My story

My life didn’t always involve tiny pieces of colored glass with holes in them. Earlier in life my interests had a broader focus. I always had a fascination with the natural world, and equally with art. In college, when I was finally free to study what I liked, I majored in biology at first but went on to complete a bachelor’s degree in physics, and another bachelor’s degree in fine arts with a painting concentration and art history minor.

I got into bead weaving in my early twenties after I became a parent. I had recently decided to quit grad school to care for my special needs son, who required more help and care than the average baby. I desperately needed a creative hobby that would conform to the new space- and time- (some might say space-time) limitations as I entered a new chapter of life. My former medium of painting was simply not an option while caring for my son in my tiny apartment.

Thankfully, a friend of mine introduced me to his aunt’s bead store, Beads East, formerly located in Manchester, Connecticut, and I quickly fell in love with the art form. I found a new creative outlet in designing beaded jewelry, and the rest is history.

I now travel all over the United States as well as internationally to share my love of beading through project workshops as well as sell beading kits, patterns, and supplies.

I hope you’ll enjoy viewing my work and if you are interested in taking a workshop, please click on the “Workshops” link in the top menu to find a schedule of my upcoming workshops. Many workshops since the 2019 pandemic are held online through Zoom, so you can either travel to see me or enjoy a new project in the comfort of your own home! I also offer downloadable PDF patterns in my shop and periodically offer kits on a limited basis.

Check out the different resources below to start your journey into beading!