My Story

The Bead Has Opinions: The Turquoise Edition

The Bead Has Opinions: The Turquoise Edition

By Kelly Mamabug Jun 3, 2026

I picked up six Turquoise Venetian Glass beads with a feather pattern. They immediately told me what they wanted. I just had to listen.

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How to Read the Bead

How to Read the Bead

By Kelly Mamabug May 31, 2026

Every bead has something to tell you before it ever touches a wire. Color, texture, shape, size, weight — and then something beyond all of those, something that lives in...

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The Bin that Time Forgot

The Bin that Time Forgot

By Kelly Mamabug May 27, 2026

I built it. I loved it. I cut it apart. The jade survives. Follow along.

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Wire You Even Asking? A Tale of Two Bracelets

Wire You Even Asking? A Tale of Two Bracelets

By Kelly Mamabug May 24, 2026

Once the bead starts talking, the next question is always: what kind of bracelet does it want to be? Wire or memory wire? Let's read along.

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Gold or Silver? I'll Tell You Mine

Gold or Silver? I'll Tell You Mine

By Kelly Mamabug May 20, 2026

There's a question I get asked more than almost any other: Do you prefer gold or silver? Honestly? Both. But let me tell you when and why. I reach for gold when I...

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Let the Bead Sing: Understanding the Focal

Let the Bead Sing: Understanding the Focal

By Kelly Mamabug May 17, 2026

You know it when you pick it up. That's the honest answer. But there's more to it than that — and six of my own pieces are about to show...

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NO Jack Jack NO

NO Jack Jack NO

By Kelly Mamabug May 12, 2026

My new beading table is officially open for business. Jack Jack has other ideas.

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The Journey of the Bead: The Search

The Journey of the Bead: The Search

By Kelly Mamabug May 10, 2026

The recycled paper beads had arrived — a gorgeous bowl of purples from pastel to grape, striated and full of character. Now they needed a focal bead worthy of them....

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Sometimes It's About the Message: Crafting with a Message

Sometimes It's About the Message: Crafting with a Message

By Kelly Mamabug May 8, 2026

Most people see the finished piece — the color, the shimmer, the way a bracelet catches the light. What they don't always see is what started it. At Mamabug ReCreations,...

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The Bead: Where the Creative Process Starts

The Bead: Where the Creative Process Starts

By Kelly Mamabug May 2, 2026

I don't start with a finished design in mind — I start with the bead. Follow along as a single amethyst stone leads the way to a one-of-a-kind cobalt blue...

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Sourcing Globally: Supporting Project Have Hope

Sourcing Globally: Supporting Project Have Hope

By Kelly Mamabug Apr 30, 2026

Recycled materials. Women's empowerment. Economic sustainability. Project Have Hope isn't just a bead supplier — it's a values statement on your wrist.

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Sourcing Small: A Local Bead Haul Worth Sharing

Sourcing Small: A Local Bead Haul Worth Sharing

By Kelly Mamabug Apr 29, 2026

I'm a very small business, and I like to support other small businesses — to know there's a face behind my purchase and not just a cash register. Today's haul...

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Meet Mamabug - Kelly B

Meet Mamabug - Kelly B

By Kelly Mamabug Apr 23, 2026

Mamabug ReCreations is a one-woman show — born from a childhood nickname, a love of ladybugs, and a passion for turning everyday materials into something beautiful. From upcycled jeans to...

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My Work Station - Meet Jack Jack

My Work Station - Meet Jack Jack

By Kelly Mamabug Apr 22, 2026

Meet Jack Jack, my feline work station! Discover the creative (and cozy) realities of making handcrafted jewelry from my living room floor.

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