Beeeeeeeeeees?!
I have just so many beads. Take them from me.
..:: LITHIA DANGLES ::..
An updated and elevated version of hook and dangle earrings I would have made as a teenager in the 1990s. Mixed media (glass, lucite, metal, stone), mostly vintage leaning, sometimes with some contemporary materials.
..:: DECO DROPS ::..
Bold statement post earrings made mostly of vintage lucite, with the occasional contemporary resin thrown in. Usually multiple beads on a single drop for less movement and more structure.
..:: DECO DANGLES ::..
Lighter, longer, and more articulated than the Deco Drops. A similar makeup of materials, but in the smaller variety in order to be longer and jauntier without worrying about the weight.
..:: ELEMENOPY ANEMONES ::..
Hand- and loom-woven seed bead fringe earrings. Color and organic movement are the stars of the show here. A stable tightly-woven semi-circle in a single color creates the base from which frilly sprigs of another playful color (or two) are born.
..:: HALF MOONS ::..
Loom-woven structural seed bead semi-circles in interesting combinations of colors and patterns. These are informed less by nature, and more by graphic, linear, modern design. Commonly color block or windowpane grid designs.
..:: KEYCHAINS ::..
Cool and colorful chunky beaded keychains strung with hot colors and shapes of vintage and contemporary materials. Color block statement fobs are often 80s inspired, and are a great way to use large beads that are too heavy for earrings.
..:: MY WORK ::..
I learned to bead and create jewelry as a tot, but didn't really delve into it until I was in college, when I worked for many years in a bead shop with a beautiful aesthetic. The shop stocked some truly (actually!) unique and vintage pieces, and working there allowed me to travel to many trade shows, which meant finding even more cool stuff. Over the years, I grew accustomed to having interesting beads and findings around--items that a person couldn't pick up just anywhere. Luckily for us all, the ol' internet has made it much easier to find cool and interesting beads and jewelry, so even though I have long since moved on from that job, I am still always on the hunt. I cannot get enough! (But I totally have enough.) (But never enough!) (But really. enough.) (NO!!)
I find inspiration in all sorts of places beyond jewelry itself: textiles, clothing, ceramics, prints and paintings, etc. I have a frenzied desire to use the bright colors and wild shapes and combinations of the pop art scene and Memphis Group artists. There's nothing better than a huge, bright, audacious pair of postmodern earrings! I love using vintage plastics and lucites for that reason--they allow for some BIG, outrageous, and inexpensive pieces without tearing your earholes out. There are also some really great contemporary resin beads out there that are super interesting, and I love using those too.
Working with seed beads is so fun because of the variety of colors and the many possibilities for movement AND stability. I employ both loom- and hand-weaving techniques, depending on the requirement of the piece. I prefer bold graphic designs over traditional beadwork, so I'm always trying to avoid the norm with my woven pieces. Be it wild color combos, interesting patterns, experimental shapes, etc, I'm just trying to break out of the dang mold, y'all!
BEEEEEEEEEADS
Drop me a line any time about any old thing--I'd love to answer any questions or just shoot the breeze with ya. And see my FAQs here for more info!
xoxo
