‘Earth’ to Chestnut Hill: We have all the beads you need

by PAT STOKES

David Brooks, senior editor for the Weekly Standard and op-ed columnist for the New York Times, has been on some of the talk shows recently expressing his thoughts about present-day American culture. His observations about where we’ve been, where we are, where we’re going, seem to me occasionally to strike some reasonable notes.

Appearing on Radio Times, Marty Moss-Coane’s radio show newly adapted for television, Brooks revealed he grew up in Wayne, Pa., and considers himself partly a Philadelphian, familiar with the area. He mentioned Chestnut Hill, along with similar districts, in referring to what he sees as a gradual change taking place in people’s preferences for where and how they want to live.

The sprawling living complexes built alongside the highway, supported by huge shopping centers or malls, are losing their appeal, Brooks thinks. In essence, he says “they lack a certain something that people are recognizing as having a special importance for them, i.e., being part of a community.”

Such a place is usually made up of individual homes and individual stores run by people who “get to know you.” It offers shops you can walk to on avenues where you see your friends. (Sound familiar?)

Historically, this plan for living has been known as a village, and that is what Chestnut Hill truly is. Villages have been in existence all over the world for centuries and people’s lives there are usually based on basic needs: food, shelter, clothing, etc., plus very often a form of art or craft that offers an outlet for creativity, and a chance to experience the peaceful, meditative moments that accompany making things with one’s hands.

All of this is by way of saying that Chestnut Hill now has a place where this sort of thing happens regularly, namely the Village Earth Bead Shop at 8442 Germantown Ave., (previously The French Lemon). Why beads? Well it seems that in the above-mentioned villages, beads have always played a substantial part, not only in creative pleasures but more practically, as currency, and as bartering tools for such things as fine cloth, metalwork, even food.

Beads are still used, made and sold internationally, for example, in North Africa, India, South America, Japan and so on. Each village has its own way of making beads, either of wood, glass, clay, metal or as even tightly rolled paper. The small beautifully rounded wooden bowls that contain the beads in this shop are typical of those seen in similar markets the world over.

Enough of introduction. Let’s open the door. As you walk in, you sense the international flavor right away, brought about by the owner-team’s terrific decorative ability. You are handed a sectional tray known as a bead board. Holding the tray, you browse along the large tables where the little wooden bowls offer every possible shape, size and color of tempting beads, 1,000 or more of them! Restraining yourself so as not to take just about every one, you make a selection, “Oh, look at this one, I love it! And that — can’t live without it!”

As you collect the beads on the tray a sort of pattern emerges. The colors and shapes seem to blend; you see that you have a varied collection that works as a whole. So you hop onto one of the comfy stools at the “bead bar,” you’re given a string or a ribbon and you’re on your way, designing a necklace or a bracelet or earrings. The world drops away and minutes later (or maybe a couple of hours), you have a precious product. The staff helps to finish it off. Average cost, under $20.

And who is behind this phenomenon? An ideal team, Deborah Porter and Todd Glickstein. About 18 months ago, when she held an executive position with a local company, Porter learned about a bead store run by a friend. The idea appealed. She researched it, looked at about 10 communities, did the demographics and talked to business groups. Whaddyaknow? Chestnut Hill checked out the best. Here was the family environment, the attractive shopping area, friendly people and, best of all, an enthusiastic welcome from the business association.

Next need, a creative, energetic business partner. No problem. Todd Glickstein, entrepreneur and business owner himself, was almost waiting in the wings, having met Deb eight or nine years before through his wife. Todd, ever the entrepreneur, liked the idea. He and Deb formed the partnership, working collaboratively with a good division of labor, plus trust and respect for each other’s ideas.

Talk about speed! Deborah left her executive job in mid-June, and Village Earth opened early in August. She bought the inventory; he worked on the structural details. Their outdoor sign caught many an eye, and long before they really opened, customers knocked at the door with questions. They were warmly welcomed, so that while shopping areas are notoriously quiet in August, business at Village Earth has been instantly booming. For many people, beading is “in.” It has already caught on, and Deborah mentioned that “four-fifths of those who stopped in during construction said they were ‘so glad it’s there so we don’t have to go miles away for more beads.’ They also wanted to know if there are classes.”

Yes. The shop offers a varied slate of activities. You can walk right in and with no experience, but a little help from the staff, you can make a lovely bit of jewelry; and when you’re really hooked, there are evening classes from basic beading to intermediate and advanced.

Then there are the parties. Kids’ parties, of course, for five-year-olds to teens, held in a special room downstairs. Each child receives a T-shirt and a special charm besides, of course, his/her own finished piece of jewelry. (Yes, pre-teen boys wear beads.) Parents bring cake, there are balloons and plenty of fun.

Adult parties? Certainly! On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings, when the store is closed, groups of eight or more may reserve the space to choose their beads and spend two blissful hours at the bead bar making their own masterpieces. They can bring food and drink, there’s music, and everybody goes away with his/her own prize. Women, take note: this is a splendid idea for a gals-only get together for an evening out.

It might be appropriate to mention, that in terms of personal creativity opportunities, Chestnut Hill offers, in addition to bead design, ceramic painting at Color Me Mine, and creative knitting at the Tangled Web. At the Village Earth Bead Market, hours are Wednesday to Saturday, 11 to 9, Sundays, 11 to 5, Tuesdays 11 to 6. Phone: 215-248-1317.

See you on the Avenue.