Jade McClendon : The Artist

I have been creating lampwork beads and jewelry since 2000... and I feel so blessed to have found something that I love to do, and allows me to express myself, in my art and my fashion sense... I am very inspired by fashion, colors and textures, and also by our customers... I love to play with colors that don't just seem right, and somehow those ones turn out the best... The hearts are very soothing and therapeutic to me to make, and it just seems like I am so connected to them, I know that when we get letters back from customers that have bought the hearts, either for gifts, or for themselves... they have told us that our hearts have changed their lives... it know it seems weird, but we feel very connected to our work and our customers... so thats very cool for us.. and we love to get stories back like that.

I graduated in 2004 from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) with a degree in psychology (yup, thats right) and I played 2 sports volleyball and golf on scholarship for 4 years... I had a small torch that ran on map gas for a year, then got a small oxygen tank and set it up in my living room, and was working on a minor burner.

It really started to become a business for me in 2004 when I moved back to Calgary for a few months after graduating.

It wasn't long after that my future husband was called to ask if Calgary was closer to Edmonton or Vancouver. A little bit of background... my husband and I met in college, and after a very hard fought and persistent time, he swept me off my feet... He played football at Ole Miss and when we graduated he went to play for the Tennessee titans for a few months, then Atlanta falcons, it was then that he was contacted by the Eskimos and the BC lions, I said I was closer to Edmonton, and he was here the following Monday... We then moved into a high rise apartment downtown where I had an amazing studio with an incredible view, however, high rise is so not for me... we moved into our townhouse in April 2007, and feel like we have outgrown it already... I guess we have too many shoes...

He did put a ring on it, as Beyonce would say, and we got married in Mexico on February 25 2009... It was amazing.

I have a cute little studio in one of the bedrooms here at the house, I painted it bright yellow, and try to have inspiration in there... I did have the flat screen and my studio set up before we even had a bed!!! just to put things in perspective. I would love to have a huge studio with lots of color and shelves and couches etc. But its on my vision board.... so... one day. My customers don't seem to mind coming to the townhouse, and we have had a few open houses here at, and the turn out has been amazing... so thanks for the support!!!

I worked at the Edmonton Country Club golf course for 4 summers as well, and played competitively for most of my life... I love golf, I just hate to golf in the cold! In 2006 I qualified for the Canadian Open (LPGA) event here in Edmonton at the Mayfair golf course.. It was the most incredible experience of my life... there were so many emotions that week, and I shot like a billion and 10 but it was still amazing... Hitting balls between Julie Inkster and Christy Kerr... I was shitting my pants... just hoping to make contact with the ball... Julie then turned around and started to chat with me... how cool... surely a week I will never forget. I havent played much competitive golf since then, I want to play well, and I know what it takes, and how much practice it takes to play well, and the reality is, that LPGA is probably out of the question for me, and the beads have gone to a level that I never could have dreamed... I am just flying with it, and trusting that the universe has me on the right path...

I am so lucky to have an amazing husband, who is so supportive, funny, loving, and totally my biggest bitchin bead fan... he had an incredible collection of bracelets and cuff links, and even puts in orders when he doesn't have something to match... we really are perfect for each other...especially when most of our biggest problems are "babe what shoes should I wear with this outfit?" He is truly the love of my life, and we look forward to each and every day, and we know that the best is yet to come!!! Thanks babe for being so amazing, and pushing me to keep creating and doing what I love.... you are the best part of every day!!!