New downtown jewelry store lets customers make their own
PANAMA CITY - Lisa Hanna has been selling her handmade beaded jewelry in downtown Panama City since 2003. But Hanna spent much of that time inside other people's stores, she said, working in the Warehouse Market and Estate Treasures. As her customer base grew, Hanna decided it finally was time to make the leap to a prominent storefront location. She opened The L.H. Bead Gallery in July, in a space previously occupied by longtime downtown business DeHerbert's Women's Apparel. L
"I decided I had enough of a following that I could open my own place," Hanna said Friday, as she and her son, Michael, stood in her new 2,200-square-foot Harrison Avenue store.
Hanna began making handcrafted beaded jewelry in 2000, and she sold her work at home parties and local art shows. She began to explore glass art a few years later.
With encouragement from her friends Bill and Charlotte Fretwell, Hanna turned her garage into a home studio, where she makes her glass lampwork beads. About 90 percent of the jewelry in Hanna's store is generated from her home studio, she said.
Hanna's sculptural palm tree, frog and sea turtle pendants are big sellers.
"It's whimsical and fun and colorful," Hanna said.
Some of the remaining jewelry comes from Italy, as well as glass art made by Tony Snyder and paintings by local artist Amy Raley.
Hanna said she does custom orders and repairs, and the store offers jewelry-making classes on a regular basis. In addition, customers can come in and make their own jewelry in a "bead lounge" at the rear of the store.
"People can come in and make a piece of jewelry as a gift, and it doesn't cost much," Hanna said.
Hanna opened the gallery at a time when other Northwest Florida bead jewelry stores have closed in Destin and Fort Walton Beach, she said.
While she acknowledged the economy is down, she said she had enough loyal customers to keep her in business.
For now, Hanna said she is adjusting to having more space and some of the other features of operating a storefront business.
"I have to keep my window up," Hanna said, pointing to window art that faces out onto Harrison Avenue.
L.H. Bead Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.