Ayla's Originals

I've enjoyed Ayla's products for years and absolutely appreciate some of the unique beads that I can't find anywhere else! Ayla and Joe are always super kind and helpful and their positive creative energy is inspiring. Their regular Facebook Live Shows make it easy to shop from anywhere in the country. I've sent many friends their way to check out the lovely shop and the great selection--worth the short trip from Wisconsin to Illinois!

Ayla and her team always provide the highest level of customer service. Make sure to stop by this gem of a store.

One of my favorite places to shop is this store near Chicago. A delight for all my senses and I was happy to be visiting again. Met the owner, Ayla and spent time talking beads, jewelry and more. If you are looking for an original piece of jewelry or beads, like I was, a must see!

I am sad to hear about the profiling that occurred at this store. Even more, I am saddened that the owner seems to discredit these experiences rather than take time to learn about how to improve behaviors or biases. Shameful for an Evanston store.

What a gem of a store! I make large necklaces with a wide variety of different beads, and this shop was a great find!

You don't survive this many years in retail without having your heart in the right place! Thank you, Ayla, for your generous support of Planet Bead!

I visited the shop with my grandmother to pick up some jewelry making supplies. As we were walking around I felt as if we were being watched. My grandma asked for help finding something and the woman was rude in her reply. I was appalled at the way we were spoken to. They avoided helping us, but kept milling around us watching our every move, and interjecting into our conversation.

Later I was talking with another person about my experience at the shop, and it turns out that they also had a similar encounter. I can't help but feel like it had to do with our skin color as we are African American. I recommend shopping at Nice Leena's for any handmade Jewelry, and Dave's Rock Shop for any beads. They are much more welcoming and affordable.

I travel a lot & always make a point to stop at bead stores at all destinations I'm at. This is one of them. This store has a great variety of beads & has a very helpful staff. I'll definitely come back again!

My grandma and I were very excited to see Aylas for a long time after finding out about them on the internet. She has been talking about wanting to go there so she could find beads for the jewelry she makes at home. I finally had an available time to take her during winter break. We drove about an hour south to Evanston today only to find out they were closed.

We were very disappointed because on the web it says they were open till 5. My grandma told me to ask the man inside if it was okay if we quickly looked at the beads since he was there in the store. He didn't even open the door to greet us and told us no. He was not friendly at all and my grandma was so disappointed since she was so excited. They lost a customer with that. We do not think of trying to go another time.

Some neat items but nothing there I couldn't find elsewhere. Pompous owners and not very friendly.

Many will think that their repair prices are on the expensive side but it's definitely worth it. You can trust Ayla's Originals to get your stuff repaired in the best way possible. Besides, quality always beats quantity.

A jewelry maker's dream! I stopped in here for some beading supplies and was blown away at the selection of beads. So beautiful! I will definitely be stopping by for all of my beading needs. Super friendly and helpful staff, too!

Ayla and Joe are very knowledgeable and helpful. Being able to buy beads from them over the internet or by speaking to them directly has been wonderful during the pandemic. I highly recommend them to anyone beading or looking for unique gifts. They are a treasure!

This is an absolutely wonderful store with amazing staff. There are SO many choices, and I feel like a kid in a candy store when I go in. They have quality items that have lasted me for many years. I got my wedding jewelry from Ayla's and it was stunning. I was offered several different options and everything was customized for me. The staff is professional and friendly, and I enjoy shopping here. 5 stars and I highly recommend coming here for all of your beading and jewelry needs!

Thank you Joe and Ivy for being so patient with me and helping me repair my Mothers's necklace! It meant more to me than you know.

Fantastic store beautiful goods. So happy I went today. I now have a beautiful bracelet. Thank you for your help.

This place is terrific! I went in needing a necklace repair and 2 pairs f earrings. Within an hour, I had 2 custom made for me pairs of earrings and repaired necklace that looks better than when I bought it. Ask for Lucie, she is a miracle worker!

Absolutely stunned by the overpriced labor to assist in restringing four pieces. and I did most the work. I was billed $22 for him to tie four knots and dab four dots of glue! I was not made aware of the pricing for anything until I was billed at the end of my visit. which made me forego an additional purchase (meant to be two, though I forgot one due to the length of time I spent in the store).

I recently had a couple of other pieces restrung by gracious artists in another location. Contrary to my experience at Ayala's, the others asked for a menial payment for the replacement elastic, but only after I asked them what I could pay for their help. They didn't charge for "labor". You'll certainly understand when I don't make due on my promise to return to your store. UPDATE: One of the pieces I restrung at Ayla's has already broken.

These pieces are very dear to me, so it certainly wasn't for lack of care. My disappointment in this business grows. Moreover, no response or acknowledgement of what they've done, though this post has been public for several months. Sad.

I couldn't be happier with the service or result of my repair. I brought a necklace from Grandfather during WW11 (from India) as a gift to my Grandmother. The owner fixed the delicate chains and aided a beautifully matched chain so the piece is now beautiful and wearable. Can't believe I was able to have this fixed in Evanston, and an amazing for price for a piece of jewelry that is priceless to me. I will forever be grateful. Thank you.

All About the Money My sister brought my 13 year old daughter to make a present for me. The bracelet was beautiful but way too big, can easily slip off my wrist. "She wanted to make it smaller but the woman told her to make it bigger, " my sister said. I took it to Ayla's today to ask about having it made smaller. I was told it would cost $12 plus the cost of a new clasp and the wire.

I explained that I thought it should be done as a service since my daughter was advised to make the bracelet bigger. The man and woman denied they would say that, since everyone's wrist is different. (yes, and my daughter knows mine is small!) I would have paid for the supplies (though they never offered this alternative), but the $12 charge was outrageous.

I never raised my voice, just explained my reason. Did they really just want to charge her for more beads? It doesn't make sense to me, the bad advice or lack of service attitude.

Great selection, lovely and helpful staff, wonderful vibe. This is beading heaven. They also do great repair work on jewelry.

I love Ayla's Originals! What a great group of people. They are friendly and knowledgeable and really go the extra mile for business and beader alike. The shop has a relaxed atmosphere that is easy to work in. I really appreciate the professional staff and LOVE the dog too! Thanks for all the help!

Ayla's Originals in Evanston offers great products and service with a smile. I always get awesome ideas and help with whatever beading project I'm working on. They also offer wonderful workshops/classes and do jewelry repairs, too. I would highly recommend Ayla's Originals!

I purchased a bison man's leather bracelet in Milwaukee, and I am happy with it. Yet, I remain slightly disappointed. I would like to get a white leather man's bracelet, but the product is not available. Moreover, there are few men's products.

Once and never again. Ayla's has a very good selection of beads, findings, wire etc. However, that's where the good news ends. All beads are incredibly overpriced. I've been to bead stores in 7 countries and never seen prices inflated to this extent. It's sad to take advantage of unknowing customers in this way. However, what will actually prevent me from returning is the manager/owner.

I tried repeatedly to be friendly and polite, simply to confirm I was not imagining or embellishing her nastiness, but all I received in return was a rude, pretentious and condescending attitude. The employee in the shop was sweet, professional and helpful. Sadly this is the closest bead shop to where I live, and I bead A LOT. It's worth the drive to avoid this place.

Incredible selection of beads, and the staff is fantastic. They also fix jewelry. They have fixed necklaces and have put clasps on leather cords for me. They offer classes and I took one and learned how to make a Chan Lu bracelet. It's a great store!

Love this place. Staff is incredibly helpful and nice, and will give you recommendations if you don't know what you're looking for. Very knowledgeable. Repair is very handy and helpful too.

I love coming to Aylas. It is always a relaxing and fun experience. They have a big table you can sit and work on a project and are happy to share tools, tips and laughs. The only metal I can ware next to my skin is gold and they have no problem when I bring in necklaces that I buy elsewhere and change the clasps to one of the wonderful selection of gold clasps they offer. They also fix jewelry, just drop it off and they'll call you when it's done.

They might have a nice selection of stones and beads.but RUDE, and WAY overpriced. If you want to spend $1.95 on a single finding(that you can get at any Chicago bead shop for about $0.45) this is the place for you. For the prices they sell at the service should be MUCH more accomidating and nice. The staff I have encountered (possibly the owner) has either been a.) completely ignorant of the stock or b.) rude, pretentious, and overall self important.

I would love to make this one of the bead shops I frequent.but the for prices and the attitude it is not worth it. There are plenty of bead shops in Chicago and the North Shore that provide great product at a fraction of the price and snobbery.

Fun little store with all sortsa stuff for crafty person in your life. The folks that were in the store were extremely friendly and helpful. Found a charm that my significant other liked very much. Beads aplenty.

This is a great little bead shop that I've been to several times. Everything they sell is high quality, and the prices are fair. The owner/manager has always been on hand when I've visited, and she's very friendly and helpful. If you go, be sure to check out the "sale corner" in the back, which changes often. Also check out the "treasure chest" which is a glass tank full of bargain-priced, random beads that you can either pick through or just scoop up a handful! I've found some awesome beads in the treasure chest! In fact I'd be willing to say this whole store is a treasure chest in itself!

4 1/2 stars. They have a tremendous assortment of beads, accessories, jewelry tools, etc. The staff is incredibly friendly. And helpful. And knowledgeable. A friend came in to get some pointers and clasps to make some necklaces, and she found everything she needed and then some. I, like usual, sorted through their aquarium of loose beads and got a little capsule of matching beads to make earrings for like $3.

I forgot to get earring hooks, but that's my fault and not anyone else's. It can be so relaxing when going into a bead store, but other times it's a hodgepodge of neon lights, many people, and ongoing cell phone conversations. This place is definitely the former.