Jody started beading at the age of 12 and soon became a typical rambunctious teenager. When I got into trouble, my parents grounded me in my room, so I found a lot of time to practice beading. My dad owned a radiographic company, and he sold my jewelry to the doctors and hospital administrators he saw each day. The first week I made $50 - a gold mine for a young teen. When I was 19, I joined my father's x-ray business, working 12-hour days and traveling throughout the Northwest. Even though I was successful, I felt empty inside. I began to realize there was so much more to life than work, and my daughters were growing up before my eyes.

Then I met Sadie. Sadie was an elderly woman who lived at the end of the block. One day I noticed she'd fallen in her front yard and my daughter and I had stopped to help her. Several months later, she became ill and died. I was devastated as I watched her family take load after load of her belongings to the dump - a lifetime of memories discarded and soon forgotten in the piles of rubble. I offered to haul it away myself. It was among those forgotten treasures that I found Sadie's button box. Soon after I took a bead class and met a Native American woman who encouraged me to use the buttons, which she called "precious stones."

The week I resigned from my job, I went to work at a local bead store. Eight months later, the store went out of business and I could not imagine life without the beads of a bead store. So I had to open one myself! Three years later I opened my 2nd store, which is now owned by Cindy Majeski (Beyond Beads North). We are now celebrating 17 years in business. This includes a beautiful classroom, great for our classes and guest teachers. Life is good and I am grateful for all of my blessings. Beading has changed my life in many ways and has given the balance I was missing. I know that beads are magical - and if you are a beader you know what I mean.

Jody’s now “50” and beading strong. She has been working on her raised texture technique for the past three years. She has excepted and proud to say she is now an artist. Willing to share her beadwork and creations with the world. Her raised texture beading technique is new to the beading world, although many of her stitches have been around for years. It is her creative form and technique that separates her from other beaders. Today her creations are being recognized as fine art.

Jody draws inspiration from the natural beauty and the rhythm of life. The elements are the soul of her work. The vibrant colors and natural rhythms of nature are uniquely captured in her extraordinary work. “I am truly grateful and honored that my work is being recognized,” says Jody. “Beading comes from my soul. I never draw anything by hand. In the end, these pieces seem to come alive with the natural heartbeat of nature.”

Jody uses the finest quality of beads, a mixture of shells, coral, pearls, stone, glass, crystal and other natural elements. She considers her store her studio, and is grateful to have such a wonderful place to be filled with beads and inspiration. She is Bead Blessed! With the help of her manager Summer, she is so thankful that she is allowed the time to create. Jody says, “Summer is a wonderful person and holds a special place in my heart. She has helped her with color pallets and encouragement for the past 13 years.” (Thank you Summer!)

Jody teaches classes on her techniques and shares her creativity and inspiration. She has had the opportunity to travel and be a guest teacher in different locations.