I make handmade beads in a large variety of designs. My most popular beads are my "motto" beads. Each "motto" bead has a special phrase in Latin or Italian. The beads are totally hand made starting from a ball of raw clay. Each bead is hand molded for size uniformity. I turn my beads into pendants using sterling silver wire, beads and charms.  My "motto" beads are approximately 3/4 inches in diameter.

My beads are based on simply decorated beads made in 16th century Italy. Hand painted beads were often given as small love tokens for a girl getting married. They were frequently inscribed with the word "Bella" which means "beautiful". During the Renaissance the beads were used as spinning weights.