So it was just Birkley's Birthday and I am reminded every year when it comes around of how my life changed when he was born. You know, I have an older son, so I was already a mother and not sleeping. Motherhood was a huge change in my life, but I am talking beads here. This is a blog about beads, you know. Here is my story.....

From a few posts back you know that I used to make tiles and mosaics. So fast forward five years into making tiles and glass bead making was becoming really popular. I had always felt that glass was my calling, even though I had never tried it. I just had a feeling. Cindy Jenkins had just written Making Glass Beads and was selling a kit to go with the book. I got it for my birthday and started right away. I loved it but the beads weren't that great. So one night sitting at the torch it came to me that I should be making ceramic beads. At the time, I was unaware of the "Bead World", as I like to call it. So I didn't realize there were other people out there making them like Mealnie Brooks Lukacs or Joan Miller. I came up with some beads and started making jewelry. I went to the Chicago giftmart with my jewelry and sold them there. After a year and a half of making my jewelry I was expecting and couldn't go to the giftmart. I wouldn't be able to fill orders with a new baby. I needed something to do while I was at home with the two little ones. I had heard of this show called Bead and Button and it was in my back yard, I thought I would give it a try. Bead and Button was only in it's second year so I really had no idea what I was getting into. Birk was born and six weeks later, I was at my first bead show. I did great and the beads took off from there. Every year I am reminded when Birk turns another year older that Bead and Button is right around the corner. I can't believe this is going to be my fifth year at the show. Boy time flies. It also reminds me that I need to get to work making beads for the show!