My Jewelry Story

As a little girl, I remember being fascinated by all things sparkly and/or purple. My maternal great-grandparents and grandparents were heavily involved with Mardi Gras, and I can remember visiting my Mama's (great-grandmother) tiny house in Lafayette and running my hands over beautifully sequined and beaded costumes, with the smell of mothballs in the air. 

I was fascinated with the way light passed through crystal. My grandmother's house had 9 crystal chandeliers, and my favorite thing to do was to turn them on and off (especially the ones on dimmer switches).  Even chandelier cleaning day was a cause for joy as we carefully wiped each crystal in warm water and then dried them with a soft cloth for maximum shine. 

It was actually chandeliers that got me into beading; however, on a much smaller scale. In high school, one of my hobbies was miniature collecting. I had 2 dollhouses, one of which was my pride and joy. One day, I was on the hunt for small beads to make a chandelier when I walked into a bead shop. The first beads I purchased were a clear Austrian crystal and Czech glass purple saucers. From that moment, I had a new obsession! 

When I'm designing a piece, I often think about the story it can tell. I also like to think of the way the colors, sizes, and textures balance, as well as the way light will hit each bead. I work primarily with gemstones, Czech glass, and metals, and I know a piece is well executed when I want to keep it for myself. 

I love jewelry and I truly believe it can help influence one's mood or even give a boost of confidence. I am also drawn to the way a beautiful piece of jewelry is tied to memories and stories.