Earrings by Ecua-Gringa

For over 12 years, I have been enchanted by the artisan talent of Ecuador and while recovering from my first surgery in 2012, I learned how to make jewelry from my dear Ecuadorian mother-in-law, who brought all of her beading supplies from Ecuador and taught me to bead.  I am forever grateful.  After 3 more procedures and surgeries that year, with the love and support of my uber-talented best friend, Andrea, I began to sell the earrings I created at a local holiday craft fair, and gift my handmade earrings to all of my female family and friends, as a way to de-stress and express my creativity.

I am also an avid BeadforLife supporter and hosted 3 bead parties in 2010 and 2011, raising over $1000 to benefit the Ugandan women who create the most beautiful paper beaded jewelry and inspire so many.  My volunteer party planning reawakened my passion for supporting non-profits and in 2011 I found my international non-profit/fair trade home at Fabric of Life in the quaint town of Edmonds, Washington, where I continue feeding my jewelry obsession each month by volunteering on Art Walk nights.  Giving back to support women in Africa and around the world while being surrounded by all the beauty they've created is stress relief at its finest, for me.

In my earring designs, I have been able to incorporate the Ecuadorian beads my mother-in-law gifted me, the sparkly beads from local shops here in Washington that my amazingly gifted maid-of-honor has given me, and the Ugandan paper beads my mom and I bought loose from BeadforLife.  Here are a few of my favorite designs: