About Me
Jewelry has been a passion of mine, since junior high art class. One
memorable day, we were given an assignment to create an original design
for jewelry. While the others whined and struggled I was in my glory.
My design was so complicated it took me a week to cut it out with a
jewelers saw! I sure wish I could find that pendant now. It would have
a place of honor on the first page of this web site.
Then about 10 years ago a dear friend gave me a Native American woven
pair of earrings. I loved them and wore them constantly until they just
fell apart. The design and how they were made intrigued me, so I got
some books and tried bead weaving. It was so much fun working with
those itsy little seed beads.
Yes, a small bracelet took me all week, and the pieces I made ended up
mostly as gifts for friends and relatives. As time went on, I polished
my new skills branching out into stringing/weaving more challenging
pieces, necklaces and earrings. From there I began to experiment
with making my own findings with sterling wire.
Finished pieces began to find buyers. Little by little the business I called BeAD HABIT developed.
Way back in 1977, a trip to Norway kindled an interest in working with
sterling silver. The Norwegian silversmiths are "out of this world"! As
I think back to that trip ideas flood into my head. They became the
inspiration for developing a Norwegian style of filigree work. When I
say "style" I mean I have used the concepts of Norwegian filigree work
but developed it into a thicker, more substantial "statement" piece of
jewelry while still maintaining those traditional Rosemaling type
shapes. One day a brochure for the Milan Village Art School classes
came in the mail. They were offering silversmithing. It sounded so
exciting, I immediately signed up. For two years I took all of the
classes offered and a new career in silversmithing was born. I owe my
knowledge of tool use and basic smithing skills to Tom Johnson the
master silversmith and teacher at the MVAS.
Next, my husband, Tony, and I planned and built a shop in the corner
of what was once a granary on our place. I scavenged around for the
best tools I could find for my money, began reading books and tutorials
on the internet to further perfect my skills. I discovered another
wonderful teacher of smithing, Don Norris from Estes Park Colorado. I
took his classes, and even had him come to Minnesota for a private
lesson at my place last fall. Combining Don's eccentric methods and
ideas with my own designs and techniques has evolved into my business
as a silversmith and jewelry designer.
Yes, I still enjoy working with gemstone beads. I like to combine
strung jewelry with the items I make in my shop. In fact, there's a
"stringing corner" in the TV room where I can work and watch TV. The
beauty of those gorgeous little gemstone treasures fascinates me as
much as ever. Last spring I retired from 25 years of teaching, and
thanks to a lot of hard work plus the support and encouragement of my
husband, parents, daughters, and good friends, I am now a self employed
jewelry artist.
Home is rural Minnesota... Lac Qui Parle County, between the towns of
Dawson and Boyd. Sharing it with me is my husband Tony, two Golden
Retrievers, three cats, and three horses. (My other passion) Come and
see me and my work. Visitors are always welcome.
