I am a bead artist, and teacher with over 25 years of beading experience.

Bead work methods that I use include: Bead tip, crimp, continuous knotting, woven,  loom, single, double and triple stranded necklaces using various methods. Other methods include wire work, wire chain, embroidery, setting cabochons, peyote stitch, and more. Restoration and repair, as well as custom designs are a specialty as well.

As a bead artist I have always experimented with a variety of stringing materials to create durable and beautiful pieces that could withstand daily use and abuse, and also be created with high quality to create family heirlooms, that would last generations to come. Understanding what type of stringing materials to use, and what methods to create pieces are vital to the integrity, and therefore the longevity  of a piece.

As a bead artist, I needed to have an easy visual aid to see necessary information   while designing a piece. As a teacher, I wanted to be able to communicate the knowledge of bead stringing easily with a visual aid to help the student learn promptly and easily.

With the knowledge and understanding of the basics of bead stringing, creativity can flow much easier, faster, and with integrity when designing a piece. This concept allows a professional, student, or hobbyist to have more freedom of creativity in designing a piece. Beadwork is an excellent form of an individual's personal creative expression.

Before teaching beadwork, I used to teach the art of macramé. Both topics needed detailed information to communicate to students. I was very keen to design, and organize an easy to understand, and very visual concept of teaching students.

I designed the BEAD & STRING REFERENCE CHART & TIPS BOOKLET because I had my own personal need for this type of product. I needed something I could look at easily, so I could get vital information fast and hands free while designing jewelry, or teaching a bead class. It includes timeless information to use over and over again, for all skill levels. As soon as students and fellow bead artists saw this product, they wanted one for their own use. I love to help folks learn beadwork, and this product is a result of that.

Personal Adornment pieces I have created include necklaces, bracelets, earrings, headbands, medicine bags, amulets, talismans, wands, wall hangings, belts, hairpieces, pins, and more. Anything that can be strung, or be made into a bead, is created into something.

My background in other crafts include sewing, quilting, pattern making, doll making, weaving, spinning, macramé, illustrating, as well as basket making.

Teaching arts and crafts, has all helped me to develop my beading techniques over the years.

As a child I grew up in a very creative home. My mother is a gifted arts and crafts teacher, and I had the privilege of learning so much from her love of the arts and crafts. There was always some kind of arts and crafts project "growing" in our home. Mom is currently into doll making, and basket weaving. My mother’s list of arts and crafts is endless. I hope to be able to "hand down" this wonderful creative energy to my own daughter someday, who enjoys drawing and beadwork as well. My Father was a source of endless inspiration as well, with his   enthusiasm for life, he always had something new to show me.

My household now has a lot of the similar creativity "growing" in it, just like it was when I was a child. My husband is also very a very artistic finish carpenter and cabinet maker, drum maker, musician, herbalist and a great cook.

My influences include nature, my mother, my child, my husband, Native American, African, Egyptian, the art and culture of India and the European Renaissance, as well as   variety of historical eras and contemporary artists. I encourage everyone to visit museums for inspiration.

Sharing my knowledge of beadwork is so gratifying to me. I LOVE to help others discover their creative spirit within themselves via playing and creating with beads. Everybody loves to play with textures and colors. Stringing beads is calming, and meditative. The whole experience is very healing.