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Sonny and Barbara Banick have been making jewelry together for over 17 years. It began when Sonny decided he needed a hobby because Barbara was working days and spending most evenings in class.
Sonny began by making beaded earrings. He told Barbara for years that "he could make those" when she spent lots of money on large, dangling earrings, and one day he did! Once Barbara and their daughter, Erika (and most of their friends) had all of the beaded earrings they could ever want, Barbara encouraged Sonny to get into his first craft show. That is how BEADESIGNS got its start back in 1992.
Once Barbara finished school, she began making jewelry, too. Together they have learned a lot about beads and gemstones over the years, and they continually increase their skills.
Barbara enjoys designing necklaces using beads in a variety of shapes and colors such as her "gypsy bead" necklace, but Sonny does it all: he designs, wire wraps and finishes pieces that are as well made as they are lovely. His favorite thing to do--and his greatest talent--is wire wrapping gemstones and beads for his pendants, necklaces and earrings. He has developed a fondness for working with these stones and enjoys choosing each stone that he will ultimately wrap (especially druzies). Sometimes when he has finished a piece, he does not want to let it go, so it becomes a gift to his wife or daughter!
Sonny enjoys socializing with his customers as much as he enjoys making jewelry. He welcomes custom designs and looks forward to retiring from his job as a pipe fitter early in 2010 so he can devote himself full time to BEADESIGNS. He plans to begin teaching wire-wrapping techniques upon retirement as well.
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