Beadwork By Melissa
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Welcome to Beadwork By Melissa! I have been doing beadwork in some form or another since I was a child stringing seedbeads onto sewing thread and using a safety pin for a clasp. I love beads because they give me a chance to explore so many creative experiences. Jewelry is not just visual, but textural, auditory, and emotional as well. How does it feel against your skin when you wear it? Do long earrings tickle your bare shoulders? Does a bracelet glide up and down your arm? Does a necklace nestle your collarbone? Do earrings gently jingle just inside of your hearing? Does a necklace make you feel confident? Do you have a lucky bracelet? Do you wear your mom's favorite pair of earrings? So many of our senses and awareness can be linked to a specific piece of jewelry.
I draw inspiration from the entire world around me for my creations. As a naturalist I love to incorporate elements and themes inspired by nature. As a renaissance festival performer I look to historical images to inspire jewelry that is appropriate for specific time periods for costuming as well as daily wear. But anything can be a source for a new idea and I am continuously fascinated by all the endless opportunities to create a new design.
