JustBeads.com

JustBeads.com Hello! I’m GodessofCraft (Janice Titus) and am crazy about beads. I am very honored to have been chosen as Artist of the Month, and I want to thank you, Bob and Bettina, and, also, for making JustBeads such a great place to buy and sell beads.

This is my bio: When I heard about the Old Woman who lived in a Shoe, thoug...ht, “Really?!! When you could have chosen to live in a Bead Shop?”

I collect beads and hoard them. I no longer make jewelry with my gorgeous beads – not even for myself. Instead, I just sit and look at my them. I take them out, admire them and put them away, even though I may have had the best of intentions of parting with some of my collection. This month, I would like to share my stash with you.

Collecting beads is a job in itself. The early beader gets the bead…including the beautiful vintage jewelry. I used to arrive at the flea markets in the early-morning hours when the vendors were still setting up. I would walk around the entire place 100 miles per hour, checking out all the beads and old jewelry. If a necklace was broken, I would ask for a reduced price because “my girlfriend repairs jewelry, and she’s not cheap.” The best finds, though, were at Church Rummage Sales. The crystals were not scratched, and lots of earring and necklace sets were being offered, still in their original boxes, complete with real cotton padding.

Wonderful beads are also offered at the Bead Society Shows, Antique Shows, and Gem Shows. Your local Chamber of Commerce and City personnel can give you the calendar information you need.

I no longer go garage-sailing, or cruise the flea markets, or go to Gem Shows because I now have a Monday through Friday (and Saturday) office job. Thank goodness for JustBeads where I still am able to collect beads! My downfall is Vintage glass and lucite…I can’t get enough, and there’s tons of it listed on JustBeads. The only problem is that these gorgeous Vintage beads are very limited…in number, style, size, and color. Before I part with any Vintage beads, I take clear, detailed pictures because – like all good things (and all of us) -- when they’re gone…they’re gone.

(For a more detailed background on this beader, please see http://www.justbeads.com/user/artist/Janice-T/gallerybio.cfm)