About twenty years ago, my husband took me on my first cruise.  I was excited about the opportunity to really "dress up" a couple times and found a lovely Asian-inspired silk jacket to wear one evening.  After a week of searching unsuccessfully for jewelry to complement the jacket, I took it back to the small boutique to return it. The salesclerk was surprised as she remembered how much I loved the jacket when I purchased it. When I explained that I just could not find the right jewelry to wear with it, she said, "Well, you'll just have to make it!"

She directed me to a small bead store where a lovely young woman helped me choose just the right pearls, stones, and findings.  Although I did the stringing, she did the heavy-lifting resulting in a beautiful pendant necklace and earrings that I still wear on special occasions. 

Thus began my love affair with beads. 

Since then, I have been fortunate to live where I had access to classes, supplies and women with a similar passion who were happy to help me develop my craft. Along the way, I have made some wonderful new friends and found a creative side I didn't know I possessed.