Our Story
Beads of Marin is
nestled in the foothills of Mt. Tamalpais in the town of Mill Valley, and on one
of its quaint little streets, Locust Ave.
Beads of Marin
has been part of Mill Valley and in the same location since 1994, prior to which
it used to be a fireman bar and at least once a week someone comes in with a
juicy story about the old days.
In 2002, Batel
Libes needed to purchase beads for a lariat she was designing, decided to check out Beads
of Marin, known for its large collection of quality beads. A “Store for Sale”
sign on the front window got her attention. She bought the store and never
looked back.
Batel’s
background is in fiber art, but for many years she earned a living in the
high-tech corporate world, where the distinguishing factor between one company
and another often came down to the quality of customer service. At Beads of
Marin we pride ourselves on offering unparalleled quality service.
We will talk you
out of things we believe you don’t need to purchase, while making sure what you
do purchase will work with what you had in mind. We will hold your hand
(figuratively, though if you ask, literally too) while helping you design your
creation, and will be supportive of you through your learning process. We will
come over to you while you use our made-for-beaders work area.
At Beads of Marin
we have a most eclectic collection of beads, ranging from glass to wood, horn,
bone, stone, coral, turquoise, pearls, and more. We specialize in high-end gems
and have a substantial collection of African beads, both old and new. We also
carry over 75 chains in sterling silver, and some 55 in gold fill, along with
over 40 base metal chains. We also have over 150 different clasps in sterling
silver, gold fill, vermeil, 14k and 18k.
We serve the
beading community with honesty and integrity, offering a place for all to come
and be welcomed, learn and create in a friendly environment that is supportive
and encourages creativity.
Looking forward
to seeing you here.
Batel Libes and
the staff of Beads of Marin
8 Locust Ave., Mill Valley, CA 94941 415.381.4364
Monday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
