I’m just a girl with a hobby that turned into a dream which became a passion . . .
My name is Kathleen Sylvia and it was about 9 years ago that I walked into a Michael’s store for the first time and walked out with a bag of beads, a couple tools and an instruction book. I had no idea what I was going to do with it all but was willing to give it a try. I wanted a new craft hobby – I used to cross stitch all the time – then I began scrap-booking – but was ready for something new. I went home and placed it all on the kitchen table and started learning and creating – needless to say I did not sleep at all that night!!! The jewelry I was creating was so exciting! I had no idea where this new hobby was going to take me . . .
I quickly built up an inventory and began giving jewelry to friends and family but still found I had so much inventory. I started selling at juried craft shows, but I live in New England so the weather is always questionable and come winter I just didn’t want to take my stuff out of the house. I decided to open an ETSY shop in 2009 and I’m still there today (of course I still do shows and am thousands of bags of beads later and have an entire room dedicated to it) but still LOVE it! And things sure have changed since 2009 . . . in addition to my ETSY shop I now have a main website – http://www.theblackbrook.com – that is running strong and I’ve been able to quit my day job working in accounting for the last 22 years!!! Of course I still stay up many nights working on my craft . . . it is now my passion and joy to design fabulous jewelry.
Over the years I have become particularly fond of gemstones and freshwater cultured pearls as you will see in many of my designs. They are just so captivating and always so different! I also love butterflies and dragonflies and bumble bees. I am drawn to free-spirited, earthy designs and inspired by the tranquil calmness of nature . . . And especially interchangeable jewelry – sometimes it’s tough to decide and well, why should you have to?
I’ve been asked many times so just in case you were wondering – Black Brook does exist and flows through the wooded area behind my home and is absolutely beautiful!