I am a very fortunate woman.
I lived for a time with a very generous woman that , at one time, ran a vintage store in Venice, CA. She gave me many of the beads I use today in my designs. She also gave me the encouragement to keep going with my ideas and designs. I can't tell you how much that meant to me. It was life saving at a time when I needed that kind of mentoring in my life. I dedicate this shop to her.
Her daughter worked in a fine little store in downtown Venice, CA, too. So I was lucky to have her "get me in the door" to talk to the owner about putting some of my pieces in that shop. And they sold!
Now, along with those three woman I also have my best friend, who loves my jewelry. She gets first dibs on anything I make. And she continues to champion me to her friends and the wheel goes round and round.
I started entering a bead contest that my favorite bead store, Fire Mountain Gems and Beads has yearly. The first year I was a finalist in two categories. I missed a year and then I entered the 2012 Contest for Seed Beads and I won the Honorable Mention Category. This is a contest with entrants from all over the world. To say that I was happy is an understatement. I was thrilled to see that piece featured in their catalog and also featured in their advertisement in the magazine "The Art & Craft of Personal Adornment ORNAMENT " .
So I am happy to still be beading and learning things everyday through my shop, my customer's, and my interest in the art and craft of beading and designing.
Thank you for supporting handmade and for dropping by my shop.
Diana