Behind the Beads: Part 1
My Inspiring Journey to Europe to Source Our Signature Glass Jewelry Materials
The Origin Story:
For over 15 years, my jewelry designs have centered around richly colored, artistic glass beads that bring confidence and joy to the women who wear them. What many people don’t realize is that these signature beads are handmade by a small family-run workshop just outside of Prague, using generations-old glassmaking techniques. This spring, after an eight-year gap, I finally returned to the Czech Republic and Austria to reconnect with the artisans behind the materials, select future colors in person, and gather inspiration for new designs. The trip was part business, part creative recharge—and all heart. Over the next few posts, I’ll take you behind the scenes to show you how our vibrant beads are made, share some beautiful highlights from the journey, and give you a peek into what’s coming next in my collections.
Why I Went To Europe to Source Beads For My Jewelry
After an eight-year break, I finally returned to Europe this spring to reconnect with the place where my favorite jewelry materials are made: a tucked-away region just outside of Prague, known for its century-old glassmaking traditions.
This wasn’t just a sourcing trip—it was personal. These colorful glass beads are the heart of many of my jewelry collections, and I’ve worked with the same small group of artisans for nearly two decades. Their work isn’t mass-produced or factory-made in the modern sense—it’s created using old-world tools and traditional techniques that haven’t changed much in over a hundred years. When you wear one of my pieces made from these beads, you’re wearing something that has passed through many skilled hands before reaching mine.
Why Now?
I had hoped to make this trip much sooner, but as with many things in life, the past few years had other plans. The pandemic paused international travel. Then the war in Ukraine created further uncertainty in Eastern Europe. And I was managing some big transitions at the store and at home that kept my focus closer to Martha’s Vineyard.
But lately, I had begun to feel a sense of urgency. Some of the rich colors my customers love were getting harder to find. Reorders weren’t always consistent—shades shifted, finishes looked slightly off, or availability dried up altogether. I realized I couldn’t continue to design with confidence without seeing and selecting the glass in person.
So I packed my bags and booked the trip.
What makes this particular glass so special isn’t just the beads themselves—it’s the raw material. The glass rods used to make them vary slightly in hue and quality from batch to batch. I’ve learned that to get the exact colors I want, I have to be there, choosing with my own eyes.
Even within a single color family, the variation is stunning. There are hundreds of shades of blue—each with a different depth, shimmer, and balance between green and purple. Some rods have a second or third color swirled through the center. Some are dotted or striped. Some glow. Some are translucent and moody; others are bold and brilliant.
My partner at the factory took me to the source—the warehouse where all the color rods are stored—so I could choose for myself. Standing in front of drawers labeled with numbers and lots, each filled with pressed glass samples, I could instantly see what photos or catalogs never capture.
I pulled out colors I hadn’t seen in years and discovered new ones I can’t wait to design with. Coral! Oh, how I’ve missed you. Our former bold coral had morphed into a soft, boring tomato—but I found her again! That indescribable orangey-pinky-red that lights up every skin tone. I felt re-energized creatively—like my palette just expanded in the best possible way.
These materials are what set my jewelry apart. They give each piece richness and depth that you simply can’t replicate with mass-produced components.
Next, I headed to the factory where the beads come to life. That’s where the real magic happens. Stay tuned for my next blog post!