Beads and
the Discovery of the
Inner Fashion Goddess

© by Tina Tomlovich; all rights reserved

I got into beads and the jewelry making business in a funny way.

At a craft show, there was a booth of jewelry and I thought, Oh how nice - but none of it was exactly what I would have picked. I spoke to the lady there, and eventually had a home show from this business.

Fun, funky beads and toggle clasp
from Custom Creations

Even after having a very large home party, I spent a small fortune on jewelry.

I looked at my orders when they came in and thought, maybe I didn't describe what I wanted well enough.

Then I went into the shop to ask some questions, and they got out a catalog from BeadBox.

I hit the Internet as soon as I got home, found out how much less expensive it is to make my own jewelry, and the rest is a story of trying to scour every magazine that crossed my path to see what people were wearing, finding suppliers of beads and other jewelry components that I liked, and so on.

I made a base inventory of designs that were functional and pretty.

They sold well, don't get me wrong, but I still felt stifled.

I was once told that I have a very vivid personality (politically correct term for something else, I'm sure!!!!). I wear whatever I want, pretty much whenever I want.

So, I always make my own jewelry now, flashy, fun, funky, classic, creative, just whatever. I make what suits me.

That's when things began to take off for me.

I've found that when I make something for myself, it takes about one wearing for someone else to decide that they have to have at least one of these pieces also.

I look at beads and they just scream, "Make something with me!"

My favorite supplier for glass beads is Custom Creations. That poor woman never gets off the phone with me in less than 30 minutes. In case you didn't notice, I ramble.

But, every time I make something with her beads, I end up selling more than I thought I would. Do you have beads that speak to you? I'm sure I'm not crazy (well, mostly sure).

Sometimes you just have to stop, listen, and go with what your imagination is telling you.

I'm not telling you to chuck everything and go nuts - just make a few pieces that you couldn't possibly live without, be it funky, classy, or sporty. Then buy an outfit to go with them.

I became a trend setter.

I'm an average almost-40 kinda gal. After 5 kids, I'm no longer as trim as I used to be.

If I put on makeup, my kids ask if we're going to church. I shop for some of my clothes at Wal-mart.

I'm middle-class, live in a small town, a stay at home mom. I live in big t-shirts and leggings because they're comfortable.

This is not the picture of a fashion model in anyone's world. And yet, I am a trend setter.

So are you. Grab your beads and design what you like.

I'm not the only woman in the world who shops for CLOTHES to match my JEWELRY. Be honest, you do it too. So will other women when they see what you wear.

It's time for all of us to let go of the fashion idea that someone else sets the trends and we have to follow.

Trends are only followed if enough people like them. I pay attention to the colors of the seasons, but I don't live by them.

Sometimes just the smallest thing can brighten a day.

A pretty sparkly bracelet, a fun necklace, or a great pair of earrings in your favorite color, is all it takes to bring out the fashion goddess inside.

Don't keep goddess hidden - get out your beads and set her free!