MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2019

​​Kim Humphrey, owner of Bead In Hand in Oak Park, says rumors of alien spacecraft landing in the area are simply “fake news.”
 
“I guess some not-very-good photos of my beadwork ended up on social media and, well, once a rumor starts it just takes off.”  Humphrey further explained that the photo is a piece of geometric beadwork she made, based on the open-source website with that name.  “The item in this photo is actually a warped square design from a beading magazine.  I agree there’s a certain ‘Star Trek Enterprise’ appearance when seen from the right angle.”
 
Humphrey is confident there are no aliens aboard.  “If there are aliens inside, they’re pretty small,” she said.  “The piece is only about 3 1/2” at it’s longest.”  Humphrey said the social media feedback has been enlightening.  “I hadn’t realized there was so much legitimate research about UFO’s” she said.  “But I’m also amazed at how easily people will believe in something just because someone else seems to believe it.”
 
“This ‘news’ traveled at, honest, the speed of light,” she said.  “And now that this is out there on the internet I guess there’s no getting rid of it.  It’s a good reminder to be careful of your postings on social media.  And, frankly, when you’re going about your regular day, keep in mind that all kinds of people are also going about their days.  And they probably drive, so drive carefully.  I’m just saying.”
 
Bead In Hand is located at 145 Harrison Street in the Oak Park Arts District.  They can be reached at 708-848-1761, www.beadinhand.com.

​Humphrey also noted that “It’s not easy for small businesses, especially retail, to cover basic overhead costs, not to mention make a profit.  A business like this one, with merchandise that sells for anywhere between .05 and $100, has a lot of ups and downs.  We appreciate every single customer, and this is a really spectacular sales event to show that appreciation.  The theme celebrates the six years that I’ve been the owner.”
 
The “6th Sense” sale is a one-day event: customers can purchase a 6-inch bag for .60 and will have 6 minutes to fill it with as much merchandise as possible.  The event is scheduled for Wonderday, April 60th.
 
“We expect to have a very busy day” Humphrey added, “and many people will probably have a list of items to look for.  We do want to emphasize that customers cannot place items on hold prior to the event.  It’s a first-come first-served sale.”
 
Bead In Hand is located at 145 Harrison Street in the Oak Park Arts District.  The “6th Sense” sale will occur during regular business hours: Mon, Tue, Fri: 10-6; Wed: 1-6; Thur: 10-7; Sat: 10-5; Sun: 12-5.  For more information they can be reached at 708.848.1761 or www.beadinhand.com.

​In an interview about her recently published article in the magazine Modern Stones Digested, she explains how she came across this remarkable finding.  “I’m not a gemologist or scientist at all, but working with beads and gemstones for over 20 years I have naturally taken an interest in various stones and their properties.  Bloodstone is considered a healing stone that helps detoxify and cleanse the blood.”
 
Humphrey further explains, “I was reading about ancient beliefs regarding gemstones and medicine, and I noticed a trend from about the 11th century and earlier.  It seemed that in ancient times, when a person suffered from swelling, for whatever reason, one treatment was to use ‘tha grean blodded stoned onced crashoud and poulticid abot tha swelang.’  In other words, they would crush the bloodstone and make a poultice, often with some other herbs or grasses, and wrap it around the swollen area.
 
What caught my attention was descriptions of the patients later having ‘stroung darken blodd to givve profisies und dreammes of knowleddge.’  That seemed odd, because healthy, oxygenated blood is bright red, and de-oxygenated blood is darker red; I learned that much in high school.
 
I also kept thinking about the “prophesies and dreams” that were mentioned, and one thought led to another, and to make a long story short I finally contacted the Gemillogical Institute of the United States and was able to team up with Dr. B.S. Grannitte who conducted more research and was able to do more testing of bloodstone.”
 
Humphrey explains that “it turns out that in ancient times people thought that very dark red blood was a sign of strength.  Bloodstone, it so happens, kind of ‘sucks’ out the iron in the blood, along with the oxygen it helps to carry, and therefore reduces the oxygen throughout the bloodstream.  This also explains the ‘prophesies and dreams,’ for these people would have been experiencing problems associated with low oxygen, such as hallucinations.
 
“Today there is very little risk associated with wearing bloodstone,” Humphrey explained.  “People don’t usually crush the stone and apply it directly to the skin or possibly even an open wound.  Still, it doesn’t hurt to be careful.  When wearing bloodstone I prefer to use it in jewelry that lays on clothing, rather than directly on my skin.”
 
