Shannon turns hobby into business

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Palestine native Susan Shannon shows off some of the beads she has imported for her new business, Bead Traders No. 2, which opened in Palestine Oct. 1. MARY RAINWATER/Herald-Press

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October 28, 2006

By MARY RAINWATER The Palestine Herald-Press Sat Oct 28, 2006, 09:28 PM CDT

PALESTINE — It is becoming a well-known consensus that there is something about Palestine that draws a person in — whether they are new to the area or returning to the community after an extended absence.

The latter is the case for Palestine native Susan Shannon, who upon visits to the area found that her stays here kept getting longer and longer and more frequent.

So much so that she decided to open up a second version of her Houston shop, Bead Traders, in the very home where she grew up on Texas 19.

“The house was hit by a tornado in 1989,” Shannon said. “I have been coming here ever since fixing it up.

“And every time I came, it just got harder and harder to leave.”

Called Bead Traders No. 2, Shannon’s store offers everything one needs to make beaded jewelry, from tools and string to books and beads. Seed beads, glass beads and crystal beads as well as a large selection of vintage beads all are included in the store’s inventory.

“Vintage beads were made primarily in Czechoslovakia during the 1930s and 1940s,” Shannon said. “During World War II the art of bead-making was lost and what beads were left were stored in attics and basements and even buried.”

In 1986, Shannon came in contact with a man who found a huge amount of the beads. She had put some of them away for several years and now offers them in her stores.

“I thought it was time to bring them out,” she said. “I want other people to enjoy and fall in love with them as I did.”

Shannon, who also has a wholesale bead business called SS Traders, imports beads from India and The Czech Republic, which have revived their bead-making industry.

With all those beads at her back and call, Shannon can’t help but spend a lot of her time creating her own jewelry. She has begun offering classes for those interested in the hobby.

“I really like the creativity of it,” she said. “I like being able to take a few pieces and creating something beautiful.”

Shannon was inspired to open the Houston Bead Traders store by her sister, who owned a jewelry and antiques store in Beaumont.

“One of my favorite things to do was spend time in her shop, visiting and trying everything in the store on,” she said. “My love of jewelry certainly came from her — she has been an unending source of learning and information.”

Also at Bead Traders No. 2 is a good supply of antiques and paintings by local artist Ricardo Chicas, whose art recently was displayed in an exhibit at the Museum for East Texas Culture.

“His studio is located in one of the rooms here,” Shannon said. “I have space for two to three more artist studios and hope to have those rooms ready in the near future.”

Shannon also plans to begin a “first Saturday” sale this spring, with room for 25 vendors to sell their wares outside the shop.

“I am just so glad to be here,” she said. “I have been away for 25 years and Palestine is just as beautiful as it ever was. There are just so many things about it I had forgotten.”

Bead Traders No. 2 is located on Texas 19 North, next to the AAA Restaurant. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, but are subject to change.

“I will still be traveling to Houston to man the store there,” she said. “So if the shop happens to be closed feel free to come back, or call us first at 903-729-4449.”

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Mary Rainwater may be reached via e-mail at mrainwater@palestineherald.com

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