Believe it or not, Aunt Jewelry was created just over two years ago! I feel so fortunate to have had the support of family, friends, and students during the challenges of last year. I'm certainly glad to have 2007 behind me! A huge thank you to everyone, I count you all as blessings. I'm hopeful that 2008 will bring new excitement and joy.
Here's some background on me: My name is Julie, yet I go by Aunt Jewelry now (thanks to my niece and nephew). When I'm not working as an elementary school teacher, I am teaching bead classes. From the day I learned my first bead weaving design I realized I was hooked! I started teaching bead weaving classes in 2002. I have taught in Corpus Christi and now offer classes in Boerne and San Antonio, Texas.
Please support your local bead store: The local bead stores I work with provide a nice classroom setting and offer a large variety of the supplies I use in my designs. Part of the fun is helping students select the supplies they need so I make myself available 30 minutes prior to each class. Each shop has supply lists available for my classes and the staff will be happy to help you select the appropriate materials when you register. I do not publish my supply lists on my website and will not send them out via email, hoping to steer customers their way.
Although I am trained in many jewelry mediums, my preference is to work with seed beads. I enjoy taking those small tubes of beads and creating wearable art. I use only glass beads and metal findings in my jewelry. Yes, even those teeny tiny beads are made of glass!
During the process of creating directions for my classes, I make bracelet after bracelet to test them. That means I've got LOTS of jewelry in boxes around the house. So I've decided to offer those items for sale here. Most, if not all, are designs from classes I currently teach or patterns I plan to sell.
Many of my students have requested that I sell my patterns online. I create the directions myself so they are oriented to the way I teach in class. Most students find that after completing a few of my classes, they have the confidence to work directly from my patterns. My directions are loaded with visuals that are easy to follow...probably the result of working with those 7 and 8 year olds for so many years! Fine tuning the directions to the point I am satisfied is very time consuming. Therefore, each set of directions is slowly, but eventually, being offered for purchase on the website. Please check often, if you are interested in purchasing a pattern.
I feel so fortunate to be able to do the two things I love most in life...teaching and beading! Thank you for stopping by.
If you have any questions or would just like to get in touch, please feel free to contact me. I'd love to hear from you!
My jewelry's gone to the dogs LITERALLY ...
click photos to enlarge
I have a new business phone number. The new number is listed on the contact me page.