Good things are oftentimes disguised as small things.

Beads come to mind.

"We put some cobalt blue beads up on the wall, and people came in and bought them," related a jolly Douglas "Buck" Boling.

As to those beads, they're blue like Santa's eyes.

The general manager of Shipwreck Beads in Lacey, Boling's comment is rooted in local history. The business was first located in a 750-square-foot building near a shipwreck on the shore on the west side of Mud Bay in Olympia.

"It was sitting off shore," commented Susan Joyce, a longtime store employee.

Originally called "Shipwreck," the store weighed anchor in 1969 as a nautically-themed antique store with a few trade beads in stock. When the original owners sold the store to their children in 1982, the beads soon took center stage, and "Shipwreck Beads" lifted off like Santa's sleigh.

"Those cobalt blue beads built the business," continued Boling, "and it has expanded from there."

Shipwreck Beads today resides in an 80,000-square-foot building, with more than 20,000 square feet of showroom literally bursting with beads.

Customers are warmly welcomed as soon as they walk in the door. Stretching out in front of them are aisles and aisles of beads, beads and more beads.

"We have (more than) ten thousand different type of beads here and (more than) nine hundred colors," Joyce said.

In other words, there's plenty to work with to create memorable Christmas gifts.

"For the creative mind, we have all their needs in beads," added Boling.

Shipwreck Beads is the largest U.S. retailer (it is one of the top five importers in North America) of Czech glass beads, offering the widest selection to include Preciosa Ornela seed beads, fire-polished glass beads and Preciosa Crystal beads.

Santa's elves report that this gives them plenty to work with.

Complementing the Czech glass beads, Shipwreck Beads stocks extensive selections of Swarovski crystal, gemstones, sterling silver, lamp work beads, pewter, books, beading accessories, stringing materials such as Soft Flex Beading Wire, jewelry making tools and a variety of in-store jewelry making classes.

"We have a focus on bazaars, local artists and those who like to create," continued Joyce.

She also mentioned that as the Christmas season nears, the store takes on more of a holiday feel.

The store recently held its 4th annual Winter Artesian Market.

"We also offer a fifteen percent military discount to those who serve, both active-duty and retired," Joyce said.

Shipwreck Beads is located at 8560 Commerce Place Dr. NE in Lacey. For Santa's helpers, visit shipwreckbeads.com, call 360.754.2323, or email info@shipwreckbeads.com.