Janet Edkins – Master Bead Artist & Gaia’s Jeweler

I came to my Beads of Light jewelry the long way – through many other mediums, tangents and passions.

From an early age I was fascinated with my paternal grandmothers beads – as a young woman she did glorious beaded piece work, for a pittance, and ruined her eyes, but she kept her precious scraps of beads, bugles & sequins, in fragile twists of tissue paper, in a small basket. I have mild regrets that I did not come to beading sooner (45 years!) but I do know we are all exactly where we need to be on our individula journeys.

My transits in life, and finally coming to rest in East Tennessee, shape my work. As does my discovery of Reiki Energy, and the burgeoning of a deep abiding love of all beautiful gifts from Gaia; stones, crystals, wood, fossils, and seashells.

I am grateful for light and beauty in my life, for my creative flow, and for many artistic friends to challenge and teach me as I continue to grow.

More than “just” jewelry!

The idea of jewelry carries a lot baggage, packed over many centuries with assumptions. For some people it is just frivolous “bling.” For some it’s “high art.” For some it has to be hugely expensive, think high-end Emeralds, for it to actually be considered jewelry. I’m reminded of a quote from a play where one comment is “that’s just family jewelry dear!” Very snobby.

None of the above is what I do. The power and energy of stones and crystals, gifted to us by Gaia, have no need for our labels. Raw, “low grade,” Emerald is just as metaphyisically powerful as any of the world’s most famous ones.

Crystals and stone carry stable and unchanging energy. Each carries its own unique frequency and vibration, available to you. I make all my Beads of Light pieces with focused energy and intent that the each item will call to its person, at the right time and space, to harness their growth potential, to support, energize, or emphasize as needed. Wherever you are in your process, these are your companions on your ascension journey. The gifts from Gaia can be tools, friends, helpers, whatever you need. AND they look fabulous and sometimes blingy! 🙂

My Story and I’m sticking to it!

Honestly, the jewelry thing kinda sneaked up on me. It started with a comment at a business networking event about not being ‘Christmassy’ one year, “couldn’t I even find some earrings to get in the spirit?” So I made a couple of pairs, purple of course, just to show willing.

Then, nothing, you know, “I don’t make jewelry”! Those earrings were just an aberrant thing, right? Well, I went to a trunk show at White Fox Beads and saw a necklace. It grabbed my attention mostly because I thought the colour choice was horrendous. I don’t even remember now what they were but I wanted one in black & white, I knew I had plenty of black and white beads and the rest, as they say, is history!

Well, not quite so fast. All I’d made so far were for me. They are not perfect, by any stretch, and definitely not for sale. What they are is the basis, my start, a bit of an itch! The next thing that grabbed my attention was Soutache – my Pinterest Board title says it all “Soutache OMG”. I made more jewelry, just for me. I felt quite comfortable saying, “I don’t make jewelry,” as I was not making things for other people, nor for sale.

All that changed when I found some vintage buttons and I really took off!

THEN, drum roll please, I discovered an intense connection with crystals and stones. Knot this firmly with my Reiki journey, astrology, and sacred geometry, and you have some understanding of my abiding passion. The beads and stones just work so perfectly together. The two provide me with endless pleasure, puzzles, challenges and amazing opportunities for creativity. Coming to understand crystal healing and the power that nature wields/offers is an amazing “cherry on the top.” I know this journey to Beads of Light began so I could bring crystal healing to as many people as possible, even if they didn’t or don’t know they need it.