Hi, I am Jeanne Bean. I began jewellery making as a hobby in my teens. I made lots of beaded trinkets for my female relatives. I never thought of it as a business at that time.

Then, many years later, I was working at Sobeys. Our boss was getting ready to move away and we girls wanted to get her something. She and I went to a gala night with a silent auction. She fell in love with a bracelet there. I know I could not out bid for it, so I studied it and decided to try to make one for her. I got some supplies in colours as close to the one at the gala. We were having a going away party for her in a few days, so I worked hard and got it done. I told the girls I had got the gift for her from all of us. When she opened the gift, she thought it was the one from the auction. When the other girls saw it, they asked if I would make them one in different colours. That is how the idea of Wire, Glass and Gem Designs came into being.

I am happily married to a supportive husband. We have one daughter who loves making jewellery as much as I do. We live in the lovely city of Stratford, Ontario. There are a lot of creative vibes in this lovely theatre city.