I’m thrilled to share some big news: I’m officially opening my in-person bead and jewelry shop at Mellwood Arts Center, Studio #172 in Louisville, Kentucky!

This shop has been quietly forming in the background for years, and it feels a little surreal to finally say: you can now come see the beads, jewelry, tools, and supplies in person, hang out in the studio, and make things with me.

How It All Started

Over 20 years ago, I moved to Louisville for an engineering job and didn’t know many people yet. On a whim—and honestly just wanting to meet new people—I signed up for a jewelry-making class.

That one class completely changed the direction of my life.

I started out with enameled jewelry, falling in love with the way color, glass, and metal interact in the kiln. Over time, my work expanded to include silver and other metal jewelry and objects, blending my engineering brain with my creative side. Jewelry-making moved from a hobby to a passion, then to a business… and now to a studio and bead shop of its own.

What You’ll Find in the Shop

My new space at Mellwood is a mix of working studio + bead shop + tiny classroom, all rolled into one.

Here’s what you can expect when you visit:

• Gemstone and glass beads for your own designs
• Stringing supplies like stretch cord, beading wire, and threads
• Findings and basic components (clasps, ear wires, crimps, jump rings, etc.)
• Jewelry-making tools from reliable brands like The Beadsmith and Beadalon
• My own enameled, silver, and mixed-metal jewelry and objects
• Space for workshops, classes, and make & take projects

My goal is to make the shop feel welcoming whether you’re:

• A complete beginner who just wants to make a simple bracelet
• A seasoned maker who needs specific tools or gemstones
• Someone who just loves looking at pretty beads and handmade jewelry

Soft Opening Details

I’ll be in the shop for a soft opening on:

📍 Mellwood Arts Center – Studio #172
📅 This Sunday
⏰ 10:00am – 1:00pm

If you’ve been curious about what I’ve been working on, or you want first pick of beads and tools, this is the perfect time to stop by, say hello, and see the space in its early days.

Regular Hours (Starting After the First of the Year)

Once we get through the holidays and everything settles into a rhythm, I’ll start regular weekly hours:

• Fridays: 5:00pm – 8:00pm
• Saturdays: 1:00pm – 4:00pm

Outside of those times, I’ll still be in the studio working on jewelry, prepping for classes, and planning events—so keep an eye on updates for special workshops, private parties, and extra open studio hours.

Workshops, Make & Takes, and More

Teaching has become one of my favorite parts of this journey. In the coming months, I’ll be offering:

• Beginner-friendly make & take projects (like bracelets, earrings, and keychains)
• Intro to stringing and basic tools
• More focused classes around specific techniques as the studio grows

If you’re local and want to learn how to make your own jewelry—or you already make and just want a creative community to plug into—I’d love to have you in a class or workshop.

Thank You for Being Here

Whether you’ve been with me since my earliest enamel experiments or you just found me because you love beads, thank you for supporting independent makers and small businesses.

This shop is not just a retail space; it’s the next chapter of a story that started with a single jewelry-making class taken on a whim. I can’t wait to see what we create together in Studio #172.

I hope you’ll stop by, introduce yourself, and let me know what you’d love to see in the shop—more gemstones, specific tools, certain kinds of classes… this space is for you as much as it is for me.

See you at Mellwood Arts Center, Studio #172 💜

— Ann