Throwing pots on the wheel several years ago, I became intrigued with the seemingly endless forms the clay could take on. If it could be imagined, I discovered that it could be created. It became a challenge to me to see what could happen with tiny bits of clay, when formed into shapes that might be worn.Around the same time I was creating ceramic wall tiles and combining them with copper and glass beads. They were fun to make and people responded exceptionally well to these pieces. But instead of continuing to explore forms these tiles might take on, I found myself holding a handful of the extra beads I'd purchased for my tiles, seeing them as if for the first time. While people have been wearing beaded jewelry since ancient times, until then my own experience with beads was more-or-less informed by the simple inexpensive beaded strands my grandmother had worn throughout my life. I had never before taken the time to consider the wide array of beads that are available from around the world, the methods used to create them, or the materials that are used. Once I started "playing" with beads, I found there were as many design possibilities as I could conceive of. Just as the pendants with which I was continuing to experiment, each time I combined beads, I ended up with something different from before.
Now, several years after discovering this surprising fascination with beads, I have created and sold more beaded pendant necklaces than I can count. Each one has been different, and each one I make continues to excite me. Adding the elements of copper and sterling wire and, increasingly, semiprecious stone beads has made the pieces even more interesting. Working a variety of fibers into some of the designs has also allowed me greater creative expression.
It's fun to imagine what's coming in the future. The new ideas don't seem to stop coming and I look forward to trying out each one!