Since December 2015 Beads To You owner Mary Palais said beads have been her passion for a lot longer. "I got into it when I was 12," Palais said. "My mom used to buy me antique jewelry and I just started realizing I could take it apart and redesign it. I self-taught myself."
Having furthered her passion for the last 47 years, Palais said she enjoys coming up with her own creations. Further, her husband owner Sam Palais, keeps her inspired and makes the beads. They are called Furnace Art Glass, they are blown glass beads that are very difficult to make. There are only 2 people in the USA who make them, because they are very time consuming and very difficult to make.
Sam makes other jewelry too and started when he was 21 when the two of them first met, Mary said, remarking he took some pieces of silver findings, gemstone beads and Swarovski crystal from her, having made some earrings that ended up being her bestsellers at a craft show.
"It just branches out, one thing leads to another. I got into making jewelry, I was working in a shipyard as a welder and she was making jewelry and doing craft shows every weekened," he said, stating she sold those earrings came back and said "You need to make some more jewelry." That was the beginning of it and then I got into making the furnace art glass beads because she couldn't find exactly what she wanted from other people. I didn't realize it was going to be a 25-year sojourn, but here we are."
Prior to having the store, Mary said the two of them had been selling online for 23 years. Our customers our located all over the world. She's always taught classes too, she said. The classes used to be at community centers and colleges, but are now are at the store. Also if there is anything anyone wants and can't find, they will order it in for them special. We want to provide quality, great service and unique items. Everyone has been so nice and happy we are here. We grow everyday with new customers coming in.
There's a store calendar online at www.beadstoyou.com where people can check out when classes are and they can also call and schedule a custom class for any day or time that works for the two of them and whoever wants to take the class, Sam said. Further, the two of them do custom designs, bridal parties, birthday parties, repairs , a bead and sip where people can bring wine and do a class and bead. Also they have a person who comes in once a week that teaches a paint and sip, Mary said. They also recently added gemstones and carry a lot of items not normally found in a typical bead store, she said. Like for instance dichroic glass pieces we have made special and also lab created opal beads.
Looking to the future, the hope is to open a second store in Prescott and then a third at Lake Tahoe, Mary said. "I like it there, we used to live there," she said. "I love the summers there. I figure it would give us a reason to go there, to check on the store and she our friends and customers from the craft shows we used to do there.
Located at 8516 E State Route 69, Suite B, Prescott Valley, the store is open from 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday through Friday and 10 am to 2 pm Saturday and Sunday. They can be reached at 928-713-5237
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