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The name "Bead Attitudes" is a play on the word "beatitudes," blessings that Jesus taught, which you can find
in Matthew 5. It fits. The purpose of this business is not about gaining fame and fortune (not that I would mind a little
of that!). It's all about being a blessing -- through the jewelry itself, in meeting new people, and by using a portion
of the profit for mission work.
About Me I've had the privilege of being home-schooled all
through elementary and high school. That's given me a fantastic opportunity to explore my interests and figure out who
I am and want to be. I am currently in college at Washington State Community College, where I am majoring in Massage
Therapy. I love being outside and exploring the wild and wonderful world around me. I like to think that my Cherokee
heritage helps me be more atuned to the natural world.
Plants of all kinds fascinate me. When we take a hike through the woods I am usually the one to spot and identify the
wildflowers. Presently, I'm studying herbology and learning to make teas, salves and tinctures. It is really amazing to
learn how many plants can be used to make medicine!
My family has several pets which are considered adopted members of the family. (As you may notice, some of the names we
have given to the animals are stranger than others. They all sounded good at the time...)
There are the two cats--Franklin and Yo-Yo--who rid the premises of mice and moles, and provide the humans with endless
hours of entertainment. Our two dogs are Ginger and Hunter
(Hunchkin) who protect the house from campaigning politicians and other dangerous invaders.
The two horses (are you seeing a pattern yet?) are Sundance (Sunny) and Guinivere (Gwen) whose main goals are
to eat, sleep, and find open gates through which to escape.
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I get the inspiration for my designs from many things: nature, popular colors, and often
from the stones themselves. I love working with the natural stones, and few things thrill me more than experimenting
with a new gem. I don't know if gemstone beads have any special power or energy, but they are beautiful. And that's
what counts, right?
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My family helps me run the business.
There's my mom, Susan. She taught me everything
I know about art, design, and life. She's the pastor of a small church and teaches in a lot of non-traditional settings.
Right now she teaches GED classes. She's the one that is in charge of shipping your orders out to you.
My
sister, Ariel, helps me in duplicating designs, stringing beads, quality control, support crew, model, and entertainment.
When she's not working with the business she's busy with school, playing soccer, or writing her stories.
My
brother, Brendon, is a big help in a lot of ways. He's the chief set up person when we go to art shows. He also
helps string beads and he likes to wear specially designed chokers, especially if they have turquoise in them. Although
he's still in school, he volunteers with the local fire department and goes out on fire emergencies.
My dad,
Ken, gives a lot of general support for my business and encourages me to keep at it. He's also a pastor and works with
the local Boy Scouts.
My grandma, Lois, loves to wear what I make. She spends a lot of time working outdoors,
making her yard a work of art. Helping with the jewelry brings her creativity inside.
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