Welcome to PickleValentine! I love vintage beads and sharing them! I grew up on a lake surrounded by woods in the Kettle Moraine area of Wisconsin. I have always cared for the environment and vintage beads are certainly part of that.

I love vintage for many reasons. The beads are rare, often handmade with older methods, frequently of higher quality than new beads, and are perfect for those of us who are ecologically conscious. I also happen to believe they are more beautiful and I love their irregularities.

I have been a bead person ever since early childhood. My introduction to fine art glass was a Hungarian baby-sitter who became a third grandmother to me. She had a collection of beautiful beaded art glass and crystal rosaries from Europe, going back to before the first World War. She would hold them up in the sunlight and I was mesmerized. It's one of my first memories. I got my first beads at 3 or 4 when someone broke a necklace. I was apparently old enough not to stuff them up my nose or try to eat them. After that, my bead addiction was born.

I can't say I am an historian, but it is one of my hobbies, especially when it comes to beads. I try to include what I've learned in my listings. I believe all of us who love vintage beads deserve to know their history.

Most of my items are never used, completely mint, but when I salvage great beads, I sometimes will pass them on. I will let you know where they have come from. Some of my best beads, including trade beads, had been used in jewelry or collected before they came to me. Every bead has a story.

Questions are always welcome. Thank you for reading and Happy Beading to you!