Small Business Spotlight Presented by Groovyjuice.com- General Bead San Francisco -A Must Visit for Locals and Tourists Alike!

San Francisco's General Bead 

Still Groovy After All These Years 

by Lanajean Vecchione of groovyjuice.com

Beware! The bead bug is gonna get you! 

637 Minna St

San Francisco, CA 94103

(415) 863-1292

http://www.generalbeadsanfrancisco.com

     San Francisco is a top tourist attraction known all over the world, and when people visit, they want the old school hippie vibe that the area is known for. Many go to Haight Asbury to shop and relive the historical 60s moments. However, I suggest you go off the beaten track to South of Market and visit General Bead. This is more authentic San Francisco vibe than Haight can ever provide, and its been here for decades!
     Located off Mission street on Minna, you can't miss its painted facade. If you love to play with beads, or even if you don't, bring a camera. Photos are welcome!

     



Occupying two stories of an industrial building, it doesn't look like an ordinary chain craft store at all. Its got everything you'd expect NOT to see in the chains, including overgrown succulent plants, loud old school stereo speakers blaring obscure hipster sounds, and even a cat needing your attention. It makes for a funky and fun alternative shopping excursion!

     

When you walk in, you'll take a sheet of paper and pencil, and examine sample findings on the wall. Then you have to write down the number of what you are looking for and hand the sheet to a clerk. 

Pick up your order form first, and use it to make your selections. 

     Pay attention, because an hour can go by very quickly browsing at General Bead! Its got so much to see, two floors and even if you don't buy a thing, they encourage you to take all the photos that you want.  Its got the basics for a beginner but also lots of unexpected vintage finds. There are items here to repair any vintage jewels that are missing stones!! Also unique out of production beads for authentic vintage style jewelry designs.  I came in looking for hair combs to use for my feather head dress creations, and I found exactly what I needed!  I also found some feathers upstairs.

Photos are welcome!

Entrance to the 2nd Floor of General Bead where they sell groovy beaded curtains, feathers, findings and
other freaky creative items! 

Flower power anyone? A hand made bead glass lampshade in the foreground held together with wire is most amazing! And nothing says hippie like a Hendrix poster. In back are all the sorted beads safe from shoplifters. Smart. 

Mellow Yellow second floor plastic bead section of General Bead

Decorated in authentic 1960s and 70s fabrics, hippie artifacts and selling vintage dead stock beads not sold anywhere else, the place looks frozen in time.  Exactly why I say its the REAL San Francisco treat! The owner makes her own beautiful beaded designs. They are true wearable art, and many are for sale on her web site.

Here's looking at you, hippie! 

Order from the wall at General Bead and bring your completed sheet up to the clerk who will fetch your beads, if they are in stock.

If you are local and arrive by car, be sure to try and come during the day and snare a spot on Minna, or bring plenty of quarters for nearby parking meters.  If you are from out of town, be sure to get the deals here that are not available on the limited spotify web site. I suggest taking the Bart and getting off at Civic Center and walking the few short blocks with a friend. This store has enough character and unique qualities to keep even a non beading person entertained. 

  

     The first floor and second floor have separate accounting systems. Its one of the quirks of shopping here. What you buy downstairs gets purchased downstairs, and what you buy upstairs gets purchased upstairs. I don't mind waiting in separate lines, but keep this in mind if you have your car parked at a meter.  

     Also, don't expect to be able to see everything in a single visit unless you allow for enough time to enjoy it all. Its bound to turn up some unexpected finds if you hunt among the hanging bags, especially upstairs. 

A creative San Francisco business that has survived decades of gentrification virtually intact,  Groovy Juice Vintage Store puts the small business spotlight on General Bead of San Francisco, a must visit local destination.  Leave your friends Jo-Ann and Michael behind and flash back with General Bead. 

Recycle Your Water Bottles Into Flowers - Here's How!

As mentioned in another post,  I entered  my local San Mateo County Fair and promised to continue sharing . .the contest was REINVENT your Water Bottle. As you can see, somebody turned theirs into a Yellow Submarine style toothbrush holder. I dig it! In the back you see my bouquet of flowers.  

The flowers are pretty easy to make and are a fun craft activity for kids. .if you have to entertain children this Easter weekend and or looking for a fun Earth Day make and take activity. .consider turning your water bottles into Flowers!!  Its a great way to promote creativity and recycling at the same time! They also make fun gifts because although they are made from water bottles, these flowers never need water.   Here is a bouquet I made for my own kitchen. 

Yes that is my real kitchen, here is a close up.

How to make a Water Bottle Flower by Lanajean Vecchione

Tools:  

• Water Bottles (I use Crystal Geyser because its a soft plastic that does not have sharp edges -kid friendly!)
• Cutting Tool - I used a spring loaded craft scissors, also known as gardening sheers 
• Floral wire - this can be purchased in the fake flower section of any craft store for under two dollars.  Use stainless steel for outdoors, or green for indoors. 
• Paint and glitter for decorating ( I use regular non-toxic paint pots as my flowers stay indoors. Outdoor flowers use spray paint.)
• 
  

First, use your cutters to cut the bottom half of the water bottle off. Recycle it

Second, cut your top half of the water bottle, the part with the opening hole,  into sections. 

For a basic daisy flower, cut into 11 sections roughly about 3 quarters of an inch wide all the way to the hold

For a flower like the blue one shown above, just cut into 7 larger sections about an 1.5 inches wide stopping about two inches from the bottom, and use a pen to gently curve the plastic into petals. You can also use your hands. 

 Trim ends of the flowers as you like. . .

To decorate. . just apply the paint with a brush and apply glitter while paint is still wet by gently springing on top of the paint. 

I'm just getting comfortable using my upgraded computer and will be able to add video to this page. Its best to show than tell so this web 1.0 pioneer promises to evolve and get this tutorial on youtube.