I have been beading for many, many years. I recently found my first little bead kit that was packed away from my 10th birthday.
I'm an artist, that has worked in pottery, oil painting, sculpting, and pastels... and I keep coming back to jewelry making.
I started out simply beading with knots using books from the library. Gradually I moved up to using proper clasps. Then, I was taught peyote stitch by a friend. Now I have expanded to several different stiches, and chain maille.
Recently, my husband took me to the Higgins Armory for some medieval inspiration. I love the library! I often checkout books on crafting to seek out different media. I feel inspired by nature, all of the beautiful colors, and by traditional metal smithing.
I have been mostly self taught up until 2009, when I started taking a few workshops at North Bennett Street School in Boston, MA. http://www.nbss.org/home/index_flash.asp