The birth of my jewelry career is entirely Cindy's fault. I'd always admired her courageous, fashion-forward sense of style, so I asked for a favor: On her next shopping trip, would she please buy for me a really unusual, stylish green necklace? "I trust you!" (And I meant it.) "On second thought, make that olive green. No, I think bluish-green would be better. Or tan...? But DON'T spend more than $50!" My indecision had pushed her too far. She told me to go to a bead store & make my own necklace! I had never heard of bead stores! So I Googled "bead stores" & was in awe of the array of bright, sparkly things I found in a nearby Bellevue, WA shop! Hundreds of dollars flew out of my wallet for sparkles & for my first beading classes. Cindy herself bought several of my creations. I was beyond-flattered that she & other close friends loved my work. That gave me the courage to become a legal, Washington State business in 2006.

A year after making that first beaded necklace, I ventured into wire work, with more classes & precious metal wire. The third year brought metalsmithing classes & even more precious metal – this time, in sheets. The new Cheryl was on a roll, in a completely different direction from the old, geeky Cheryl. The new Cheryl was possessed.

During the years as the new Cheryl, I've had 3 different business names- all still active in certain markets & all representing my original jewelry designs- Classic Beadwear, Seattle Bead Creations, & Seattle Chic Jewelry... names evolving just like me.

So here I am now, a one-woman-business, supporting three online stores & my wonderful local customers. Maybe when age turns us silver, as a consolation prize we no longer care to "color within the lines" of our lives. That's my excuse for the shamelessness I feel about my recently hatched, artsy self. Some of my work is classic & elegant. Some is quirky & zany. With beads, wire, & metal, I can/do take many paths into jewelry design. All my work is 100% original & entirely handmade by me. I’m no longer afraid to experiment in my career & fail. (That’s what recycle bins are for.) I'm convinced that SHAMELESSNESS BREEDS THE FREEDOM THAT FEEDS THE CREATIVE PROCESS. However, my three wiggly, giggling grandchildren & patient husband own a big part of my heart & keep me grounded to real life... enough to schedule only two (ok, maybe three) shows a year, usually during the holidays.

Clearly, Seattle Chic Jewelry by any name represents much more than a business to me. It tracks my own evolution as a person in the silver phase of my life. I hope you'll shop my store & help me celebrate this process:)