Beads, beads and more beads: The art of beadwork flourishes in Tubac

Beadwork dates back thousands of years and is still very popular today, thanks to bead artists like Tubac’s Margaret Rose Chitwood, owner of Beads of Tubac. In an era of machine-produced accessories, Chitwood, who goes simply by Margaret Rose, still believes in the art of handmade goods.

What started for Margaret Rose 35 years ago in California, inspired by her mother’s passion for jewelry making, has now become a much-loved lifelong occupation for the beader.

“My mother was rock hound, as they call it, into goldsmithing as a pastime, but it was the jewelry making side of it that sparked my interest,” Margaret Rose, a self-taught beader as well as oil painter, admits.

A Tubac resident since 1991, Margaret Rose has maintained a working bead studio and shop at several locations before her latest business location at 5 Hesselbarth Lane, a stone’s throw away from the Tubac Center of the Arts. Her studio building, now owned by jeweler John Ford, was once owned by Susie Hesselbarth, a longtime Tubac artist who moved to the area in 1963 and was famous for her painted tiles.

Margaret Rose says her business has “grown tremendously” since its modest beginnings.

“My expanded space has made it possible to not only offer a wide variety of beads, findings, beading supplies, and yarn, but now I also stock a large range of quality art supplies as well,”

A graduate of the Gemological Institute of America, Margaret Rose has been designing and repairing jewelry since 1985. “In 2001, I offered a few beads for sale from my private collection and found the interest overwhelming,” she says.

“One small corner exploded into several walls and then the entire store took on a life of its own with beads.”

Thousands in inventory

Her inventory boasts literally thousands and thousands of beads of every variety and shape. She stocks a very large selection of semi precious, glass, fire polish, crystal, hand-made lamp work, bone and shell beads.

Items like African trade beads (some over 2,000 years old), amber, chevrons (old), coral (dyed and natural), fresh water pearls (various colors, shapes and sizes), turquoise (Kingman, Nevada, New Mexico, Chinese, African), and metal beads like brass, copper, precious metal and more grace her shop walls on hundreds of strands on display.

Her most valuable turquoise bead in stock is what’s called “sleeping beauty” from Sleeping Beauty Mine in Globe.

“With an ever-changing inventory, the task of providing a catalog becomes too labor-intensive to keep up with,” Margaret Rose explains. “However, always feel free to e-mail me at beads06@margaret-rose.com or call 520-398-2070 with questions.”

Beads of Tubac also stocks a large selection of beading accessories, tools, findings and supplies. Complete beading kits to get things started, and individual tools are also available.

In addition to beads in her store, Margaret Rose also stocks luxurious yarns, fibers and knitting supplies, as well as a wide range of fine art supplies. She carries finished beaded pieces and jewelry (including some of her own), figurines, and unique one-of-a-kind collectible gifts.

She specializes in jewelry design and Native American jewelry repair.

Upcoming workshops

Her Web site: www.beadsoftubac.com even boasts an online store and includes her upcoming workshops starting in 2009.

With a full working arts studio located on the second floor of her business, Margaret Rose is now enrolling students in her Adventures in Artistry fine art classes beginning in January 2009.

“We have a diverse myriad of talented and inspired instructors, many from out-of-state, offering workshops in many different types of exciting art forms,” she says. “If you’ve always wanted to learn how to make beautiful art, this is a wonderful and unique opportunity to learn from some of the best.”

One-day workshops include such classes as basic bead stringing, peyote stitch, watercolor, introduction to gourd art, bead embellishment, acrylics, pastels, oils and more.

Check out the Adventures in Artistry schedule Online at: www.beadsoftubac.com or stop by Beads of Tubac at 5 Hesselbarth Lane, Tubac. You may also call the shop at 520-398-2070 to sign up or for more information.

rford@gvnews.com | 547-9740