GB SIGNATURE PIECE

Since the beads in this ensemble are so incredibly special and were created from the 1930’s and 40’s, I wanted it to represent “Old Hollywood” in all it’s glamour. I made it with Marilyn Monroe in mind.

The extremely rare beads in this necklace I had never seen before 2001. I first discovered them in a bead factory in Venice. After sorting through thousands of handmade Venetian beads all day, I was stretching while my order was being tallied and out of the corner of my eye I saw “something shimmering.” I began sorting through a pile of bagged beads. I became very excited when I realized what I had found and asked the owner if he knew he had vintage crystal. Georgio replied “I have no idea what’s in there, all I know it’s been there for about sixty years.” He told me I was welcome to go through them and buy whatever I’d like! It was one of my most exciting “bead moments”.

Up to this point, all my vintage collection had been sold to me by distributors that solely looked for vintage beads. I had always heard that small factories have vintage crystal “just sitting on their shelves.” But this was the first time I had ever experienced it. I not only walked out with the handmade fourth generation Venetian beads I had come for, I had pristine vintage crystal that I had never even seen before.

Back in the U.S. a few months later George, my main vintage bead distributor called and told me he had finally persuaded a German couple to sell their inventory. He went on to tell me that for over twenty years he had been keeping in contact with a couple who had owned a jewelry store in Germany back in the 1930’s. Around WWII they packed up all their crystal beads, both in pre-made jewelry and beads still in the original boxes. Never one to loose site of vintage stash once he found it, George had patiently kept calling this couple periodically over the last two decades. Now in their 80’s, the couple had finally decided “it was time they could sell.”

I am well known for my Over-The-Top-Excited-Spastic-Enthusiasm whenever I am given the incredible opportunity to purchase original vintage beads but George told me, “He had something Extra Special that I would go nuts over.” In addition to never before worn jewelry, George allowed me to purchase the original necklace and earring displays this couple had in their store. Written in German, hand-sewn to their velvet covered boards, over six decades later they were handed to me. And I will say, this was one of the most emotional finds I have ever experienced. Amongst all the treasure, once again, for the second time in my life, I saw the elongated crystal AB beads, and I knew I had to make something “Unbelievably Gorgeous.” By combining the beads from both of my finds I was able to create the “GB Flowered Necklace,” which has proudly become my signature piece.