That girl above is me, Sami the owner of Grizzly Beads! My whole life, my calling has been to create. Although, with my insane curiosity and adhd combined, I’ve never been able to stick to one medium. So, despite being the “little entrepreneur” growing up, I feared starting a business because I wasn’t sure I’d be able to keep interest in one type of art. Then, I was blessed with jewelry making! The idea of embellishing yourself with jewelry started really enticing me about 2 years ago. I was a tomboy so I never cared too too much for it growing up. The more I shopped for and worked with my jewelry supplies the more I became intrigued by all of the different types of metal there is out there. Mostly the differences in how they reacted to the elements, and the different moods you can achieve with them. Right around the same time, I was being pressured by everyone around me to pick a path in life, so naturally I started looking into trade school because it felt like the most obtainable thing for me. There it was, my local community college had a full year welding program. I figured, I think metal is cool, and even if I don’t want a job after school I will still gain a skill. I took the leap and LOVED it. I felt so at home in that class. I knew that I would stick with it, so I decided to take another leap during that school year and start a jewelry business. I wanted a jewelry business that I could eventually incorporate welded sculptures into, so I came up with the name Grizzly Beads. The lines that you make when you weld are called “beads” and when I make jewelry I work with lots of beads, so it felt right. That was a year ago and now today I have a full time stainless steel tig welding job and I run Grizzly Beads on the side. I invested in a welder but I still will not have a garage to weld with it for another 3 months, so my business is still all jewelry right now. This business has turned into one of the most fulfilling things that has ever happened to me! Jewelry making acts as a break from welding, and welding acts as a break from jewelry making, balancing me perfectly and proving that I can stick to one thing! The fact that so many of you support me, and want my jewelry is insane, and I am so incredibly grateful. Although, with that being said, I run this business completely by myself so I appreciate you guys being patient with me and not expecting the impossible from a 1 man operation. There is lots more one of a kind art to come thanks to you guys!