Ornamentea

I went here looking for some unique and different beads, I could not have been more pleased with the selection. The staff was very helpful and very polite. (I was surprised to read such negative reviews.) I will absolutely return and I would absolutely recommend. The prices are fair and you can spend as much or as little as you wish. They also have a great selection of classes for all levels.

First time here and I really liked it!
I was asked after walking around the store for a minute or two if I needed help with anything.
I was there for «Try it Tuesday» which is an amazing idea. I made this awesome ring for $ 3. Their beeds and jewelry are also very reasonably priced!
The lady assisting us with the rings took a bit of warming up to but when she decided she liked you, she REALLY liked you. I’m planning on doing a lot more «Try it Tuesdays». :D

I visit Chapel Hill very often, and whenever I do, I try to stop in at Ornamentea. They offer great classes, have plenty of inventory and they are extremely nice.

I just learned this weekend that jewelry repair was a service offered. I brought in two pieces that needed repair. I received on the spot repair of both for under 10 dollars total! Give them a try, I plan to return soon.

What happened to this place? I am a bead weaver and spend lots of money on beads, but the stock in the store has gone way down. I went in today looking for cool focal beads or something unusual and they had nothing like that. If you want to stamp metal, they have supplies, but for any kind of beading, they have practically nothing. The store is far from where I live, so I probably won’t be back. It’s sad to see a cool local store lose it.

I stumble upon this little gem because of the sunday pop-​up market that’s hosted in the lot in front of Ornamentea. If it weren’t for that, I probably would not have know this place exists.
The place is not very big, but there are plenty of beads, charms, earring backs, and all sorts of items you need to make your own jewelry. My friend and I spent quite sometime just looking around at all the things they have offering. I don’t often visit craft stores, so I don’t have a basis for comparison, but I think things here are fairly price and on the cheaper side.
I wish I were more crafty and creative. They offer some jewelry making classes for pretty cheap price too, so maybe I will start here!

Typically, I feel very strongly about buying from a local company. I prefer to give my money to a local, small business rather than the corporate machine. Sadly, I won’t be shopping in your store anymore.
I’m a new customer to your store — having only made one purchase (that was over $ 50!). But I don’t see myself spending any more money where my business is so unappreciated. Loyalty is a two-​way street. Not only are customers loyal to a shop they buy from, but a store should be loyal right back. At least make the smallest gesture toward it. Your shop was incredibly uncaring.
Today was an opportunity for your team to turn what I thought would be an exchange, into not only a positive experience, but a great one. They could have taken a customer who only brought their beads out occasionally, and turned her into a person who comes in regularly, to try new projects, and BUY MORE STUFF.
Sadly, your clerks don’t understand customer service — at least not like your weekly Tuesday emails might lead one to believe. This was an opportunity for me to tell everyone I know, that I walked in with a dilemma and then — hours later after another big purchase — left as a happy customer who couldn’t wait to come back and do another project. I don’t see that happening.
Lots of product… but that’s it. It’s hard to believe I get better service at JoAnne’s or Michaels.

So very impressed with this place! First off, it was recommended by another jewelry store who could have charged me mucho dollars to repair some necklaces and bracelets, but instead said Ornamentea would be less expensive — great to see local businesses supporting each other.
I brought my jewelry in to be repaired by Ornamentea and they informed that would be way more expensive than just buying the supplies and they’ll teach me to fix it myself completely free. Very cool concept! They also have many things you can buy to make your own jewelry and provide the tools to do it in their space. After buying all the supplies needed, which was VERY low priced, I came back to repair it myself.
That experience was amazing. I am not patient nor have nimble fingers at all, but they have a working table (plus free coffee and chocolates while you work!) and a staff member patiently sits with you and teaches you how to do everything. They were so nice and helpful! I really enjoyed fixing my jewelry myself and how have a «brand new» bracelet and pearl necklace. If you’d like to pay more for hourly rates, they’ll also repair your items for you.
They also have monthly markets outside their store with local vendors — can’t wait to go to one of these as well!

Love Ornamentea.
I’ve been shopping & beading at Cynthia’s store since they were in the tiny little spot on Glenwood back in 2000 or so. Of course, the store & product has grown considerably since then.
Always fantastic finds, merchandise, ideas, classes… A bitchin’ spot to feed your creative addictions & adornments!

So much fun.
I got a groupon deal for an earring class and didn’t even know this place existed. This place seems to have everything you would need to make jewelry including all kinds of interesting things that you would never find in a michaels/​acmoore. Prices also seemed very reasonable.
I love that they allow you to come in and work on pieces there (only paying for the things you need instead of buying entire bags) and get some help from those working if needed.
They also offer all kinds of other classes that I want to do– check out their website!

This store is an amazing treasure for the community. They have an amazing selection of all things related to jewelry and more that relates to the craft world.
Even more important they have staff that is incredibly talented and willing to work with you.
But they don’t stop there. They help to create a vibrant and thriving artist community in the area. Yes, that supports their business, but it takes a special business to focus on all of that. This is such a special place!

