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About Ilona
My path to beads was not an obvious
one, although in hindsight there were clues that I would
gravitate to design and visual arts. As a child, I could
easily become absorbed by identifying different
patterns in the tiny tiles that covered our bathroom and
kitchen floors. In college, without even being aware of
it, I would assemble colorful meals from the buffet in the
dining hall. My love of color was in part what
led me to study, work and travel in Latin America,
home to vibrant hues and strong and lively
designs. |
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Photo by Marshall Zeidel |
As an adult, I dabbled in
ceramics, photography and occasionally made necklaces while
working as an economic analyst and later as a management
consultant. But in reaction to September 11th I
sought a creative and meditative outlet, and I became
hooked on making jewelry. Since
2002, when I left my job, I've created a workshop, Marketing for
Artisans, which I offer in the Boston
area. |
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About the Name |
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The name
"Beadventurous" came to me in January 2002 - an
inspiration that beckoned me to begin
this business. Beads allow me
to combine my love of texture, shape and color in a
single medium; beads also have a timeless if not sacred
quality - they've been adorning and enriching people's
lives for millennia. Adventure, for me, is about
exploration, discovery and embracing the unexpected, even if
one is unsure of the outcome. Beadventurous® is
my venture. Be Adventurous
is the attitude to which I aspire....of
course, we all have days when we'd rather not leave the
house! I also love dictionaries, so here
is what Webster's has to
say: |
| Bēad·ven’tūr·ous: |
bead,
n.
[ME. bede, a
prayer; AS. bedu,
from biddan, to
pray] 1. a small, usually round piece of glass, wood, metal,
etc. pierced for stringing. 2. [pl.] a string of
beads for counting off prayers. 3. [pl.] a string of
beads; necklace
ven’tūr·ous, a. inclined to
venture, or take chances; bold and enterprising; not
timid. |
| Bē·ad·ven’tūr·ous |
be, v.i. 1. to exist, to
live. 2. to be made to be, to become. 3. to remain, to
continue. 4. to
be present in a place.
ad·ven’tur·ous, a. fond of adventure;
daring; courageous; enterprising
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About the
Beads |
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I use beads from all over the
world, and I gravitate towards those with unusual shapes
and bright colors. Sometimes I find my beads in
overseas bazaars (ask me about beads from Peru, Thailand
and the Netherlands!). I also visit the "bead district" in New
York City, expedition to bead and gem shows in New
England, browse in neighborhood shops, and surf the
Internet. Most of creations contain beads from
multiple sources and countries. I take pride in finding
distinctive beads that most of my customers have never seen
before and using them to create highly original
designs. |
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About the color of this web
site |
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This warm orange
tone reminds me of the year and a half I spent in Mexico in
the late 1990s. While there, I basked in the bright
orange, red and yellow hues of the cities of Oaxaca and San
Miguel de Allende, and was dazzled by the intricately
patterned and colored textiles in the state of
Chiapas. Many of the color combinations
featured in Mexican textiles have inspired my jewelry
creations, as well as the color of my home. One of my
neighbors refers to it as the
"Hacienda"! | |
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