Bead Jungle lets jewelry lovers create their own works of art

Top, beading teacher Susan Barrett takes Amy Johnson through her first beading class at Bead Jungle. Left, Margaret Jung looks through instructions for her beading project. Bead Jungle offers several classes a month for all skill levels. SHELLY DONAHUE/VIEW Top, beading teacher Susan Barrett takes Amy Johnson through her first beading class at Bead Jungle. Left, Margaret Jung looks through instructions for her beading project. Bead Jungle offers several classes a month for all skill levels. SHELLY DONAHUE/VIEW SHELLY DONAHUE/VIEW Suzanne Domoracki, right, and her daughter Brianne shop for beads at the Bead Jungle. SHELLY DONAHUE/VIEW Amy Johnson starts a beading project during a class at Bead Jungle, 1550 W. Horizon Ridge. The bead store offers weekly classes for beginners and experienced beaders. SHELLY DONAHUE/VIEW Jordan Vaughn,12, participates in a beading class at the Bead Jungle. The store conducts eight classes per week. Advertisement

Laura Vaughan and her 12-year-old twin daughters, Jordan and Alexandria, bond with one another over strings of beads.

"I've loved beads since I was a little girl. I wanted something the three of us could do together," Laura said.

The three spend at least one night per week at Bead Jungle, 1550 W. Horizon Ridge, taking one of the free classes offered at the store.

Bead Jungle owner Sandy Murphy said the store offers a variety of beginner, intermediate and advanced classes. Murphy said the classes are free, but asks that the students purchase their supplies from Bead Jungle.

"I wanted people to be able to get together and have fun," she said. "It's like a social gathering."

Different classes are offered each week and range from chain mail to bead weaving, and wire working to stringing. Murphy said there are eight classes per week, including Saturdays and Sundays, and the subject matter varies.

Typically, the class size ranges from 10 to 20 people. Signups for each class must be done in advance, although Murphy said they will divide a class in two if the demand is great.

"We take as many people as we can," Murphy said.

For those who aren't sure whether they want to take up the hobby of beading, there is a beginner jewelry class where students can purchase a kit and learn the basics. Murphy said a beginner's kit is about $20 to $30.

Murphy said there are children's and men's classes available as well. She said the hobby is popular with men, and added that Atlanta Falcons player Ed Hartwell, whose mother lives in Henderson, took up the hobby at her store.

"He comes back periodically," she said.

Murphy said Bead Jungle is one of the largest bead stores in the state and has been open for almost four years. She said she took up beading after she retired from Trans World Airlines to take care of her sick mother.

"I opened the store, and I've never regretted it," she said.

Laura Vaughan said Murphy and her husband, Frank, as well as the other Bead Jungle employees, are nice.

"They support their customers," she said.

Laura's daughter Jordan said she enjoys shopping for beads with her sister and mother.

"We agree on the classes, and we all have fun," Jordan said.

Murphy said that in the near future, she plans to revamp the class area, adding ergonomic chairs and other renovations.

She said she also plans to have fundraisers and host events to make jewelry for those in need.

"We're going to do a lot of things with the community," she said.

Bead Jungle is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, visit www.beadjungle.com.