When I was 9 years old, I went to an Indian Pow-Wow and purchased a large pair of beaded earrings. I love those earrings, wore them everywhere. Wore them out. When they fell apart, I was crushed. However, my Mom found a store that sold jewelry making materials and I discovered a book on how to make the earrings I loved so much. After a hours of practice and following directions, I learned how to repair my earrings.

As I'm from a family of crafters and artisans, I decided this might be my niche and made up a few more pairs and brought them (as a 9 year old) to local stores where I consigned my jewelry or even had it purchased outright. A few years later, I was selling my jewelry at local fairs and events. In 8th grade, my English teacher approached me during class and explained that one of her most favorite necklaces had let go in class and one of the girls had mentioned that I made jewelry and might be able to fix it for her. I took it home and figured out the pattern and was able to reassemble the necklace and return it the next day. The next thing I knew, other people were bringing me their jewelry to restring - and paying me to fix it for them!

By high school, I was getting into mixed media, working with not only beads, but textiles and yarn. I was experimenting more - I'd see things in magazines and stores and challenge myself to reproduce what I saw. My art portfolio for college included not only drawings, paintings, and sculptures I had made in the studio, but also a sampling of all of the beaded jewelry I had made over the years. In college I majored in art, and continued to experiment with beads. I just love working with the colors, shapes, and sizes to make things I can actually wear...and make money by selling.

After college, I found myself purchasing vintage pieces at antiques shops, flea markets, and tag sales. I'd take them apart and make them into something new. These pieces would have fabulously ornate rhinestone clasps, but the pearl strands had let go or were peeling. I read up on how to repair vintage jewelry and clean the delicate pieces. How to wash rhinestones without soaking them so much they fell out of the piece. I bought vintage rhinestones so I could repair pieces that were missing a few here or there.

Then I found Etsy. An entire marketplace full of creativity. At first I sold my everyday jewelry. Some Indian beaded earrings, but also vintage necklaces I had restrung, new pieces I had created in my studio, and even some vintage pieces I picked up here or there that cried out for a new home. After working in the custom forum for a while, I noticed a trend that many of the custom requests were along the lines of, "I have my wedding gown and I'm looking for jewelry to go with it."

Married already for a good decade or more, I recalled being in that same position. Wanting something truly unique and not necessarily off-the-shelf. Something with vintage flair, but didn't scream yard sale or Gram's jewelry box. At that point I started working more consultatively with brides to create those unique sets for their weddings and their wedding party. Need a specific color in the jewelry, I can do that. Have a theme or motif you're running with...perhaps I can incorporate that into the jewelry. Want a butterfly image somewhere? How about in your hair as a comb or pick? I also discovered that there are many, many hues of white, ivory, off white, and cream. How to match? Well, I send pearl samples to my bride and let them pick. No guessing games. Nothing off the shelf (although I do offer that too). A truly customized way of selecting your jewelry without spending a fortune. Perhaps even selecting something you'll wear again to another wedding, job interview, or even out for that anniversary dinner in your LBD.

I'm constantly evolving, trying new things, challenging myself. I love a challenge, which is why custom bridal jewelry is my niche!