Hi! I’m Leslie.
I design wearable bead weaving for women who want to wear it, not just admire it.
Most bead artists either follow craft patterns or create elaborate art pieces that are difficult to style. I design original, wearable jewelry for women with real wardrobes and real lives. I think about how you dress—what you wear to work, to dinner, on the weekend—and I create pieces that feel distinctive without feeling like a costume.
I’ve loved jewelry for as long as I can remember.
When I was a teenager in Indiana, I collected vintage costume jewelry from flea markets. I loved the colorful rhinestones, the sparkle, and how they always got compliments. In my 20s, I worked for both costume and fine jewelry manufacturers in Boston and New York, learning the craft from the inside out.
When I went to graduate school, I just couldn’t get away from jewelry. I specialized in silver and jewelry history and later worked for an antique silver and jewelry dealer. I was surrounded by exceptional craftsmanship and learned what makes a piece endure.
I started working with seed beads in the late 1990s. My mom, a lifelong artist and art teacher, suggested the craft when I was looking for a creative outlet. She taught me my first couple of stitches, and I took to it right away. I loved the tiny colorful materials, the meditative aspect of it, and the freedom to design my own projects.
After my son was born, I needed to stay home with him because of his medical needs. I hadn’t planned on being a stay-at-home mom, and the transition was challenging. I felt pretty disconnected from myself in those days.
After a couple of years, I decided I needed to put my skills to use and create jewelry that made me feel like myself again. I wanted:
Designing again felt so good it planted a seed in my heart. I wanted to create for other women too.
I believe in the power of a great pair of earrings or a cool bracelet to brighten your day. The urge to adorn is ancient and deeply human. So I started showing at craft fairs and in a few shops, sharing my designs with other women who appreciated original, artist-made jewelry.
Over the last decade, I’ve refined my approach. I don’t follow other bead weavers’ patterns. I design structure-first, hand-select colors with a painter’s eye, and create pieces that sit beautifully on the body and move through a woman’s day without demanding to be the only thing she’s wearing.
What Makes My Work Different
I design bead weaving that doesn’t look crafty or overly elaborate. It looks intentional, sophisticated, and made for your life.
My background in fine jewelry design and decorative arts history taught me to prioritize wearability, proportion, and refinement. I think about how pieces move, how they balance, and how they fit into your real wardrobe.
Every piece is handcrafted in my Connecticut studio. I’m still a one-person operation, which means I’m in charge of everything—design, photography, packaging, customer care. I put my whole heart into it, and I’m here to listen.
If you see an item that’s out of stock, or if you want something special that you don’t see, reach out to me. I’m here for you and would love to help.
A Little About My Life
I live in the Litchfield Hills of rural Connecticut with my husband of 30 years and our son David, who’s now 19. He remains a very special young man who needs a lot of care, and he’s a real sweetheart.
For more photos and information, check out my Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube Channel for tutorials.
Thanks for being here.
xoxo, Leslie