Accents By Angela

Angela Spencer

I started making beaded jewelry as an occasional hobby about 15 years ago. However, over time I became hooked. I have attempted to list below my creative process below: 1. My journey to the International Gem & Jewelry Show in Chicago and the Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee each year is where it all starts. 2. I don’t have really any designs or specific patterns in mind – I just start wandering around looking at all the beautiful, abundant beads available to me as a designer; it can certainly be overwhelming but so much fun! 3. I gravitate to the rich colors of the various semi-precious stones. Black Onyx, Rose Quartz, Amethysts, Turquoise, Jaspers, Goldstone, and so on…… They come in various shades of color, shapes and sizes. 4. Once I find that perfect, interesting stone, my mind goes to work. I start designing in my head and what else can complement this stone? Another color stone? Certain findings (gold, silver, pewter, or copper?) What about some of those beautifully, faceted cut Swarovski crystals? Or the many colored and shaped Freshwater Pearls? The possibilities are endless! 5. Then I decide what I am going to make – is it a set? Or just a certain piece? And then proceed to purchase only enough to make that certain design in my head. That’s where most of my one of kind pieces comes from. Most of my designs are truly one of a kind – I do not manufacture the same design over and over again. 6. I proceed with this process until I am exhausted and/or run out of budget at the show! 7. Now, the fun begins! I get how and look through all my interesting bead purchases and start creating! 8. I decide whether I am going to use stainless steel traditional beading wire or if this piece is better suited to be wire-wrapped. 9. I just started my wire-wrapping technique and it’s really taken off! It’s fun, interesting and truly one of a kind! It is difficult to almost impossible to wire-wrap a piece exactly the same way twice! 10. This is where I spend hours creating in the comfort of my home and look forward to exhibit my works at quality art festivals as well as on my newly started Etsy website.