Ododo Originals started as many businesses have, with an unmet need. I had been on the hunt for floral accessories that were pretty and feminine, but also sturdy, well-crafted and unique. I came across items that fit into one or more of these categories, but nothing that encompassed them all. I decided in the end to construct the flowers myself and that creative spark grew into the business I run today. Settling on beads as my medium was an easy choice. The colors are numerous in option and the opportunity for experiment and fine crafting endless. I worked on my patterns for weeks at a time, focusing on mastering the beading technique that is at the heart of my craft. Ododo Originals was the end result, a store that provides completely handmade flowers that are carefully woven from beads and wire from scratch by me, the one woman army behind the brand.

My creative process isn’t a complicated one. Crafting these flowers from beads sometimes as small as a pin head is, for me, a soothing act. I remember as a child of 9 or 10, bending over doilies that I crocheted for hours, sitting perfectly still and absorbed in the wonder of creating something beautiful with my hands. It is that same state that engulfs me when I work on my beads, that same wonder. I also enjoy the experimental part of my work, when I try to create new patterns or shapes. I find every creative, frustrating and occasionally triumphant moment to be exhilarating.

My philosophy: In all things, do good work.