My name is Julie.  Thanks so much for checking out my website.  If you have any suggestions or comments please feel free to email me.  I was born and raised in San Jose, CA in a large family of 6 kids- I'm the 5th..  After high school I went to Europe and worked as a nanny for a wonderful family in Switzerland for a year and a half.  When I came back from Europe I moved to Santa Cruz with my brother and his wife.  I was going to Cabrillo College when I met my husband.  We got married  and I  became a dental hygienist.  I got pregnant soon after graduating and passing my boards.   I worked for a while doing dental hygiene but found it so difficult to leave my kids that we decided that I would stay home.  That was a heck of an adjustment!!   I wouldn't change it for the world.  My husband is a self employed electrician and I often go help him on the jobsite if he needs it.

    I have been making lampwork beads for about 5 years.  I took a one evening class at our local junior college and I was immediately hooked.  I bought a hothead torch the next day and handful of glass rods and started making beads.  It didn't take too long before I stepped up to a bigger torch.  I started wearing the jewelry I made, and soon after started selling it.  My biggest goal is to be able to afford my hobby by selling my beads.  I'd also like to be able to give to some of my favorite charities, like Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center.  They are wonderful people and do a wonderful service.

   I really love working with glass.  There are so many beautiful colors  and varieties of glass to experiment with.  There are so many possibilities with glass I could never get bored(broke! but not bored)  I have so many friends and family who have supported me and encouraged me to start a website.   I am so grateful to have such great support.

   I have a wonderful husband and two great kids .   A daughter 14, and a son 16.  We live about 10 minutes from the coast in a rural area of Santa Cruz County, California called Corralitos.   I love to garden.  My newest passion is beekeeping.  We planned on starting 2 hives in spring of 2010 but that quickly grew to 4 hives.   We have lots of pets, 3 dogs, 1 cats, 16 chickens, and a pond full of Koi.