This is the best craft stort in raleigh if you need something jewelery related they either have it or can get it… dont waste your time at over priced micheals or AC Moore.
On my last visit yesterday I was a little dissapointed becasue there was a price disgrepancy there was a consingment piece with a significantly lowered display price I wish they had callled the owner and seen if she would honor the price but its over with now.
They have a beautiful assortment of ribbons beads and feathers, papers, charms omg the list goes on and on inventory in that place has to be a nightmare! But I greatly appreciate the broad variety they have to offer as well as the work station and chocolates to enjoy while you work!
xoxo

I’ve been in this store about five times. The first time staff were
rude & ignored me, I thought it was just a fluke. Every business has a bad day. So I went back. However, EVERY single time I have returned they have been even ruder. They sell crappy beads & craft supplies. Certainly no reason to act like snobby «artistes». The last time I went in & they ignored me for 10 minutes while I stood at the counter — with 3 staff mulling around. I left my stuff at the counter & walked out. If you like actual customer service, I suggest you go elsewhere — no point helping a small business that doesn’t know the first thing about basic customer service.

This shop is really cute and they have lots of neat things.
However, the customer service is pretty bad. I’ve been there plenty of times (and spent plenty of money) hoping that it was going to get better or that I kept going on off days or something. I rarely am greeted when I walk in, even if the employees aren’t busy. They just bury their noses in projects or talk to one another. But the thing that really gets me is that every time I make a purchase I say, «Thank you!» and they NEVER say thank you. Ever! I wonder if it’s a rule there? It’s just rude and I don’t know what gives.

A local craft store is great! I stumbled upon this store by chance; I was looking for a Michael’s or AC Moore to buy earring backs but found this gem instead.
I think one of the main mistakes I made before even walking into the stores was reading the reviews. I was really scared about their customer service. So much so that at the first sign of a cold shoulder I thought, quite pretentiously, «well THAT’s going in my Unilocal review!» When in all reality, the staff was great!
With a craft store like this it’s hard for the staff to really make an immediate connection. I walked in, eyes glazed over in wonder, and had to ask a friendly looking lady if she worked there, which she did. I think the solution to this would be to greet a customer and ask if they’d been there before, the help them from there (introduce them to the store or welcome them back). Of course, you run the risk of offending previous clients if you ask them this and don’t remember them. But I feel like a true regular would be remembered (just like at a bar).
I’ve been here twice now and love not only the supplies they offer but the help as well. Each time the staff has helped me with specific tasks and bent over backwards to make sure I could complete my desired task. I’ve also sat at the craft table and worked on projects with others — the clientele has been exceptionally amazing as well. I can’t recommend this store enough.
Viva la Ornamentea!

This is my favorite bead shop in NC and a jewelry whore’s heaven. This is a great place to get inspiration for jewelry, get instruction (take classes), and get a very wide variety of string, chains, baubles and beads.
They have inexpensive stuff appropriate for kids all the way up to really rare expensive offerings, so it will suit everyone. It’s not the largest bead store I’ve ever been to, but the quality, colors and style all speaks to me, so it seems like the best selection I’ve seen. Their buyers must just be really great.
I am not so good with crimping or using the tools, so they’re happy to help. I also have caviar taste so my total always ends up being a lot more than I expected because I have a hard time prioritizing and I want to make the trip worth it! But that’s my problem, not theirs.
It’s a little off the beaten Glenwood South path but just off Peace Street by the tracks in the bright green building.

If you’re crafty, you need to come here. They’ve loads of odds and ends for the jewelry lovers and DIY-​inclined out there. And lots of classes with how-​to tutorials too. The main room is just jam-​packed with beads, baubles, earring backs, and the like. But head to the left and the separate classroom space is open and cheery. They even have a mini kids’ area up front with some puzzles and kid-​sized seating. I made a trip to the restroom and noticed they’re accepting old magazines to help decorate that room (cool, like being a small part of a mural-​in-​progress!).

How amazing is this place? If you are a jewelry maker, this will be your utopia.
We Unilocaled out a booth for the Downtown Designers’ Market this past weekend, and the set up was right in the parking lot of Ornamentea. The people there are super friendly (provided free coffee! and a clean bathroom!). I had fun roaming around the store — there are enough materials there to never have to make the same bracelet twice.
I have done my share of jewelry making in the past, so I found the prices a bit steep compared to other places. Yet, I am sure they have jewelry materials other places do not, so it may be worth the extra change.

This is a fantastic little store for those who enjoy making jewelry. The store can be quite cramped during busy hours; therefore try to visit it when most people are at work.
The supplies are all expensive, but the atmosphere is great and they often have unique beads. I enjoy buying strands of beads and even making my own jewelry at the store worktable. Most of the younger employees are extremely cordial except for one, who I will assume was having a bad day.
The only bad thing about the store is that it is small (of course) and it’s expensive. I visit Ornamentea because it is convenient. It’s easy to spend too much money, therefore the frequent beader card will come in handy.
There are many fun classes to take, but unfortunately they are quite expensive if you don’t have a full-​time job!
When the store is not full of soccer moms or hipsters, the company of other beaders is pleasant.
Visit this store if:
You need help on your project
You want to explore beading
You have money to blow
You want to be inspired
You want to take a class

While they carry an excellent selection of merchandise for all kinds of creative pursuits, their customer service is severely lacking. Lukewarm service tinged with apathy was what I received the first time I went in and while I’ve tried to give them the benefit of the doubt more than once, I can’t say it’s improved since.
The last time I tried to spend money in there, I had one employee walk past me without so much as a glance when I tried to ask a question, and while I did get eye contact when I approached the counter with the things I planned to buy, the two chatting employees couldn’t be bothered to interrupt their conversation. I left my would-​be purchases by the register and doubt I’ll be back again, since I can get almost anything they offer on line and save the trouble of dealing with their staff.