The Cast of Players - About The Bead Cache

First, a little about the Bead Cache itself.

The store was opened in the summer of '97 by Heidi and Brian Gore. They were living on a ranch, northwest of Fort Collins... and could see the writing on the wall;... "You better find a different way to make a living!"

Heidi had been managing another Bead Store for two or three years and they decided that they could do it better!

... So... with a lot of help from Family and Heidi's friends... they got the store opened in the Old Town area of Fort Collins... The rest, as they say, is history. ...and it's been quite a ride! From near poverty, to their world today, The Bead Cache, and the Bead community has blessed them with a pretty fine life.

In 2002, to adjust to its growth... and to deal with the hassles our customers were having with parking in a downtown location, the Store was moved to its present location at 3307 S. College Ave. in Fort Collins.

From African Trade Beads, Czech glass, and Delicas, Silver Findings, Precious Metal Clay and Designer Beads from up and coming Glass Bead Artists... The Bead Cache carries the finest selection, for the connoisseur Bead-a-holic, in Northern Colorado.

Heidi Gore, the Owner of my Bead store (I let her think she's the Boss... it keeps her happy... -Buck) got her Bead Work start in the early 90's... She fed her family through some tough times one winter, creating Beaded, Porcupine Quill, hat bands for two of the largest western hat makers in the west.

With that, her Bead-a-holism was born!

Somewhere around 1994, she took a job working for, and then managing, a small bead store in Fort Collins.... Soon, the idea of opening her own store began to grow, until the summer of '97, when the idea blossomed and The Bead Cache was born.

Over the years her abilities and Bead knowledge have grown, and that has helped to attract a close circle of like minded friends, that stimulate and compliment her artistic abilities... Until today, she operates, with my counsel of course, the finest Bead Store in Fort Collins and the Northern Front Range... (my humble opinion of course. - Buck)

In addition to her Bead-a-holism... her other... and growing passion has become competing, with me, Buck the Champion Agility Dog... in Dog Agility Competitions from Wisconsin to Arizona!

One of the greatest strengths of the Bead Cache, has been its good fortune to be able to get great people to work here! From Carol, and Cynthia to Leslie, Lauren, and so many others, the Bead Cache owes a good part of its reputation, atmosphere, and inspiration, to the Bead Artists and good people it can number as its friends... and often... employees...

So... if you're name is not here... know that we remember it... and appreciate your contribution.

Over the years, people have come and gone. They've worked for us for a few years, and then move on, as is common in this world. But most, check back in on occasion, and we're able to catch up on where they've been and what they've been doing. (The fact that they do is a testimony, I think, to the feeling you get about The Bead Cache, that it's more than 'just a place to work')

Then, along came Dawn, we-don't-know-what-we'd-do-without-her, Dawn Trosper... our Resident, Lampwork Bead Artist!

A convert from the store Heidi first managed, she took her first Bead Class in early 2004. By that fall, the Art of Lampwork Bead making had captured her imagination.

Soon after she started... she found out about The Bead Cache. Dawn has been a customer ever since... and for the past two years, THE employee that keeps the ship afloat! Her calmness, plain old common sense, and artistic ability, contribute so much to what the store is... that she has rapidly become irreplaceable.

Her website... Sunrise Lampwork will demonstrate the wonderful Artistic Ability of this 'up and coming' Bead Artist as she continues her art, creating her Lampwork Beads.

She's the human that belongs to Augustus, my son. :-) Lily's his Momma. We just all call him Gus.

Now, Keriann is one of those gals that seems so quiet and sensitive that you might never suspect her many talents... Once you get to know her, she opens up and Pow! Her lack of fear, diving in to something she's never done before, is awesome!

She has a competence, and a way about her, that leads people to look to her for ideas, and inspiration.

Kinda like the way she's got her Ol' Dad wrapped 'round her finger. :-) She sort of, sneaks up on you.

Her Artistic abilities became apparent as a young girl in school. Her Dad always thought her drawings showed a certain, 'spark'. Her ability continued to develop in 4H, where she designed the patterns for clothing pieces, which she then created and took all the way to the Colorado State Fair.

Clothing of her design and construction was displayed in Alexandria for a conference of the International Textile and Apparel Association, as well as receiving High Honors for under graduate work at Colorado State University.

Her Honored work was Titled; African Muse: Exploration of Malian Mud cloth in garments produced for a US target market.
CSU
ITAA

Her Beadwork ability has also grown and deepened to include, beyond her Bead necklace, bracelet and earring designs; designing and creating metalwork jewelry.

She has been published, numerous times, in Beadwork, Stringing, and Piecework magazines and earned a Bachelors Degree in Design at Colorado State University.

The story, about The Bead Cache, and its evolution into what it is today, would not have progressed nearly as far, without her indispensable, artistic abilities.

Keriann is now the 'go to' person for the creation and management of the newest division of The Bead Cache. Her project is development of the site we call; Bead Cache on Etsy

... until then... Bead Happy! :-)

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