Retail Roundup

Catherine Eberhard

Summer is a wonderful time for being creative and starting new

projects. Kids and adults alike may have more time in the long summer

days to indulge in crafts. Two local shops can help you explore your

artistic side and learn a new skill that can be useful and fun.

In business for the past 15 years, Surf City Beads, on the corner of

Magnolia Avenue and Talbert Avenue, has everything you could ever need or

want to create your own jewelry. As gifts, or just for yourself, handmade

bracelets and necklaces are a trendy item these days.

Specializing in high-end glass beads and crystals, Surf City Beads

offers Swarovski Austrian crystals, Bali silver beads, strands of glass

beads, stringing materials, clasps and vintage beads. It offers free

design advice and has several samples available to give you ideas on how

to create your own piece. If you are a first-time jewelry maker and would

like an experienced person to guide you through the process, one-on-one

classes are available by appointment at $20/hour. Surf City Beads also

offers group workshops throughout the year.

Walking into the store, you’ll be overwhelmed by the choice of beads

that are in small containers on table tops, hanging on the walls in

strands or packets, or even enclosed in a glass cases. Vivid colors and

unique shapes are everywhere. Along with jewelry making, the beads can be

used to decorate hair clips, headbands, or even give sparkle to an old

belt buckle. Surf City Beads even carries flat back crystals to sew or

glue on specialty items such as shoes or clothing.

The most popular reason to visit the bead store is to gather materials

for stringing and create your own necklace, bracelet, or anklet. Once you

plan the style of your jewelry, you can purchase the wire or elastic and

any other tools you may need. Deciding on a clasp can be a difficult

thing to do, since Surf City Beads carries a wide selection of different

types of clasps in a variety of plating. Sterling silver clasps can

really make your necklace shine, and copper or gunmetal plated clasps can

give you an antique look for your jewelry. There are also clasps in

plenty of fun shapes like butterflies, flowers, or turtles.

For more information, you can visit the Web site for Surf City Beads

at o7 https://www.scbeads.comf7 . For a limited time, you’ll be able to

print off a coupon from it’s Web site that you can redeem in the store

for 10% off of your first purchase. The store is at 18061 Magnolia, or

call (714) 843-9188.

Another way to be creative this summer, is to try your hand at ceramic

painting. Hidden Talents, a ceramic painting studio in the Huntington

Harbour Mall, is a place where you can go with friends to spend an hour

or two engaging in art and good conversation.

In business for four years, owner Debbie Alfonso, offers the customer

a chance to discover their artistic side. At Hidden Talents, you can

choose from a wide selection of items to paint that include everything

from pots for plants, plates, mugs, frames, garden markers and even

business card holders. Items start at $3 and increase in price according

to the size and complexity of the design.

Once you’ve chosen your special item to paint, you sit down at a

wooden workbench or table and let your creative side come out. Planning

your design and choosing your colors are necessary steps before you can

begin to paint.

There are sponges and stencils available, so you can get just the look

you want. These items plus all the paints, paintbrushes and other

supplies are provided by the studio at a cost of $4/hour for kids or

$5/hour for adults. This fee also includes the glazing and firing of your

ceramics, which gives them a high gloss finish and brings out the

brightness in the colors while setting your design permanently. That way

if you create something useful like a personalized dog dish or a pasta

bowl it will hold up through cleaning and daily use. The glazing and

firing process takes about two days, so you’ll return a few days later to

find your item ready to be picked up and on display in the store window.

Hidden Talents is currently offering a summer day camp program for

kids. They run half-day or full-day sessions for an entire week that

include all materials, instruction, snacks and lunch. Besides painting

ceramics, the kids pour molds, do clay building, acrylic painting, create

mosaics and more. There is a different activity every day and the camp is

open to kids ages 5 and older. The camp can appeal to all ages since each

child will create at their own level and pace. Two sessions each summer

are even set aside for teen camps. The camp is fun and educational and

perfect for a child who loves art. Hidden Talents summer day camp is

available through August 24.

Hidden Talents also has other weekly specials such as the Tuesday and

Thursday evening “Stress Reliever Night” when you can paint out your

frustrations from 6 to 9 p.m. for a flat rate of $6 plus the cost of your

item. Wednesday is always “Kids Day” and kids and their parents can paint

for only $3 an hour. Friday evenings from 4 to 9 p.m., you can get two

hours of painting for the price of one and Sundays are “Marathon Paint

Days” when you can paint as much as you want the entire day for $8.

Birthday parties for kids and adults are also held at the studio and

every guest will create their own ceramic treasure.

You can get more information on these offers by visiting Hidden

Talents at 16917 Algonquin Street, Suite E, or by calling them at (714)

840-6833.

* CATHERINE EBERHARD is a Huntington Beach resident and her column

focuses on local businesses. If you have items for Retail Roundup, e-mail

them too7 hbindy@latimes.comf7 or fax to (714) 965-7174.