Well, Here We All Are
I have enjoyed the arts my whole life - always sketching, writing, or making something. But it was when I made my first rosary bracelet that things really started to take off (can it be 16 years ago?!). Since then I have expanded into all kinds of jewelry and even further into other crafts.
I live with in a "cozy" old house in the country with my kids who are still in school. Life in rural NH with 6 kids has certainly been an adventure! When you are an active, creative family there is never a dull (rarely even a quiet) moment! I use this shop as motivation to keep doing creative things myself whenever possible, to force some order on the chaos, and to supplement my income as a reading tutor at the local elementary schools. Following this path not only allows me to nurture my own artistic talents, but also gives me the freedom to support my kids as they develop and nurture theirs. It also gives me an opportunity to interact with local shops and artisans in person and online even though I now have a "day job." Win-Win-Win!!
Most of my work happens at my "Bead Table" - a small 10' x 6' area where I have set up an L shaped work station from floor to ceiling. It sort of resembles the Weasley's house in Harry Potter because it grew organically, new parts being cobbled on as the need arose or the parts were found. Also, it's usually an unsightly mess because I work mostly by trial and error. I rarely set out with plans or instructions, preferring to put beads together and rearrange the pattern until I am satisfied. At the end of a project I start to put everything back in its place, but usually only get 90% done (ok .... maybe only 75%) before I am inspired again and out come the drawers and boxes all over again!
