Growing up I was big into having loads of “kits” whether it be bead making kits or rock collection kits (HA… remember those? I was obsessed)… I just liked collections of things. For as long as I can remember I’ve also loved accessories and playing with different combinations of ways to wear my necklaces and bracelets. A little over a month ago I was sitting on my couch daydreaming when somehow the idea of taking a jewelry class popped in my head. It was really out of the blue but since I had my laptop right in front of me I decided to do a little research online to find some classes in the area. I found and signed up for a course at the Brookline Arts Center, which actually starts next week…I’m so excited! The instructor emailed me a few days ago telling me she would have some basic filler beads and tools but told me to feel free to bring any fun, chunky, and different beads I’d like to incorporate into any projects… I LOVE chunky beads! 
She also sent a list of a few neighborhood bead shops.
I’ve always wanted to be that girl who was into beading and making her own jewelry but to be honest, I always got really overwhelmed and intimated in bead shops! Which sounds ridiculous. But there are millions of little beads, and trays, and codes, and clipboards, and pens to write the codes down, and all of these things to remember and responsibilities as a customer that I the voices in my head convinced me to steer clear of zee bead shops! I can also be a lazy shopper sometimes 
This afternoon I went to a couple of the shops the instructor recommended in the area. I didn’t spend too much time in the first shop only because the customer service wasn’t on par so I headed to the next shop, Abeille, where the customer service was spot on. Abeille is an adorable little bead shop located in Brookline Village. It was such a breath of fresh air stepping into this bright and cheery yellow walled shop on this cold rainy Boston day! I was the only customer and was greeted with a warm hello and smile by the girl working on the floor, and also the owner, Lisa Trachtman. I was telling the ladies how I was beginning a beading class (they actually knew who my instructor was and Lisa had actually heard of We are not Martha… small city Boston is!) and they ever so kindly explained the whole tray thing to me, how to label the sheet with the code for each bead, and pointed out where everything I could possibly need was located around the shop.
I also learned that the Brookline Artists Open Studios is this weekend! Abielle is having a preview party Friday evening from 6:30-9pm showcasing some local jewelry designer’s work, which I’m planning on attending in hopes to be inspired
Abielle also host a slew of in-store and off-site classes and workshops for jewelry making, sewing, and paper crafts as well as parties (bachelorette parties, birthday parties, girls night out, anyone!?). The class schedule is featured on a chalkboard behind the register… adorable!
All of the supplies are located on the back wall of the store along with a nice selection of rubber stamps and ribbon. My crafty heart can’t handle all of this!
There were beads galore… such a wonderful selection!
Abielle also feature a creative and colorful selection of pre-designed jewelry from local artists and had a lot of Mother’s day gifts
I honestly lost track of time while I was perusing the store. I was so thankful I didn’t park in a metered spot cauuuuse it would have expired… and resulted in a ticket. Brookline doesn’t mess around in doling out the tickets, that’s for sure!
When I got home I quickly tore through my bag of beads to have a second look and admire them all! I looooove charms on necklaces so I’m hoping to learn how to do some funky things to incorporate these into a necklace I make. I got an Eiffel Tower charm (to represent my love of traveling… I want to find an airplane charm, too!), a Chuck Taylor sneaker (simply because I love Converse, hehe), and a bird charm (to represent the natural/earthy side of me) I completely love that you can express yourself through jewelry!
I also bought a handful of vintage styled roses and some silver branch connector pieces…. that’s the natural/earthy side of me
I bought a handful of these colorful pieces, too… I figured it could make a nice fun necklace for summer.
And like I said earlier, I love chunky beads (and turquoise) so I couldn’t pass these beads up!
You all have seen my jewelry drawer(s) before so you know how accessory obsessed I am! Hopefully I’ll be able to learn some neat ways to create my own original pieces! I’ll do another post soon to update you on my class and track my progress… hopefully there is some
In the meantime swing by Abielle in Brookline Village if you’re looking for some creative inspiration or are interested in taking a class. Parents should know that they’re also very kid friendly and have a program called Jeune Abeille which is designed for customers under the age of 16 where they feature after school workshops and classes. And if you want even more eye-candy, the owner of Abeille, Lisa, also designs a line of jewelry called Ojas that she makes along with Michelle Rothman!
Thank you Abeille for helping me get over my “fear” of bead shops… Apparently I just needed to find a shop that played a little Nora Jones and other mellow tunes to calm my nerves and some bright walls to get me inspired
Abeille
45 Harvard Street
Brookline Village, MA
617.232.4343
www.abeille.us
Follow them on Twitter, too!
[Chels]
 |
What a neat store! Very cool that they feature the work of local artists and how fun would it be to go there as part of your bachelorette party? You could make something to wear for the rest of the night out!! The roses you picked up are adorable.
This sounds like a great place…. how have I not been here yet?! I love the beads in the second to last photo, they look like candy mmmm.
i do love that neighborhood of mine! =)
What a beautiful store – love that its so bright! I agree, if I walk into a place that doesn’t even care I am there, I leave immediately – glad you found a nice one!
My sister took a bead class and has become quite the jewelry maker! You’ll love the class – its so easy to learn when you see it being done vs. reading how to do it. Have fun!
I am emailing this to so many of my friends who would LOVE this store! Parties? That’s awesome!
I have taken a couple of classes and also used the open studio time at Abeille. It’s such a great store and you are right – everyone there is wonderful! If you’re ever in Brookline Village definitely stop by!
YAY! I am so glad to see Abeille featured. I teach there and I absolutely love Lisa- she’s wonderful! All the girls who work there are. I shall see you at Open Studios- my cousin Sarah is one of the junior artists showing at Abeille and I’m taking her to the event. See you tomorrow!
Thanks for the information – it looks like a great store! I’m always looking for reasons to go up to the Boston area!
I want to go there now! Everything is so pretty.
Thanks for doing a review on Abeille. I’ve driven by that store 100′s of times now, but have never gone in! I started making jewelry years ago and to this day, I still love it. I think I might even like shopping for beads/findings more so than I actually like making things…almost! I used to walk into Beadworks just to browse and somehow, I’d walk out with $50 worth of lovely little things. So, I’ve had to cut myself off a bit. You know those white Ikea drawers you have in your office? Well, I have that exact same one FILLED with beads. YIKES! I hope you have fun at your class. Actually, I think I took that same class way back when. Let me know if you even want to get together and ‘bead’. Or, if you want to go bead shopping…it’s been awhile for me! Have fun!
What a beautiful studio.. wish I lived close by and could just hang out there! Almost worth the trip to Boston!