S & A Beads adds a bit of panache so you can make a splash!
Creativity and artistic vision are not exactly my forte. I know what I like when I see it, but as far as bringing anything to fruition - be it a floral arrangement, painting, photograph or design piece - I defer to the professionals.
As you might imagine, working at Now & Then and being a friend of S & A Beads, my personal style (if you could call it that) has evolved. Basically, my jewelry now complements what I am wearing....or at the very least tries desperately to.
Of course, disposable income is a bit hard to come by these days, so instead of purchasing new pieces I have emptied out the jewelry box and revisited some older pieces that, with Zoe, Cheryl and Emily's eye for flair, are no longer collecting dust and have become staples of my wardrobe once again.
These are painted wood beads that belonged to my Great Aunt Gracie. It was one long strand with a hook clasp that always came undone.
Zoe restrung the beads to make it shorter and gave it a modern clasp that would hold. She then took the extra beads and made matching earrings.
Now everytime I wear this, which is now quite often, I have a beautiful reminder of my great aunt.
The centerpiece of this necklace is from American Craft. It was set so it could either be worn as a pin or as a necklace. As I am more apt to wear a necklace, Zoe strung beads that bring out the colors of, and focus your eyes on, the glass. Again, she made matching earrings to complete the look.
Having and wearing this piece is tangible reminder of American Craft and a bit of Takoma Park history.
Originally, this necklace consisted only of the rectangular piece of sterling silver you see at the center and was on a simple, classic chain. As the chain was too short (or my neck to........), I decided that instead of elongating the chain, I wanted a little extra somethin' somethin'. Emily created this piece using garnets and pearls - garnets being my birthstone. As for the pearls? Well, as we all know, every gal needs a good set of pearls in her accessories repertoire.
A scavanger hunt through one's jewelry box not only elicits a bit of family history and treasured memories, but affords the opportunity to revisit your favorite pieces and give them new life with just a bit of tweaking and a fertile imagination.
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