On Saturday, May 22, you will have an opportunity to meet Sandy Rueve, She Beads® President and Founder, at The Little Traveler in Geneva, IL. See in person the artistry that goes into creating each unique hand-rolled clay bead. Sandy will bring dozens of special beads with her to the show, and you’ll even have the opportunity to make your own bead to take home.
Sandy Rueve’s unique design aesthetic moves naturally from her love of gardening to her clay bead designs. Both activities require nurturing and creativity, two qualities that Sandy has in abundance. The She Beads story begins back in 1993 with a name you might recognize—Michael Jordan. Yes, the Michael Jordan. Sandy Rueve was working part-time as an X-ray technician for the Chicago Bulls, and one night Michael Jordan walked in while the ever-creative Rueve was stringing beads. He asked her to make him a bracelet and Sandy took that as a cue to learn how to hand roll her own clay beads. As Sandy says, “It was, after all, Michael Jordan.”
“I call my hand rolled clay beads She BeadsTM, because it’s what they are and it’s what I do.”
- Sandy Rueve, creator of She Beads.
When others saw what she could do, she became overwhelmed with requests for more, more, more beads! She started out making the beads in her basement, but now has a 4,000 square foot production facility and 30 employees, including two very important people—her son, Andrew, and daughter, Alex. In addition to her regular line of beads, 
Sandy is thrilled to participate with many charities, creating unique beads to help the cause. Current charities that She Beads has partnered with include: Pink Ribbon Girls, Chicago Ovarian Cancer Alliance, CureSearch, American Heart Association—Go Red for Women, and Oneness.
Many people think the beads are painted, but they are actually made entirely from a polymer-based clay, designs and all. I could tell you exactly how they are made, but it’s much more fun to watch:
On Saturday, February 13, 
On Saturday, February 6 from 11:00am – 5:00pm, The Little Traveler will host the “Be My Valentine” Trollbeads Trunk Show. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see our large collection of one-of-a-kind and retired beads. Design truly unique bracelets, necklaces and earrings with the Trollbeads collection of silver, gold, glass, stone and amber beads.
March 5 – 21: Under My Umbrella
March 19-20: Belly up to the Brighton Charm Bar
May 28-June13: Brighton Blvd. City Bag
Explore the wonderful world of 
Receive one of these heart-shaped jewelry boxes (specially made for charms) for FREE with any $100 Brighton purchase. Brighton charms are one-of-a-kind treasures to display on charm bracelets and charm necklaces. They go beyond the signature silver heart and allow you to express who you are, who you love, and what’s important to you. Now Brighton is offering a safe place to hold your collectibles.
Saturday, November 7: Brighton Handbag Day
mber 26 – January 3: A Charmed Start to the New Year