TheBeadyGecko

For years I dabbled making things for myself, I love vibrant, bright colours and I love pairing things together that might otherwise not seem to 'match', I have eclectic tastes, much to the disappointment of our girls, and I love geckos. The first pair of earrings I made for myself were silver geckos with purple beads - they're still hanging on my rack here, when we needed a company name, it seemed perfectly logical to us for me to put together two things that I really liked.

And so, in a dull moment, eight summers ago, The Beady Gecko came into being. Most of my inspiration comes from nature and the world around us, I love playing with colour, seeing a picture and making something different and permanent from it, capturing it using glass beads and charms. Most of my ideas come to me when I'm out and about, playing on beaches or walking through leaves, and this is why most of my work captures nature at its brightest, and the hidden stuff you might not usually see or think to look for.

I work with glass beads because they give a clarity and depth of colour, lucite (frosted acrylic) leaves and flowers, with metal alloy or enamelled charms to add interest and detail. I like to use a selection of metal finishes, though my favourites, and the ones you'll see most often are copper and silver plated finishes. I use plated finishes as they keep my costs affordable and reasonable, where I can, I offer an upgrade to sterling silver.

I love working with semi precious stones, I love the associations they have and the benefits they are believed to bring, I love the colour and variety that they have and that no two things I ever make will be exactly the same. I've recently completed my Reiki one training, and I'm keen to build on this and bring it into my work.

If you follow us on Facebook or Instagram, you'll know The Beady Gecko lives in Gecko Villa (which is a Victorian terrace in Mossley Hill, Liverpool), life here is never dull, and I am never lonely. There's me (Maria), married to Ian (aka Pontious) and our girls (also known as the younger Geckos).

Gecko Villa is also home to the Beady Mogs and Beady Dogs. There's four Mogs, all are adept at chasing beads and picking seed beads up with their paws. Beady Dog is a scrumptious black Labrador and Beady Pup is a rather handsome Goldador - they are much given to early morning walks and watching the sun rise with me (we especially like walking in the rain).

So now you know all about everyone else, you'll need to know that I was born in Liverpool, left in the mid 80's to study Marketing (well, Business and Finance too) at College, and came back in the early 1990's with Pontious. We weren't staying long, but 30 years later, seem to have settled pretty well. I have worked in some pretty interesting jobs over the years, including the music industry, and for a local environmental charity. I am happiest when I am surrounded by the residents of Gecko Villa and my beads or walking barefoot on a beach. Or skipping in the leaves, annoying my girls. My one burning ambition is to meet the Art teacher who told me I was no good at Art.