Beading for Baby

All items are of my own design.  All bracelets, necklaces and anklets are customizable.  The easiest way to get your desired measurement is to find a piece of twine/string and measure your wrist, ankle or neck length of choice and then send it to me.  If you find beads that I don't have, you can send them to me and I will make whatever you want out of them.  If you know you want a particular bead and you don't see it here, just ask and I would be happy to search for them.  Please feel free to discuss with me exactly what you would like and I would be more than happy to assemble the piece.  Let your imagination run wild!!!!!! 

All bracelets are interchangeable.  If you see a baby bracelet, it can be done in an adult size and vice versa.

All bracelets/necklaces and anklets are hand knotted like pearls are strung.  This process is a lot lengthier than a simple stringing of beads.  It's very time consuming to do and if you make a mistake anywhere along the way, you need to cut the entire piece and begin again.  Some bracelets and necklaces have taken me a good 2 hours.  If the item were to ever break, you would never lose the beads.  In the event that a breakage occurs, I will restring the entire piece for you.  Please just keep the piece intact and send to me.

All materials are of the finest quality.  I use 100% silk thread, 100% sterling silver, glass beads from Italy, China and the Czech Repuplic to name just a few places and Swarovski or Chinese faceted crystals.  Sparkle!

If you should have any questions, please contact me at jilldc@charter.net.

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In January of 2006, "Beading for Baby" was born!  You may ask "why the name?"  Well it's quite simple really.  My wonderful husband Bill and I have decided to adopt a little girl from China.  We are thrilled!  Unfortunately, it's going to take some time to work through some existing issues.  So in the meantime, to keep myself from going crazier than I already am, I decided to start making jewelry.  My awesome and forever friend Anita learned how to European knot with silk cording a few years ago.  I was always fascinated by her work.  She made beautiful bracelets and necklaces for friends and family.  One day, I begged her to teach me how to make this awesome jewelry!  She obliged.  I was so thrilled.  It took me quite a few times to "get it."  Thank goodness that friend of mine has the patience of a saint! 

So after making one or two bracelets for myself, I realized that I was obsessed with these little and oh so pretty baubles.  Before I knew it, I was running from bead store to bead store, looking for the most fascinating shapes, sizes, textures and colors in beads! 

I started beading because I wanted to have something to do besides anxiously wait on our child.  More importantly, my husband and I have decided that all of the profits that are made from selling my jewelry will go in a special piggy bank that I bought today, and it will all go towards bringing home our little one!!!!!  So there you go, that is how "Beading for Baby" got it's name!

UPDATE:

Our daughter is now home. She came home in March. She is nearly 3 years old.  I am still making jewelry and all of the funds still go towards the fees for her adoption.  We would like to adopt again someday soon.  However, International and Domestic adoption is tough right now.  So I will be saving all of our pennies towards our next child as well.  Beading For Baby is solely for that purpose. It is to assist us in building our family and we appreciate all of your assistance in doing so.  Hopefully each time you look at your piece (s), you will be reminded of your generosity for many years to come.  Thank you.

I have learned how to make a different style of jewelry and I love it.  It's very labor intensive (each bracelet takes a little over 2 hours of work without interuptions), but the results are stunning.  The new style is called Shaggy Loop.  It's a combination of beads and jump rings. Each jump ring holds a bead and they are actually weaved together, much like a braid.  They are made using a variety of colored seed beads and sterling silver plated jump rings. The reason for using the plated vs solid is because sterling silver is actually very soft and the jump rings would bend and snap.  In addition, the cost of sterling silver has really risen over the past few years, and with the amount of jump rings needed, these designs would cost a fortune. 

Bracelets, anklets, necklaces and earrings are all available in this design.

I really love this new style and I hope you do as well.  They are very comfortable to wear.  They feel very light and slinky.  Just another way to twinkle!

My jewelry now includes additional designs.  I can make a bracelet, anklet or necklace with your name, the name of your children, grandchildren, friends or family.  It doesn't have to be a name, it can be anything that you want spelled out.  The letters can be in a form of a block or a heart.  I can add initials as well.  It's your choice!

I also do bridal jewelry and special occasion jewelry.  Want something to go with that perfect black dress of yours?  Let me help you with that!  Do you want specific crystals and pearls to match your tiara for your wedding day?  Would you like all of your maids to have a different design, but with the same color crystal as their dresses?  I can work on all of that with you. 

Contact me if you have questions or would like help in designing a piece.  Have fun with it!