“The Venerable Bead�

I love making jewelry because I am addicted to rocks, paper, metal, beads and pretty shiny things. Combining colors, textures, and shapes into necklaces, earrings, pins, bracelets and buttons gives me the same pleasure I felt assembling objects found on the playground in 5th grade.

I began making paper beads in 1986. The beads I have from 20 years ago are still beautiful and solid. Paper is much sturdier than you might think (especially if you put the right kind of finish on it). My favorite beads are made from a Chinese newspaper I bought at a kiosk when I was living in Seattle in the 1980’s. Recently, I have been incorporating my love of digital photography into making jewelry, buttons, gift boxes, and cards. My family likes to hike in Bidwell Park and around Lassen, and I always bring my camera with me to try to capture some of the beauty of Northern California. Turning those images into small pins and buttons or creating patterns to use in making paper beads has been intensely satisfying.

The current tensions throughout the world have recently pushed my jewelry into a new direction. I have begun making paper beads made with Hebrew and Arabic newspapers and Tibetan prayer flags. I put my intention for peace in the world into a concrete form.

My work has been featured at Fast Forward in Seattle, Washington and at the Penelope Lucas Gallery in Tacoma, Washington. Currently, my jewelry is available at Vino 100 in Chico and Epilog Books in Quincy. My paper beads are available at String Bead in Chico, and I have digital photo cards at Epilog Books in Quincy. I also participate in art and craft fairs and sell by appointment. Sending my jewelry out into the world is one of the best parts of making things to wear. I know my jewelry has traveled to Europe, Israel, South Africa, South America, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand. Even though I have not physically visited all of these places, knowing my jewelry has been there makes me feel like a part of me has traveled with it.

Visit me online at http://myspace.com/vbead