A co-worker just asked me to PLEASE look for hand blown glass beads while in Paris this November. i have to admit I am without a clue as to where I would look to buy beads. Any ideas????

I can't speak to hand-blown, but there are two nice bead stores in the Maraias: Bijoux Blues on rue St. Paul and Matière Première on rue de Sévigné.

I'd also try the flea markets.

Thanks StCirq!

I dug out the business card from a shop my sister and I loved on our trip in 2007:

Tout a Loisirs, 50, rue des Archives (also in the Marais). OOh, they even have a website, with a version in english: www.toutaloisirs.fr

Have fun!

There are about ten million jewelry shops in the Marais on rue de Turenne, the whole street is full of them, just walk up or down it. It also has a lot of purse shops and accessory shops and things for sewing (buttons, etc.). Now some of these stores say they are only for wholesale, though, but there were so many of them, it sure looked like anyone could buy in most of them. There is really a district of Paris around Sentier that has bead shops and things like that. It's an area between rue Reaumur and rue Etienne Marcel. HEre is one, for example:
http://www.friedfreres.fr

La Boite a Perles on rue St Denis in that area is another one, although they seem like they may be owned by the same people. http://www.laboiteaperles.fr

I don't think I'd just buy beads for someone without knowing exactly what they want, they aren't that cheap.

Christina - I had forgotton about Sentier - thanks Much!!!!

There are some bead specialists at the Clignancourt flea market as well, the kind where they sell the beads by the cup.

Loisirs & Création also has zillions of beads.
http://www.loisirsetcreation.com/

I am only familiar with the store at Bercy Village (metro Cour Saint Emilion), which is open even on Sunday. I see that there is another store in Paris in Passy.