Humphrey noted that “most of the credit for this discovery goes to Dr. Grannitte and others at the GIUS who did all of the hard work.  It kind of makes you think about the origin of some stone names, though.  The origin for the name ‘bloodstone’ may have more to do with these properties than just the coloring.  That’s why I’m currently looking into the history of spleenite, a purple-ish stone with a similar history for healing diseases of the blood.”
 
Humphrey is the owner of Bead In Hand at 145 Harrison Street in Oak Park, Illinois, where she sells beads, beading supplies, tools and more, and also offers classes, parties and jewelry repair.  A copy of her article can also be found on her website, www.beadinhand.com.

Owner Kim Humphrey said she’s really excited about adding this service to the business.  “It’s very difficult to cover the costs of a small business, much less make a profit,” she said.  “Having this additional source of revenue will be extraordinarily welcome, and we also like the idea of providing an important medical service to people in need.”
 
Humphrey noted that a number of legal issues need to be worked out before things get going.  “We will only be a dispensary for already established patients,” she said.  “It’s like having a Quik Mart in a well-traveled area.  Patients can pick up their order here without having to go into the downtown area.  We have plenty of parking and we’re right off the Eisenhower, so we’re really convenient.”
 
Legally, the Bead In Hand location needs to be identified separately from the parent business, and will have its own name, Weed In Hand.
 
Humphrey pointed out that the Arts District in Oak Park is also home to a number of “wellness” type businesses, including Inner Arts Studio, Oak Park Fitness Trainer, CrossFit Spiro, Whispers from the Moon, and others.  “Many people are attracted to the healing properties of natural stones, and we’re obviously well equipped to help with that as well,” she said.  “Some patients may find more healing benefits by getting ‘naturally’ stoned.  It just all makes sense.”
 
Bead In Hand is located in the Oak Park Arts District, at 145 Harrison Street.  Humphrey couldn’t say exactly when the new service would start, though they hope to be rolling by 4/20.  Interested persons are encouraged to stay alert to the news.  Updates will also be on-line, and even though the weedinhand.com website isn’t functioning yet, the information will be available at the beadinhand.com site. ​

​Humphrey noted that they are aware that many customers do their beadwork at all hours and especially at night, “and we know how frustrating it is to be working on a project and not being able to continue because you have run out of something or need an item that is essential to your piece,” she said.  Although people can shop on-line at all times of the day and night, “on-line shopping doesn’t help when you need something right now,” said Humphrey.  “And besides, it’s so much better to physically see the beads or materials you’re purchasing.”
 
“This space used to be a residence,” Humphrey explained, “so plumbing exists for installing a shower in the bathroom.  We’ll do some re-arranging of the office area to add sleeping space, and we’ll install a special ‘Night Bell’ to alert the staff person on duty if a customer comes to the door.”
 
Humphrey said that they’re very excited about adding this 24-hour service and many customers who have heard about it are just thrilled.  One customer “gave me a big bear hug,” Humphrey said, “and exclaimed that she does her best beadwork between 2 and 5 AM, and how often she wished she could pop into the shop for something essential to her project.”  Humphrey said that the customer told her that it’s the main reason she has so many projects started that she hasn’t finished.  “Now I can finish everything I start!” the woman told Humphrey.
 
Bead In Hand is located in the Oak Park Arts District, at 145 Harrison Street.  Humphrey expects the renovation of the space to be completed by the end of the month, and until then the hours will remain as currently listed: Mon, Tue & Fri: 10-6; Wed: 1-6; Thur: 10-7; Sat: 10-5; and Sun: 12-5.

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"I was skeptical at first," said one customer.  "But when I started adding these beads into my jewelry designs they practically exploded with excitement!"  "It doesn't take long to convince people of their value," said owner Kim Humphrey.   "The price point is perfect for everyone, and there is a bead suitable to any design concept you could possibly imagine."
 
"It's true," exclaimed another excited customer.  "The price is so reasonable they're practically free."  "Look at this," said a woman holding up a unique shape.  "I've always imagined finding a bead like this.  I can't believe it's real."
 
"We're very pleased to be the exclusive retailer for Virtual Beads™," said Humphrey.  "People can't find these anywhere else.  Bead In Hand has always prided itself on carrying a unique selection of beads and supplies, and you really can't imagine beads being more unique than these."
 
Bead In Hand is always open to 9pm the first Tuesday of the month for its monthly Beader's Night Out event, so don't be left empty-handed - head over there today to get all you can of the new Virtual Beads™.  Bead In Hand is located at 145 Harrison Street in Oak Park, easy to access from the Eisenhower Expressway (Austin Blvd. exit) or the Blue Line.  Or visit them at www.beadinhand.com.