Jewelry maker adores Shiny Beads

Victorian-era look in trinkets at Hower fair

By Holly Pupino

Special to the Beacon Journal

When Claudia Weil decided she wanted to launch a part-time business, she considered several options, including marketing the statistical skills she developed while working on her doctorate in psychology.But, ultimately, she decided to make and sell handcrafted jewelry, a hobby she began as a teenager.The Copley Township resident has named her home-based business Shiny Beads, and she has been selling her sterling silver and beaded necklaces, bracelets and earrings at art and craft shows, such as the annual Victorian Fair at the University of Akron's Hower House this Saturday and Sunday.``I think my style will be a good fit for the Hower House show because it is, overall, very classic,'' she said.Weil pointed to a bracelet made from freshwater pearls and textured black beads, which resemble vintage buttons, as one Victorian-era look. Her ribbon necklaces and pendants on a simple box chain are also reflective of that era, she said.Weil earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Bard College in New York's Hudson Valley and then her master's degree and doctorate from Rutgers University.After living in New York City, South Carolina and Australia, Weil and her husband, Stephen Weeks, settled in Akron, where he is a professor of biology at the University of Akron.Weil chose not to work full time while raising their two young daughters. Sarah is 6 and Sophie is 4. When Sophie began preschool a year ago, Weil began thinking about starting a business.``Working for a furniture consignment store, I would overhear conversations and, as a result, I set two rules for myself. My first rule was not to sell anything big because moving and storage is such a hassle. My second rule became, `Keep it simple,' '' she said.After taking a class to update her jewelry-making skills, Weil began making and giving jewelry as gifts. Soon, she hosted open houses for her friends and neighbors to shop at her home.In academia, Weil's focus was on psychological research, data collection and analysis. It may seem like a left brain versus right brain chasm, but she has found parallels between her academic research and her current artistic endeavors.``You have to work very hard and pay attention to detail,'' she said. ``And you don't answer to another person as much as to yourself. You set your own goals as to how good you want to be.''Weil said her attention to business details will be the difference between Shiny Beads remaining what is essentially a hobby and becoming a profitable business. She is creating a computerized inventory of all her beads and supplies and taking digital photographs of her finished work so she can better market it and apply for juried art shows.Of course, her design skills have contributed much to her success thus far. She studies fashion and color trends and, for her, the design is all about showcasing the beautiful beads she finds at shows and the off-the-beaten-path stores she seeks out while traveling.``I use a lot of semiprecious stones and beads handmade by people of different cultures,'' she said. Among her favorites are Thai Hill Tribe beads, featuring nature-inspired designs hammered and etched in sterling silver by Thai craftsmen and women. She is also fond of Bali beads, with their intricate antique-style filigree designs.``These are not factory produced,'' she said.Recent designs have also featured rose quartz, garnet, amethyst, Venetian glass, and mother of pearl beads.Although she may use the same type of beads again and again, she does not repeat patterns. Each piece of her jewelry essentially is one of a kind. Necklaces are priced from $30 to $45, bracelets $25 to $35 and earrings are $15.Weil, 43, grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., the daughter of two chemists. She has fond memories of visiting her grandmother, a painter, who lived in a 150-year-old house in Marion, Ind., and credits those visits, in part, with developing her interests in art, gardening, decorating and refinishing old furniture.

In recent weeks, she has been spending all her spare time getting ready for the Hower House show. Hours for the Victorian Fair are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3. The Hower House is located at 60 Fir Hill in Akron. In addition to jewelry, the show will feature antiques, paper crafts, floral arrangements and vintage clothing.