My grandfather owned and operated a fine jewelry store in Montreal called the Jewel Box. Growing up, my grandmother, who survived him, was the person who really initiated my love for the accessory, jewelry. 

Before I was born, in the 60’s, my father and a friend began a wooden bead and bent wire jewelry business. They hand made earrings themselves which were sold to many department stores at the time like Eatons and Simpsons and other smaller boutiques. The profits were used to help him put himself through university. The business was called Big Bens beads. 

At 9 years old I begged my mom to take me to a bead store. She took me to a bead wholesaler and immediately fell in love with what she saw. That day she started a beaded jewelry business where her designs were sold to many stores across Canada. After school there were always ladies beading orders in my basement. I was allowed to choose kids beads to buy and I would design a kids line, that sometimes, stores would add to their orders. At times, we set up shop at trade shows where I also sold my kids line of jewelry. my mother moved on to become a painter and so over the years, the leftover beads from the business were moved from one location to another, organized by colour and boxed for safe keeping. My mom nor I had it in us to give away these beads that we treasured. 

Every so often throughout the years, I would pull some out and create again. Then they would go back into hiding. 

Recently, in July 2019, I decided to bead once again. I wore my pieces out in public and people wanted the designs right away. I discovered again how much I loved beading and the creative aspect of it has been thrilling for me. 

I had been practicing as an Interior Designer since 2002. After having my third child, I found it difficult to find the time to get back to that all consuming world. It seemed daunting to take on a design project. However, I missed using my creativity on the daily. 

I noticed that alphabet beads was becoming a trend. 

I still had my glass letters from when I was a kid. I contacted the original bead wholesaler they came from. They laughed at me at first saying they hadn’t sold those beads in over 20 years. They offered to search their warehouse for me to find any leftover stock. Sure enough they still had some letters kicking around. 

I bought them all. 

I am now using those vintage glass beads. I will not use acrylic beads which are made from plastic….which is environmentally damaging. I use as little packaging as possible and my strands come in a linen bag that can be re-used. The mailer for shipping is made from 100% recycled materials and can be reused or recycled. 

Also, each strand comes with a “Hope Pin” that can be pined or hooked onto school bags, shoe laces, jackets, bracelets, etc. Or can be gifted to a special person.