelry repair, and special ordering as part of it's many services. Dragonfly Beads brings in many trunk shows and visiting artists each year. And, Cheryl cheerfully participates on a yearly basis in community service projects and charity fundraisers donating time and resources to many organizations since opening nearly 5 years ago.
Dragonfly Beads' location in the middle of Wyoming puts them four hours away from any major city. Because of Casper's isolation, Dragonfly Beads' focus has been to provide a wide variety of quality materials for good prices. They have enjoyed visiting with customers from all over the United States and are so gratified they have done a good job when most comment on the wide variety of materials.
Dragonfly Beads is currently working on their online store (www.dragonflybeads.biz) adding items on a weekly basis, and is adding a small multi-media arts section to the store for multi-media jewelry projects in the coming year. So come on down and enjoy some small town cheer and "bead nut" fellowship at Dragonfly Beads - a true mom-owned, community bead store.
Dragonfly Beads
Atrium Plaza
201 E. 2nd Street, Suite 22
Casper, WY 82601
307-265-7757:t
www.dragonflybeads.biz
WINTER HOURS:
CLOSED MONDAY, Tues-Fri 11:00am-5:00pm, Sat 10:30am-4:30pm
Workshops by Appointment
Cherylyn Payton
Dragonfly Beads |
Hi, I'm Cheryl. I've been an artist since I was old enough to understand that the pictures I rendered in crayon were well beyond what most five year olds scribble. I enjoyed 2 years at the University of Wyoming in the Art Department until the lack of an income drove me to Phoenix, then to San Diego where at U.C.S.D. La Jolla in 1995 I receive my B.S. in Studio Art and two minors. I've since worked professionally for private clients creating murals and custom jewelry pieces. I have been selling my handmade wire art pieces to boutique and art museum gift shops for nearly as long.
I have been teaching classes and workshops in most forms of beading, as well as speaking publicly for many groups, organizations and conferences with great enthusiasm for many years. And, I've enjoyed many appearances on local television news programs providing my expertise in beading, as well as discussing my own personal artwork.
I have an amazing family - 4 incredible children, a husband I am very proud of, and two crazy dogs.
Many years ago, I had cancer and learned and important lesson about living. It is my mission to not only live but to live well - with great charity to others. Be selfless - not selfish...God Bless. |
