Monday, October 20, 2008

This is what I do in my spare time

Ever since I was in the 7th grade I have loved to make jewelry using beads. Back then I wore these plastic hippy seed bead necklaces with my Greatful Dead tie dye tees. Those were the good ol' days of excess time and cheap supplies. I put this hobby away for a few years, bringing it out now and again to make a rainbow necklace for a goth friend or macrame-ing hemp bracelets for girls camp. But it pretty much stayed in a drawer until I was married and ready to move to France.
I wanted to make a gift for my close friends and family that would tide them over Christmas & birthdays, so I decided to knot pearl necklaces. With the help of Linda Burden and a few whole sale jewelry making catalogs, I loving finished all of the necklaces just before I left, only losing one to the post office box monster. (Sorry Hannah.) Upon returning to the US, I decided to start making jewelry again, primarily using precious metals, semi precious gem stones & vintage beads. Unlike some craft that take up a ton of room and are pretty spendy, I have found the opposite true with beading. (This makes Hans happy.) I have also been able to teach classes at my boys school & for church enrichment groups.


10 comments:

Bridget said...

Those are so beautiful! You are so talented and I love the bracelets you made for the Enrichment Committee - I definitely pull it out a lot for dressing up. We miss you guys and hope you're having a great fall!

Jill said...

They are all so pretty! I also love your backgrounds for the photos.

Shae said...

You are so talented! I feel very lucky to have the necklace you made me...people are ALWAYS complimenting me on it! I wish I could take the credit!

Amy Jones said...

Hey Miss Talent! Rock it out, Monica....we miss you!

Nikki said...

You should seel those! And I should buy them! Let me know if you ever decide too =)

Nikki Oesterle
noesterle@gmail.com

Jen said...

You are so talented. I noticed that you listed the sundance catalog as inspiration, and I love it too. But, alas I do not have barrels of extra $ to spend on their gorgeous stuff. Emma really wants the owl necklace in the latest sundance, do you know anywhere that I can get a pendant like that? the local bead shops have not been helpful

Michelle said...

Wow, Monica! These are so beautiful! You are so talented in so many ways. I need you to teach me everything you know!

Perry Bunch said...

I love them. You are talented. I still have the one you made me. So many years ago.

i said...

i want one of those floating pearl necklaces. stunning!

Janette said...

I wish there was a Monica store!! I would be spending some MONEY there!!