Creativity has always come natural to me.  As a teenager, I loved doing craft projects and even stayed home from vacations with my family to redecorate my bedroom.  As an adult, I have dabbled in just about everything - Photography, Interior Design, Polymer Clay, Sewing, etc.  After I married my husband, I really let all my projects fall by the wayside and focused mainly on my business.  You may have seen me if you have spent any time around the charm jewelry category on eBay.  I import and sell Italian Charm Bracelets. 

In 2004, my business was really running itself and I was really searching for a hobby that I could divert some of my focus to.  That's when I discovered beautiful lampwork beads on eBay.  I had no idea what was involved in making glass beads but I saw some encased florals and was in love.  I purchased a kit on eBay and the rest is history.  

I find it really fulfilling and self-gratifying to melt glass and make something useful from it.  I really love the instant nature of beadmaking.  For example, something like knitting could take weeks to get to your final product, with beadmaking your beads are made, annealed, and ready to go in less than 24 hours.  I really love being able to provide a product that is useful and people can love and wear. 

I am still learning new techniques and growing in my art.  Its funny how a search for a hobby could turn into my true passion.  I really have no doubt that I will be lampworking until I am old and gray.