About Us

Our Story...How Artful Beads Came To Be!

Artful Beads is a partnership that was formed through friendships that developed after doing bead shows together for years. Barbara and Laina owned The Beaded Giraffe which sold beautiful Czech Glass Beads, jewelry making kits, and associated supplies. Amy owned The Glass Moon which sold her handmade borosilicate glass beads and finished jewelry. After spending countless weekends unpacking and packing our fabulous collections of beads at shows, we all decided we'd like to have a permanent place to share the joyful experience of beads. After putting our heads together, Artful Beads became a reality!!

Don't worry, though...you can still find The Beaded Giraffe and The Glass Moon at shows! We can all now be found under Artful Beads.

Barbara Falkowitz
Barbara has been beading for the last thirty years, intermittently with sewing, t-shirt painting, appliqué, macramé, knitting, cake decorating, PMC and feltmaking. Barbara’s love of fabric and beads is ever expanding into many new and creative techniques that she enjoys passing along to others. Barbara’s life journey has taken her from accounting to weekends at bead shows as The Beaded Giraffe. The journey now continues with Artful Beads Studio and Workshop, and ever more new and creative ways to incorporate beads into her life!

Laina Goodman
Laina has always had a passion for art. Having attained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fashion Design from Drexel University, Laina is experienced and trained in various types of design. Experimental in photography, painting, silver-smithing and silk screening, her eternal passion for jewelry design keeps her busy with many ongoing projects. Laina is also certified to teach precious metal clay classes and loves working and instructing with this amazing material. Her latest passion of wet felting has led to many unique and creative designs. Additionally, she is always looking for new ways to combine her sewing abilities with beading to inspire new creations. Whatever the medium, Laina's hands are never empty.

Amy Haftkowycz
With a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science, Amy has always craved a creative outlet. Once she discovered beads, there was no looking back! Quick to become addicted, shortly after discovering beads Amy taught herself lampworking - the small-scale glass blowing process she uses to create her own one-of-a-kind art glass beads. But her bead creation hasn't stopped there! She became a certified PMC artisan in April, 2004, and is now exploring the ever-intriguing world of bead weaving. There is no end to how she continues to incorporate beads into her life!!