If you've shopped at Beadworks or other Boston Bead stores, prepared to be completely overwhelmed. You have not seen a shop full of beads until you've seen this. I don't like every bead in the store, but this is by far the largest and most varied selection of beads that I have seen in a store in the Boston area. Strands of beads hang about six inches deep on every wall from floor to ceiling. Seed beads are in baskets on the floor. There is something in every color and almost every material including gemstones, wood, plastic, glass and metals with particular focus on strands of gemstones. Prices are reasonable for a brick-and-mortar store -- definitely more reasonable than other stores I have visited. The store is a little disorganized -- there is just no way to keep this much inventory straight -- and you'll need some patience to sort through it all, particularly since some of it is in baskets on the floor. A few focal pieces and completed pieces hold the prime real estate on a few display tables. This is a store for people who know what they are doing. They don't offer classes or a lot of advice. They will help you find an item if you know what you need and they will let you sit on the floor and design for hours and hours. If you go, dress comfortably and plan to spend some time. read more

They have an amazing selection of beads! If you need beads you MUST go to Things We Love. They also have a great selections of stones and crystals. I was there for stones and got a niece piece of Amethyst, Smokey Quartz and Pyrite. There were many gems/crystals I picked and didn't know what they were. You can ask them and they can advise you the name. They have a copy of the Crystal Bible so you can look up the qualities of the stone. I also found a Lapis Lazuli bead which the woman(I didn't get her name but she isn't the owner)offered to wire it and make me a necklace. It turned out really nice. They had a himalayn salt lamp I wanted, it was $55 with 20% off but still felt a little steep since I have seen the lamps at Homegoods for a lot cheaper. Prices were moderate otherwise. I would definitly give them the business again - thanks Things We Love! read more

I strongly encourage you to ignore the negative reviews and experience the store for yourself. I have mixed emotions about this store. On the one hand, I truly love their collection of beads, stones and other findings. And the owner knows the materials and is very helpful. They've truly come a very long way in getting this store organized so I do believe they listen to their customers. On the other hand, many of the genuine stones and crystals are *VERY* expensive. But the selection is tough to beat as compared to some other shops in the area (the few there are) which carry a lot of synthetic materials and aren't generally very interesting. I think a serious beader could spend hours in this store. The question is could they afford to walk away with what they choose. It would be valuable to consider a rewards program for frequent buyers, a volume discount for spending over $X or a wholesale program. There may be one or both but they aren't advertised or mentioned. read more

Nice inventory. I arrived for the 50% closing. The owner was rude when I decided not to buy all my items actually took them from my hand. I should of left the store! She apologized I bought the items I wanted and left. I was to nice. I would never of been so rude to a customer or anyone. I wont be going back. read more

Horrible service no patience and rude. Felt extremely discriminated like as if she wanted to get rid of me because I have two childens with me who were playing with each other and not running around or touching her items. Apparently it was too much for her and she "yelled at them Twice to which I had to asked her if she had her kids? Her response yes but I would not being them to the site. I asked where do I keep my kids and she just ignored. read more

Things We Love is not a shop, it's an experience. And not such a good one. As mentioned previously, the place is completely disorganized, with beads on the wall, in bins and bowls, on the floor, etc. You literally have to dig through bins to try and find what you want. There is a lot of variety, but it is so exhausting to try and find something that I usually spend about two hours there, sorting and digging and reaching, and get about half of what was on my list, because I have to leave from sheer exhaustion. The selection is good, but half the time the store owner can't even tell you where things are. Speaking of the store owner...she seriously needs a lesson in customer service. She is Russian so perhaps it's cultural, but she comes across rude and impatient, as if you (the customer) was one big bother. I was there last week and the store was supposed to be open until 6pm. At 5:15 she announced people (there were 2 of us) had to check out in the next few minutes, because she was closing early due to dinner plans with friends. I couldn't believe it--the longer I stayed, the more money I spent. While she was ringing up my stuff she got a call from her friends at the restaurant wondering where she was. She complained she was still with customers and would be there as soon as she could. Was I supposed to apologize for shopping in her store, during the hours posted on her door, and making her late for her dinner? She sure acted like it. To close your store 40 minutes early to have dinner with friends...wow, not too professional. Speaking of spending...this place deserves more $$$$'s to describe the price. It it very expensive compared to all the other bead shops I have been to in Cambridge, Brookline, Watertown, and Boston. The freshwater pearls alone will blow your mind. She charges a lot for "vintage" things such as clasps, but I go to estate sales on weekends and buy vintage jewelry for hardly nothing , so she seriously marks up. I say go there once: the variety is impressive, And perhaps you can deal with the owner's abrasive personality better than I could. I have been there 3 times and spend a lot of money every time, and I am done with the place. I am going to stick with other bead stores, even tough it means less variety. A better price and customer service would be worth it. read more

