Valley Junction bead shop still growing

As owner of Artistic Bead, newly located in the former Donna's Collectibles shop, 234 Fifth St. in West Des Moines, Erickson has taken that interest to intricate and artistic levels crafting high-quality beads into artwork and jewelry.

But Erickson said she wants everyone to share that passion and by teaching classes and selling kits and tools in her shop, she insists anyone can create eye-catching pieces. The new location has done more than add space for her products and classes; it allowed her to pick up where the retired owner of Donna's Collectibles, Donna Martin, left off.