CelebrateAustin_2017_BeadIt_LR

Bead it. Always Inspired.
SHOPPING
My family lived a very gypsy lifestyle. I was born in Austin,
but grew up traveling all over the country buying and
selling antique jewelry at flea markets and bead shows; we
even traded beads on the Santo Domingo Pueblos in New
Mexico! In 2002, at the age of 20, my parents gave me a
few boxes of beads to help me pay my way through college.
I bought old furniture from garage sales and thrift stores,
along with, glass dishware, wooden bowls and ceramics
for display. I found that one of my passions is creating and
curating spaces from nothing.
in things rare, antique and vintage, like southwestern
turquoise jewelry, amulets and figurines from Thailand,
the bright colors of West German Plastics, and my love
for vintage chain is never ending!! I also believe in the
healing powers of stones and love blending the old world
antiquities and found objects with new production stones
and glass.
I can promise that you haven’t been to a bead store like
mine, and the best part is, you need no jewelry making
experience to shop in it! We have tons of charms and
chains that are easy construction pieces and my lovely staff
will put them together for you while you wait. For more
complicated projects, you can commission us to create
something for you and we will ship it to you when we are
finished! We also teach classes for those who want to
learn and have jewelry repair services that we offer for
the broken items in your life. It’s a one-stop jewelry
and bead supply company, and I hope you stop by!
When I graduated college, in 2006, my rent had been
raised and the building across from my store had just
put out a “for lease” sign. It was an old house built in
the 1940’s, with scary lime green and purple walls,
strange barred windows inside the house, and a multi
level footprint from all the additions that had been made
throughout the years. I remember opening the doors and
feeling inspired by the potential of the space. I repainted,
removed windows, repolished floors, and added lighting.
I’ve been there for 10 years now and I couldn’t be more
grateful for the space, it is my ever-changing canvas that
grows as I grow. We have a full workshop/classroom and 4
other rooms filled with treasures that I find from all over
the world.
With an eclectic background, I feel inspired by every
culture, every texture and every color I see. I still travel
the country (and sometimes other countries) hunting for
items that will inspire others to sit and make. I delight
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