Sheila Brown is an artist who creates brilliantly-colored jewelry out of her own handmade lampwork beads, vintage buttons, blown glass, and upcycled pieces from other jewelry finds.

With music playing and her rescue dog Lola at her side, Brown has a lovely place to create.

Brown started working with beads, buttons and jewelry as a teenager. She discovered bead shops and thrift stores about the same time and began buying second-hand jewelry, tearing it apart and using the beads and pendants in her own designs (she still does this).

“Soon I had a unique collection of just about everything needed to make jewelry,” Brown said. “By my sophomore year of high school I was selling necklaces in boutiques in Boise, Idaho. One of the features that made my jewelry stand out was my use of buttons in necklaces as pendants and clasps.”

The studio where Brown performs her acts of creation is tiny, only about 100 square feet.

“It’s mostly designed for storage and organization, which helps my creative  process. Everything is in reach of my work table. Beads are stored by color which makes it easy to find the perfect treasure to design with,” she explained.

Brown said she is in love with art deco jewelry pieces and Bakelite. But there are really few limits to her imagination.

“Since I upcycle my jewelry components, I have an eclectic collection of products to work with. I recently made a necklace out of a drawer handle from an art deco chest of drawers. I am always on the lookout for that one of a kind item I can make into jewelry.”

Brown also likes “shine.”

“I am also a glass bead maker and incorporate my own beads with vintage beads and buttons.  I really love shiny pieces like rhinestones. I mostly use silver as my metal of choice. I also love to design beads with other glass bead makers.”

She claims not to have a signature style.

“I do not have a signature style. Because of the way I obtain my products each necklace is a unique style of its own. I mostly make necklaces and earrings, and occasionally I will make a matching bracelet.

“I am a self taught jewelry designer and glass bead maker (but)I really enjoy working with friends. I get together with a group of glass and bead artists every couple of months. We are constantly learning new glass techniques which I use in my jewelry.

“One of the women usually teaches the “class.” I have learned how to paint glass with glass enamels and  fuse glass recently. I use these art glass pieces in my jewelry design.”

Brown is also uses a technique to make beads that uses a torch to melt glass.

“I also create beads which are handmade glass beads created using a technique called lampworking,’ she said. ”In this process, artists use a gas-fueled torch to melt and manipulate glass rods or tubes. The molten glass is shaped and colored using various tools and techniques, resulting in intricate and often unique glass beads.  Lampwork beads are known for their vibrant colors, intricate designs, and artistic craftsmanship.

“I love learning these new techniques. I like to watch YouTube tutorials and look at other jewelry artist designs in magazines and online. (But) mostly I just sit down in the studio, put on some music and a creative process of my own emerges. Each piece I make is a unique design.”

Brown said she has an Instagram page is in the works and a personal Facebook page. You can reach her at cosminabeads@gmail.com

Carolyn Lewis is a serial entrepreneur, artist and community builder happily living and working in Port Townsend. Visit her Facebook Group at Port Townsend Life or follow her on instagram @carolynannelewis