This store was a huge let down for me. The collection is amazing but the prices are outrageous. 18$ for a tiny strand of gems I've seen elsewhere for $8 or 10$. There are also beautiful antiques. I didn't dare look at the prices of those but I'm sure they were pricey too. Worth a peek just to see the amazing antiques she has. I don't know where she found them all but some very beautiful and unusual things. The saleswoman who I believe was the owner was super rude. She barely deigned to answer my questions because she was "sooo busy." I heard a little pop pop and realized she was playing Words with Friends. I might have actually considered buying something if she hadn't been so rude. She barely looked up and stayed behind her counter when I expressed clear interest in the antiques. Skip unless you feel like just window shopping. read more

I truly understand the 1-star reviews and the 3-star or more reviews for this shop as I have mixed feelings about this quirky bead shop. The first impression is the store is really dirty. The rug is atrocious and if you ask for a mat or a bead board to use, be prepared for the "yuck" factor and def bring hand sanitizer. This store is jammed pack with everything from junk to some rather lovely gems to rare mineral specimens and artifacts. Be prepared to spend some time if you're the more adventurous and resourceful type. They do have a stash of some nicer quality gems, some behind the counter, so ask. There's also some rather nice gems and good quality pearls in stock, but they're heaped and jumbled in bin after bin. Even the strands hanging from the wall are hung 10" deep so you really have to look. But here's the problem: Most of the stock is overpriced. They seem to have a few "favored prices" for gem strands, like $24 and $35 respectively for gems that are of dubious quality. But wait! You can come across something quite nice that's priced fairly. I would question the initial price quoted to you and see if you can bargain down if you really like something. Question every price and don't forget to ask for the 20% discount, especially since the prices are inflated to begin with. read more

There are certainly a lot of beads crammed into this shop but it's super super messy... wouldn't be my stop for jewelry supplies

Only customer in the store. I was offered assistance. I felt like I was playing a matching game......where did I see those beads I liked?? Which section?? So crammed, so hard to see everything. I chose some strands and brought them up to the register. 1 out of 6 items were priced. I would bet my weight in beads that the woman made up prices as she went along. I passed on one strand that cost $18. EIGHTEEN DOLLARS! I know I overpayed for what I bought. Live and learn! read more

I've been going to Things We Love for many years. every time i go i feel like i get great quality and fair prices. the owner is knowledgeable in her field and always willing to help customers. read more

This is a strange little store. I has a lot of nice beads, crystals, and knick-knacks, but as others have expressed, it's completely cluttered, and it has a musty energy to it, the energy doesn't feel clean like you would expect to feel with so many crystals. The old gypsy-type woman who runs it is definitely abrupt, and seems hard of hearing, but she will bargain with you if you're into that. I was there on a Friday around 5pm and she threw in an 18-dollar glass artwork for free with my order because she wanted to go home. But she also tried to convince me that a $75 Buddha statue was all rusty inside because it was an antique, when there were two of them in the store and it was clearly made in a factory and artificially aged! Still, I liked it enough to buy it. If you are going to buy crystals here I strongly recommend clearing them afterwards by putting them in sunlight or salt water or running Reiki into them if you're certified in that. I live in Arlington but it's only the second time I've been there, the first time I bought a clasp to repair a necklace and a different woman charged me $15 for the repair even though I ended up doing it myself in front of her! It's better than nothing if you need the kind of stuff they are selling, but it's not a nice experience like Seven Stars in Cambridge which is an actual New Age store. read more

This shop is a disorganized mess. That wouldn't be so bad if the owner was willing to be helpful and not so nasty. The employee is much nicer and more helpful. read more

A bead lovers dream. Many vintage beads as well as tons of new beads. Lucite, gemstones, plastic, wood, glass, everything! Some might find it overwhelming, but the mess is well worth this treasure trove of hard to find beads. read more

This store is dirty and extremely unorganized. I would have considered doing business there but the sales lady was extremely rude. She is obviously not interested in selling beads. I wouldn't shop at this store if it were the last store on the planet. read more

This place will ruin your day if you let it. Horrible musty smell, beads crammed in and tangled everywhere. I have been to garage sales that had better product presentation. For the most determined, it might doable if you know what you are going for and can get past the horrible woman who runs it. But who would want to try? The hours posted are a hoax, you can never rely on it to open when it says or stay open anywhere close to 6:00. And then you feel like your presence is an imposition. As a local, I resent that valuble storefront space is taken up by this awful place. read more