Accent On:  The Heirloom Collection
Karen DeSousa is the writer of the popular Accent On:  Beaded Ornament Cover series.  A native Iowan that transplanted to California in the late 1970s, she still considers herself a mid-westerner.  A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, Karen began beading in the late 1990s and hasn't stopped since.  "I love the color of beads, the various textures and finishes, the way the light plays over their surfaces.  I love the great history of beads, the Venetians, the nomads, the trade beads, even the blue beads that bought Manhatten.  But most of all, I love the possibility of beads and all the different ways they can be combined to become jewelry, clothing, home decor, or fine art sculptures.  I think that is why beading appeals to so many people for so many different reasons.  Beads fuel the imagination and express something in all of us."    Karen DeSousa can be reached at www.accentbead.com.