I make handmade beads in a large variety of designs. My most popular beads are my "motto" beads. Each "motto" bead has a special phrase in Latin or Italian. The beads are totally hand made starting from a ball of raw clay. Each bead is hand molded for size uniformity. I turn my beads into pendants using sterling silver wire, beads and charms.  My "motto" beads are approximately 3/4 inches in diameter.

My beads are based on simply decorated beads made in 16th century Italy. Hand painted beads were often given as small love tokens for a girl getting married. They were frequently inscribed with the word "Bella" which means "beautiful". During the Renaissance the beads were used as spinning weights.

More information about my beads can be found here.