Welcome to

A Better Bead & Crafts

We are a full service bead shop, gift gallery and classroom for the avid beader or discerning shopper, all located in Brevard, North Carolina.  We carry every imaginable bead; findings in gold, silver, copper and brass; lead-free castings as well as  a wide selection of beading supplies and tools.

Luigi was here. . .

. . .and so were his beads.

The pictures below are just a sampling of the goodies on display in the shop.

A few of the items pictured are available for purchase through our catalog. 

Our Garden in Summer

To see more garden pictures and visit with our resident squirrels click here.

White Squirrels

White Squirrel

Books

Hand Sculpted Venetian

White Squirrel Bead

White Squirrel

Post Cards

Bead Rooms

We have several rooms devoted to our passion, beads and jewelry making.  The walls are covered in beads, everywhere you look.  We carry a variety of Venetian glass beads, silver, gold, pearls, naturals, semi-precious, Swarovski crystals, Czech glass, cloisonné, bone, vintage beads and buttons, seed beads loose and on hanks and a large selection of unique, handmade beads.

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Our Bead Room Walls

 Natural Beads; Japanese Seed Beads; Czech Seed Beads; Czech Glass Beads by the strand or by the piece; bone; horn; wood; shell and mother-of-pearl

Our Back Room

Silver and Gold; Pearls; Swarovski Crystals; Fibers; Tools and Supplies

Japanese and Czech Seed Beads

by the hank or loose

We carry both Czech glass seed beads by the hank as well as  Japanese Delicas, Miyukis, Matsunos, Magatmas and other loose Japanese seed beads.

When you visit the bead rooms in our shop, you have choices. 

• You may pick out beads and jewelry making supplies to make something yourself, on the spot, right here in the shop or at home. 

• For a small labor charge, you may also have us make up your piece for you. 

• You may also take a class in beading or jewelry making from one of our teachers.

• Last but not least, we have begun making kits of selected jewelry items.  If you see a piece in the shop that you like and would like to make for yourself, ask if a kit is available.

The Crafter’s Cottage is also a gift gallery filled with a wide variety of locally produced art work and handmade crafts.  Our goal is to promote and enhance the art of unique handcrafts.  We are striving to do this by supporting over 50 local artisans through marketing and consignment sales of their work.  We envision The Crafter's Cottage as a resource for hobbyist as well as professional crafters and artists.

We thank you for your interest in A Better Bead & Crafts and The Crafter’s Cottage where we aid and abet your obsessions.

Alethea

Spring Hours

April 1  -  May 31

Tuesday thru Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Summer Hours

June 1  -  September 30

Monday thru Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Fall Hours

October 1  -  October 31

Tuesday thru Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Winter Hours

November 1  -  March 30

Tuesday thru Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

(Closed February 1 - 11)

Holiday and Festival Schedule

The shop may be open extended hours on Sundays and/or Mondays during holiday and festival celebrations in Brevard. 

Please call to verify hours.

Annual Buying Trip to Tucson

February 1 - 11, 2008

Venetian Glass Trunk Show

&

4th Anniversary Sale

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday

June 25 - 28, 2008

Our four day bead sale will include Luigi and Nicole, one of our Venetian glass suppliers.  Luigi and Nicole are bringing a large variety of beads from Murano, Italy and will be on hand to answer questions on the techniques and styles of Venetian glass bead making.  Luigi will be blowing glass throughout the four days and will create one-of-a-kind blown glass and beads.