A little over seven years ago Alexandra went through a series of unexpected events that led her to start combining beads, leather, and semiprecious gemstones. This revelation was nothing short of a miracle for her. A year later she decided to enter a beading contest and, to her utmost surprise, the first piece she ever submitted won! She has since accumulated over the years both national and international victories and publications in US, Ukrainian, and German magazines. She had her pieces modeled on a runway. One of her necklace creations spent a year on exhibit at the TOHO Museum in Japan, and two another is featured in Creative Beading, Volume 9 and Creative Beading, Volume 10.

Alexandra teaches beading classes at US bead shops, for the B&B Show, and occasionally internationally.

The BeadSmith chose Anne to consult with them on their line of kumihimo tools, findings and materials  And she continues to represent the BeadSmith as a guest designer on Jewelry Television’s how-to program Jewel School.

Anne has also pushed the concept of other textile techniques as jewelry (macrame and fingerweaving) and holds as patent on the Macrame Work Board.

He experimented with different art media finding his passion in bead weaving.
Currently Edwin runs ACL Patterns and More, an online shop that specializes in the sale of beading patterns, unique and / or unusual beads and findings. He is a bilingual bead weaving teacher who hold classes locally and in South America. Edwin also uses his YouTube channel to share his passion for beads to his Spanish speaking followers around the world.

In addition to making jewelry and selling supplies, Mary enjoys teaching at her local Maryland bead store as well as at other east coast bead stores.  She has most recently offered classes for The Bead & Button Show as well as Bead Fest.  Her projects have been featured in special editions of Bead Stringing as well as Step by Step Wire magazine.

Nicole is co-founder and co-director of Star Wheel Printers, a Philadelphia printmaking collective. Nicole is also an entrepreneur who uses her creativity to upcycle home and fashion goods as Facelift Thrift LLC’s co-owner.

Nolly finds the scrolling and sculpting techniques available in glass to be challenging and fulfilling.  Her work includes many traditional bead patterns like dots and twists, Nolly finds herself returning to the romance of petals, leaves, tendrils and scrolls any time she’s working to find a new pattern or series.

Gelsinger’s finished designs have been included juried exhibits at home and in Japan..  She teaches beadmaking at Common Ground on the Hill in Westminster, MD and at The Glass Resort in Frederick, MD, and sells her work on at Off Track Art in Westminster, MD and regional juried craft shows.   More information can be found at www.nollysfolly.com.

Gelsinger lives in Westminster with her family.

Reena Brooks has been in numerous juried shows and sells her art and wearables at arts festivals in the area and Orchard Artworks.  She is currently the president of the Cheltenham Print Guild in Cheltenham, PA and a member of Star Wheel Printers.

It may be a dramatic change to go from a medical doctor to a jewelry designer. But Yin thinks the skill of using your hands is essential in any creative work. With a beads store in Boston area, Yin is happily living with her husband and two lovely kids who are in graduate school. She loves to play with beads, and work with colors. She enjoys the free-form of wire wrapping, the dynamic rhythms of crochet and the meditation of Kumihimo. It is always exciting to share and exchange the technical aspects of beading with all bead lovers! Her classes in Bead and Button were sold out quickly. Students and customers alike love to Kumi with her!

Roxan lives and works from her studio in Shiremanstown, Pennsylvania where she produces original designs. Her style is an elegant example of unique design, color and texture in the form of wearable art. Her sense of color combinations, depth of design, space, and attention to details makes her one of the leading artist in her field. She takes from nature, tries to improve on it and has a passion to create beauty through her work. She finds creating jewelry a transcendent experience which fills her soul like no other.