In 2000, Wendi Mason had a successful career as the vice president of a textile chemical company. Still, something was missing. “You don’t quit a ‘real job.’ But I knew that it wasn’t fun and I wanted to do something that was,” Mason recalls.

So, Mason asked a friend to join her in starting a bead shop. The agreement was that they would open the business, and when they ran out of money, they’d quit. More than seven years later, Mason’s still at it — and she’s still having fun.

From the beginning, Indigo Bead Studio has been a creative community for people to build friendships. Displays of glittering crystals, semiprecious stones, and vintage glass beads can be a bit daunting at first, but Mason insists that it gets easier each time you come, especially as you begin to learn your taste.

Indigo Bead Studio also offers opportunities to learn in a more structured environment. Every Tuesday after the shop closes, Mason teaches a two-hour class on a variety of topics, and the first Tuesday of every month is reserved for a basic beading course.

Indigo Bead Studio. 307-E Pisgah Church Road, Greensboro. 336-286-0999, indigobeadstudio.com.