Hello! My name is Lynda Roubineau, I was Lynda Graham until 12/02 I put this, because some people go - HUH???? what the heck did you do to your name - lol....... I got divorced, and while it wasn't the most pleasant thing I've ever gone through - I know it was the best for all involved.

You will find that I don't do the typical "business verbiage" on my site.... It's just that I can't... This is my art, my love, my joy, my passion, it's the root of all that is me... for that... You get to see the inside of my scary head *laughs*. OK enough with the disclaimers...... here's the "statement".

I love beads, and one could say that it's an addiction. I would have to say that it is one of the healthiest addictions I can think of. People ask why "The Bead Goddess", in fact I've had people question me saying that THEY are "THE" Bead Goddess.... Here's the scoop - I've been a Goddess chick for YEARS and YEARS, before the Goddess phase became cool, I was there.... Kinda like that country song - I was Country, when country wasn't cool.... Replace Goddess there and you got me. My philosophy is this - We are all Goddess's - Except the Guys, (but if you want to be Goddess's well, that's fine too!) Anyone who is into beads is (you guessed it) A Bead Goddess.... It's not a fact to argue, it's just what I believe and I believe it 100%! However, when I began my journey into beads, it was a natural transition, that all my family and friends started to call me "The Bead Goddess" and it stuck, and Here I am.

Some people want to know - how did it all start? Well, I started beading in March of 1998. I saw an anklet in a store and I thought it was really neat. I loved it, but it wasn't really in a color that I would wear much, so I bought it and made it in the colors I wanted, but the designs changed ever so slightly.... and then it started!!! I've been addicted to these little glass beads ever since!! I started going to every bead store that I could find. I bought a lot of books, and even more beads. I'm self taught, ever expanding my experiences - - and I've never met a bead I didn't like.!

After about 6 months of beading, I discovered lampwork beads. I found them to be really amazing, some of the details that are on glass is so impressive. I bought a few lampworked beads and I decided I wanted to learn how to do that next.

This was somewhat of a challenge. My husband at the time, was the director of safety for a corporation, and just wouldn't even play with the idea of his wife "playing with fire" in the home!!! Welllllll in April 1999, I went to a glass show in Las Vegas. I tricked my husband into going saying that was the only way he could tell me what was safe or not :-)

Molly from Heritage Glass was at this show, and she was doing a demo of Lampworking. I sat there with my mouth wide open. I was in total awe!!! I just kept watching her, as she was doing everything I just kept thinking.... "I could do that!!! My husband knew at that point that he was doomed!!

Two hours later about about $130.00 poorer, I walked away with a hothead torch setup and some glass and Cindy Jenkins Book, "How to Make Glass Beads". I immediately went home and started torching away. I started out right away making bees and ladybugs. I look back at them and laugh to myself, because they are pretty bad, but for first beads, they could have been much worse. I took my little bees and ladybugs back to the glass show the next day and showed them to Molly. She gave me such praise, and it was exactly what I needed to confirm what I was doing. Walked away about $150.00 poorer that trip.

From that day on - April 14th, 1999, I have been in love with my little hot head torch. I still like my little hot head even though I don't use it any longer. I upgraded to a minor in August of 2000 (and to a Lynx in April of 2001, sold my lynx in January 2002, and back on my minor - and love it....)

My one piece of advice to the beginning lampworker - if you hear people tell you that you can't do something with a hot head (or any torch for that matter, I've seen people do Boro with a minor!!) don't believe it until you do it yourself. I did a lot of things that are supposedly not possible with a hot head, but the nice thing about a bigger and "badder" torch is that you can do bigger and badder beads :-) With that note, yep, you can guess who's thinking about upgrading her torch again... I'm really in love with the Phantom, but man that's a lot of money (approximate. $1300.00 just for the torch). Ahhhhhhhhh well, back to the flame!!!

OK, so if you are still reading, I got a little bit more, and thank you for your patience - you must be a coffee fan!!

In the end of May - 2003, I was laid off from my job of 13.75 years. It made me realize that I really wanted to do this full-time, I always have, but I *did* have a really good day job, and you just don't walk away from *really good* day jobs..... but, since the lay-off Goddess finally said - Hey Lynda, you're supposed to be working at your business, and this day job is getting in the way - I'm going to help you out here, so there you go - lay off city..... (I don't know if that's how it really worked, but it's my story, and I'm sticking to it) *smiles*

As you browse through my offerings of lampwork beads and jewelry, keep in mind, if there is something you are looking for and don't see it, just ask. I do special orders and like the challenge!

CONGRATULATIONS - You made it!

~Lynda Roubineau
The Bead Goddess~