Elle’s Beads – Funky, Eco-Friendly Fashion

Hi everyone!  I’m Elle, the creative force behind Elle’s Beads.  By day I’m a public interest paralegal and by night I’m a committed player in the Handmade Movement!  No, it’s not as exciting as if I donned a cape and roamed the streets fighting crime, but it’s an integral part of my life and something I’ve grown to truly love and cherish.

Elle’s Beads was never intended to be a business venture.  I started beading and making jewelry as an outlet for dealing with some of the depression and anxiety I was going through after starting my first “real” job in a new city after college. After a few months of encouragement from family and friends, I decided to open shop on Etsy and I’ve been selling my work ever since.

The designs I make are almost always one of a kind and reflect my personality and eclectic sense of style.  I think my creative design comes from my previous profession as doing Wedding makeup for brides and hairstyles. I have a line of LGBT pride jewelry as well as dozens of other funky, colorful pieces.  This year I’ve added lines of metal bookmarks and beaded cell phone charms, perfect even for those who don’t wear much jewelry.  I also make fabric accessories, including brooches, pins, and barrettes.

Environmental responsibility is a big issue for me and so a lot of my work reflects that.  I only use scrap fabrics for my accessories and often incorporate broken vintage jewelry, vintage buttons, and other second-hand embellishments into my work.  I make beaded and resin magnets and often use recycled bottle caps or even creative items like old keys and eyeglass lenses in my creations.

You can find Elle’s Beads (and me!) all over the web..  I have an active Tumblr blog, YouTube channel.  I’d love it if you stopped by and dropped me a line.  One of the best parts of starting this business is the wonderful friendships I’ve made with other artisans and lovers of handmade!

Until next time,

Elle

Tags: accessories, artisan, artistic jewelry, beaded, beads, crafts, Handmade, Handmade Artists, handmade jewelry, jewelry

Posted in Handmade Harbor