Dazzle: Risky Beads

Isn’t it funny how you start looking for one thing and end up falling for another? We thought it was high time for a little bling on the site, and what we found instead of some delicate silvery thing with gemstones was a little wit and grit in the form of Risky Beads’ hand-stamped metal jewelry and accessories.

Risky Beads’ pieces have personalities  all their own. You know from the motto on the opening website page (Risky Beads: Accessories With Issues) that this is not your usual glitzy, girly bling. (And don’t we all want to flaunt our tough stuff from time to time?)

Risky Beads is owned by Lori Ward of Charlotte, North Carolina. She produces key tags, bracelets, rings and necklaces, pendants and pet ID tags using hand-stamped metal designs, metal charms, beads, leather thongs and more.

She’s not a sewist or quilter, but definitely understands the power of craft in her work with beads and stamping.  She’s been creating jewelry since 2007, and added the metal stamping element in 2009. The real fun comes in, though, when she uses her writing talent to “embellish” the embellishments.

“It gives me an opportunity to unite my crafty side with my writing side by incorporating my favorite quotes, etc.  I’m an avid writer, have been my entire life,” Lori says.

Many of her designs can be customized, and she has a whole line for men. Pricing varies, beginning at $13.95 for a charm necklace.  (And speaking of charms, Lori’s got some unusual ones, including a beaker, calculator, baby foot, real estate sign, and a coffin!)

We love the edgy, urban look and the dry sense of humor that comes through in the slogans and phrases in her work, especially when paired with little metal scissors or needles: “I came. I saw. I cut.” “Weapon of choice.” “Sew Fierce.” “My Other Car is a Sewing Machine.”

Check out her etsy site at http://www.etsy.com/shop/riskybeads and tune into her blog at http://riskybeads.blogspot.com/.

Here’s the one Melissa wants, if anyone in her family is paying attention: