The Beadin' Path, Freeport

The sparkle of vintage glass, the gleam of fire-polished spherules, and the bright colors of custom lucite beads, these are the tantalizing sights that meet the eye of a shopper walking into The Beadin' Path. To wander through the store’s wealth of beads is to wander through time itself. The collection is known for its vintage beads, and shoppers pass lucite spherules made between the ’60s and ’80s, raw metals saved from warehouses, and glass from West Germany nestled alongside fire-polished Czech beads. The wealth of textures and hues fuels creative minds, inspiring crafters to pick up vintage U.S.-made metal baubles and gemstones for nestling on cords, wiring into earrings, or stapling to the mailman’s lapel. In addition to enriching beaders’ stockpiles, The Beadin' Path also acquaints them with simple and advanced jewelry-making techniques during classes whose subjects range from wrapping leather to knotting pearls.