My bead story ...

 

I started making jewelry in the mid-90's.  At the time, nearly everyone I knew was buying jewelry like crazy on HSN but, being a woman of generous proportions, I couldn't get the lengths that would be comfortable for me. How long can you wear a necklace that feels like a choke chain?

 

Being kind of crafty, I figured I could probably learn how to string beads, and when I couldn't quite grasp the complexity of the crimp bead, I found some magazines that explained it to me.  I was intrigued by some of the wire work I was seeing; I found Kate Drew-Wilkinson's book, "Basic Wire Work for Bead Jewelry," and learned how to make a wire-wrapped loop.  The world was my oyster!

 

I look several classes from Frederick metal-smith, Beth Carey, and was pretty well set to make sterling jewelry when I saw the original glass beads that were being sold on eBay. Quick gear change!  Walkersville, MD artist, Mary Klotz was my first teacher and since then, I've taken classes from folks well-known in the beadmaking world, but my deep thanks go to my many lampworking friends who have shared their knowledge so generously.

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Over the years, I taught beadmaking at Common Ground, a traditional arts festival in Westminster, as well as the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center in Frederick, and once at the International Society for Glass Beadmakers. My work has been in ISGB juried exhibits all over the country and in Japan.

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I'm married to Barry Gelsinger, retired from Carroll County Public Schools, I have two children, Jay and Katie, and Katie has a son, Nathan, my most favorite grandchild (he's the only grandchild, so it's okay to say that). At 74, I'm blessed to be able to continue my exploration into glass and jewelry, reaching out into new materials and methods to keep my work fresh, interesting, and affordable.