There's a story behind this necklace and earring set.  It started with the gift of a bead from Jim Jones of Bullfrog Beads.  The bead suggested the Art Deco period and the Metropolis-era modern skyscrapers with its bold graphic qualities.  That started a train of thought which led to reflections on what people do to give their sprawling, sometimes generic city landscapes life and personality.  Then a friend told a story that illustrated this beautifully.  This friend has a large vinyl record collection; he discovered that a local record store was buying as many original copies of the MC5's first record as they could and storing them, not putting them out for sale until the value went up (the record had been censored and the uncensored copies were becoming very collectable).  Incensed at this, he took a copy of this record out of his own collection and gave it to the next stranger he met---having no idea if this person would like it, or if he'd ever see the guy again.  A few weeks later, he ran into the guy and found that he not only loved the record but that it had changed his life. 
 
This is a freeform sculptural necklace made entirely of glass beads sewn together with thread, with a vintage button for a clasp.  There are several types of bead stitching being used, including two- and three-dimensional peyote stitch, netting, right angle weave, and Ndbele or herringbone weave. 

Featured in Bead Unique Magazine, Summer 2007, page 104

Exhibited in the Beaverton Arts Showcase in February 2007. 

Exhibited in Craft Forms 2007, a juried art exhibition at Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA. 

This is an allegory necklace, to commemorate the encouragement Teresa has received from artists Joyce Scott and Paul Stankard.  Joyce and Paul are depicted in the earring set that accompanies the necklace.  They are both great examples of innovation and perseverance.  Wearing a pair of Joyce's "people" earrings led Teresa to realize that she could use beads to create graphic stories, and it was this which lured her into the world of seed bead expression.