Accents of Grace began as a business shortly after the birth of my daughter; she is my biggest inspiration! I have always been a maker and picked up beading and wire techniques while working at a bead store in Portland, Ore. I started selling jewelry at the shop and decided to make jewelry my business in 2003 when my daughter was about two. I was helped along by an amazing non-profit, then named PDX Fashion Incubator. The Incubator facilitated designers to network and work within the profession of fashion, and served as an informative, real time platform to launch my line from. I went from making jewelry in my bedroom, to assisting with the production of fashion shows and creating a brand of my own. Wholesale accounts were activated and I was off and running. I soon realized that creating production jewelry was definitely not for me! After a few wholesale seasons nearly zapped me of my creative force, I committed that I would make one of a kind pieces that I truly loved. I committed to seeing the creative process through with each item I made. This is what fulfills me! Now, 10 years later, making jewelry is not exactly my business but it's way more than a hobby. I really love that I get to play with beads!