Each week Perch Bead Shoppe and Design Studio hold workshops to teach the basics of jewelry making.
Owner Barbara Birdsong established Perch in 2009. After making jewelry for 12 years, Birdsong saw an opportunity to open the bead store she'd always wanted when her husband retired from the Air Force.
"I think what makes our bead studio a little different is that it's like a studio," Birdsong said. "We have all the tools and everything for you to sit and enjoy someone else's company while creating."
Upcoming events include wire wrapping and stringing workshops Saturday, Wednesday and Jan. 28. All workshops are free; students only pay for the materials used.
"When I first opened Perch, a lot of people who were coming didn't have any skills," Birdsong said. "I have a lot of regulars now, and it's fun to see what they're making and the levels they've gone."
Birdsong teaches several basic jewelry-making techniques at her workshops.
"Wire wrapping is basically the most basic technique in constructing most of the type of jewelry in this store," Birdsong said.
Birdsong's daughter, Hannah, not only works at the shop and helps her with the workshops, but also models the jewelry on the Perch website.
"I make some of the jewelry," Hannah said. "My mom's taught me everything I know."
Perch has a variety of semi-precious gems and stones including freshwater pearls, which Birdsong said are the most popular. Precious metals, silk and leather are also available for designing original jewelry.
"I think people like to come in here and make jewelry so much because you can make it completely personalized," said Maggie Jerome, junior in nutrition. "You can come out with a piece that's really unique, and no one else is going to have that."
Hand stamping is another popular activity at the store. Jerome said people enjoy stamping monograms or little sayings on pieces of copper or other metals to add to jewelry.
Birdsong looks to offer a hand stamping workshop at Perch in February.
Also, every Thursday at 11 a.m. the ladies of Perch get together for beads and bagels.
"Beads and bagels is a chance to sit and hang out and work on a project while I'm around to help, if you need it," Birdsong said.
Perch's workshops are offered weekly.
"We want it to be like a studio where you can come and perch yourself for a while and enjoy creating," Birdsong said.
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