I have always loved beads. I remember my dads mom one year bought the entire jewelry inventory from a department store that was going out of business. She gave my sister and I jewelry boxes with tons of jewelry in them. In the 80's when Madonna was hot, my sister and I hit up our Nanny (moms Mom) for all of her cool rhinestone jewelry, we looked pretty hot in it too!

In the 90's my mom (Mary Lu) come across a book called "The New Clay". It's all about Polymer Clay. From the moment I saw it I wanted to make my own beads. Mom and I were in business together for over 10 years selling our polymer clay beads. We had a nice run on ebay, sold under the name clay-daze. A couple of years ago we parted ways after I got hooked on making Lampwork beads and mom got tired of making canes all the time. Mom is back making polymer clay beads and does lots of local shows here in Sacramento. If you are looking for polymer clay beads let me know and I will send you her way.

I can't even tell you how many years I had looked at lampwork beads and tried to figure out how they were made. I didn't think I could ever do something like that. I bought the book Passing the Flame before I took my first class, I just had to check it out. It was very important for me to take a class to make sure lampwork was something I could do. I didn't want to spend a bunch of money on something I might not like. I took a beginner lampwork class at Arrow Springs in 2003. I was hooked the first time I saw the flame!

Here we are going into 2006 and I totally love working with glass. Having a job I love is truly a gift. My husband has been so supportive and has helped me get everything I needed to make beads from home. He is the coolest! I am thankful everyday for him and my boys.

Stefanie