Lest you think I'm all doom and gloom, there was a very bright .925 sterling silver lining hiding in my rain cloud. I got to quit my job and start focusing on building my empire! That might seem like a tall order, but I believe. I believe I can. I believe I will.
I've taken a couple of baby steps. Then I took the ginourmous leap. I signed up for the 2017 edition of the Bead Peeps Swap n Hop. Bead Peeps is a rocking little Facebook group. You have to check it out if you haven't already! Anywho, you get assigned a partner to exchange beads and findings with. After everyone has made something from their goodie bags, there's a big blog reveal and everyone hops around checking out all the eye candy and talent.
One of our "assignments" is to introduce ourselves to the organizer and our future partner. Here I go!
My name is Dana. I am an early 40s mother of 3, grandmother of 3+, wife of one. Now I am a SAHM. Prior to my career shift, I was an administrative assistant. My husband, my son, and I live on the coast of North Carolina. My two daughters are grown and gone and have blessed me with grandchildren I get to see when we visit West Virginia and Georgia.
I have been designing jewelry for over 12 years. After getting frustrated trying to find beads that fit my "vision" I became a lampworker in 2006. I took a bit of a break from 2010 - 2012 in order to move and welcome my son into the world and cater to his every whim. I finally got my studio set back up in early 2013 and resumed lampworking. My jewelry making skills evolved from simple strung designs into more complex creations and I started making my own components and findings. When we decided to move again in 2014, I realized I wouldn't be able to take up lampworking immediately, so I decided to take a left turn into another medium. I experimented with polymer clay a bit and then fell in love with ceramic clay! I have been making ceramic beads for a few years now and really enjoy the sculptural capabilities.
Now onto the good stuff! Jewelry! What do I like to make?
- Bohemian
- Gothic
- Victorian
- Steampunk
- Earthy
- Eclectic
- Colorful
 |
| Lampwork and Copper |
What don't I like?
- Contemporary/Modern
- Minimalist
- Cold
My favorite materials to work with:
- My own handmade beads and components. (Ego? Maybe!)
- Wire - mainly copper, but I like sterling silver and stainless steel as well.
- Chain
- Artisan beads - ceramic, lampwork, polymer, wood, bone, beaded beads, altered art.
- Vintage beads and buttons
- Textiles and fibers
- I'm not a "seed beader" but I have incorporated seed beads into some of my designs.
Materials I don't enjoy working with:
- Beads that are plastic or acrylic.
- Tiger Tail
- Rhinestones
- Bubble Gum beads
- Wool - it itches!
- Beads that have rhinestones embedded in them.
I hope this info helps my partner and doesn't scare her away! I'm really not as hard to please as it looks on paper (screen?). Good luck to all my fellow Swappers and Hoppers!
