www.honeybeehandmadejewelry.com

Barbara Klein was first drawn to beadwork in the mid-1980's by a love for Native American art. With a lesson from a friend and the help of a library book, she began creating jewelry in the primary colors and geometric themes traditional to many Native tribes.  However, it was the floral beadwork inspired by European missionaries that really caught her eye and brought her to a style closer to her own European- American roots. Over the years, her beadwork continued to evolve reflecting each new fascination, particularly the rich colors and sensual lines of Art Nouveau and the lacy intricacy of Victorian beadwork.

It wasn't until the turn of the century that jewelry making became more than just a hobby for Barbara. After moving to the mountains of North Carolina from Oregon, she decided to pursue her long time dream of being a professional artist and enrolled at Haywood Community College, where she received a degree in jewelry in 2002. After graduating, she worked on making and selling silver jewelry, but a longing for more color led her to begin incorporating beads into her metal jewelry. Soon the beads took over and again, with the help of books, she expanded her skills and learned ever more intricate styles of beadwork.

Today, Barbara's beaded jewelry can be found in several galleries in the Western North Carolina area. Each piece is one of a kind and influenced by the colors and forms of the natural world, especially flowers, leaves and berries.  Love for art and nature were values instilled early in her rural Midwestern childhood, and Barbara is thrilled to have found a way to combine these passions and to share them with others through her handcrafted jewelry.