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Baubles, Bangles and Beads

I love beads. I live for beads. I string beads. I know lots about them and know where to get the steals and deals. My favorites are vintage Swarovski crystals and Venetian glass. I was thinking about my obsession with beads and where it came from.

Here in 'Burque we have great bead stores. But the one place I miss buying them was a store on Central called Freed's. Freed's was where the NM Holocaust and Intolerance Museum is located now.

As soon as you walked in the door, the first thing you noticed was the pungent smell of incense assaulting your nose. Freed's wasn't just beads. Think of a much funkier version of Jackalope. There were clothes from India, Africa, and China. Handmade baskets and masks hung from the walls. There were statues, drums and bolts of fabric from all over the world.

But for me, the sight of the strands of beads hanging behind the counter was as overpowering as the smell of the incense. African trade beads, Czech glass beads, gemstone beads - I wanted them all. As a child I remember shopping with my mom downtown and we always had to look at their window displays and then go in. I think that as a little girl, the memory of all those strands hanging behind the counter stayed with me.

Even better than all the beads was a sweet old man that greeted everyone as they walked in. I always assumed it was Mr. Freed. Maybe he was the manager, I don't know. But if he liked you, and I think he liked everybody, he would give you a lollypop and a great big smile. I spent a lot of time at Freed's before they closed...and I always got a lollypop.

( Go to the Adelita page for a clue to the next story.)

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Comment by Diego on December 19, 2007 at 10:55am: Wow I loved Freed's I never thought that anybody shopped there. Freed's used to have the coolest tin or some kind of metal mehcanical toys that I used to buy for my niece. One in particular I remember was an elephant that used to turn a ball balanced on its nose. I was saddened when it closed because of it's uniqueness. Now about the beads I used to buy beads at the Unicef shop in Old Town they had a great choice of beads from all over the world. I love the jewlery you create from the beads you buy and so does my mom.

Comment by jim on December 19, 2007 at 11:10am: I am surrounded by "bead" ladies and can understand your love for them. It makes it easy for me to bring back gifts in my small backpack from my travels through Central and South America.

Comment by chantal on December 19, 2007 at 11:12am: Adelita, have you ever been to Stone Mountain Beads on Central?

Comment by shotsie on December 19, 2007 at 11:19am: I have a friend at work whose wife owns "The Beaded Iris" on Wyoming and Constitution, and she carries all the above European crystals and vintage beads and art glass. If you want a good source, check this place out....

Comment by Adelita on December 19, 2007 at 12:13pm: I know every bead store in town quite intimately! I LOVE the Beaded Iris. And as far as Stone Mountain, well, I had a not so pleasant experience there when the owner reprimanded an employee in front of customers. It made me feel bad for the employee and uncomfortable and never went back. Too bad, They have nice beads.

Rudolfo, I think you are right about a daughter helping out in the end. I remember her helping me with beads, They were always so friendly and nice there. I don't know about the Wheels Museum.

Comment by Barelas Babe on December 19, 2007 at 8:53pm: The indefatigable Leba Freed has worked with little recognition and tons of passion to get the Wheels Museum on track. See here for her current involvement: http://www.wheelsmuseum.org/presmsg.html

Brava Leba!

Comment by Adelita on December 30, 2007 at 6:00pm: Kameyab is one bead place I haven't been to. I hope they're open tomorrow!

Comment by Paula on January 11, 2008 at 11:07am: What a wonderful memory. It saddens me that I never went there, that I know of. I guess I didn't see much of Central when I was a kid... except during State Fair time. I don't think I ever had the pleasure of exploring that place.
There is a wonderful bead shop in Old Town called Sun Country Gems... http://www.suncountrygems.com/
and they have those strands hanging from everywehere too. It is quite a sight!! I want to buy everything!!! haha