Unique downtown business caters to a diverse crowd
A unique shop that is both a jewelry and craft lover’s haven is located right in downtown Morgan Hill. The Goddess Bead Shop, which opened at the Downtown Mall two years ago, has already become a destination place, according to owners Pamela Foo and Shelley Fast.
The Goddess Bead Shop is a jewelry lover’s delight because it offers a variety of decorative accessories you can buy, make yourself, or select so Foo and Fast can make it for you. There are thousands of beads of all sizes, shapes and colors, imported from exotic places like Africa, China, Bali and Thailand, including hand-blown glass beads from Italy, and Morgan Hill’s own poppy jasper, which is available as a finished product and can be made into any type of jewelry. The shop donates 10 percent of poppy jasper profits to the Poppy Jasper Film Festival.
Clasps, stringing material and other supplies to make all types of jewelry, from earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets and anklets are available at the store. You can buy jewelry that is already made, or design and make your own jewelry there. Foo and Fast can teach you how to make the jewelry yourself, or, you can select what you want and the women will make it for you. Bracelets are individually sized, and because the jewelry is hand-made, there are no two that are alike. In addition, Foo and Fast will repair jewelry at their store. Other gift items at the store include custom hand-knit items, which can be specially ordered, and beaded robes, scarves and hats.
The store offers jewelry making classes and birthday parties, Fast added. Young girls going to a school dance will stop by the store and pick jewelry that will match their outfits. Foo and Fast have also designed and made jewelry for weddings.
“We believe our shop is the most unique shop in Morgan Hill,” said Fast. “We can do just about anything that has to do with beads.”
For Fast and Foo, who are good friends, the Goddess Bead Shop is their home away from home. Both women have all boys in their family, so the shop is their opportunity to allow their feminine creativity to flow and dabble in their passion for jewelry.
“I love working with my hands and a bead shop seemed like a natural fit. It’s an opportunity for me to be with women and a good change for me after being in a house with all males,” chuckled Foo, who with her husband Patrick, has five boys – Aaron, 16, Owen, 15, Robert, 14, Harrison, 9, and Patrick, 7.
Foo opened her first bead shop, known as The Yellow Victoria, on Monterey Road three years ago. It was while working there that she met Fast, who would frequently come to the store to repair and make her jewelry.
“And I never left,” quipped Fast.
Fast said she has made jewelry ever since she was in high school. The women found they had the same interests and many things in common. Fast also has all boys in her family. She and husband Tim have three sons – Eric, 23, Ryan 21, and Kyle, 16. When Foo’s business continued to grow and she decided to expand, both women joined forces and opened the Goddess Bead Shop at the rear portion of the Downtown Mall.
“It’s fun to be creative and girlie, and we also enjoy what we’re doing. It’s relaxing,” said Fast. “The challenge for us is balancing a retail shop and getting all things that need to be done at home too.”
The 1200 sq. ft. design studio is located at 17490 Monterey Road, inside the Downtown Mall. Store hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 5pm, and by appointment. Foo and Fast also encourage everyone to check their Web site at http://thegoddessbeadshop.com/index.html or call (408) 779-2089 for more information about designing and constructing jewelry, classes or parties.
