Colin Mahler

"My love of beads began at the age of 13 when a friend returned from visiting her grandparents with seed beads and a loom. I soon began spending every available hour of my weekends at bead shops and every available penny on beads. I learned how to wire wrap from watching an instructional video that was playing in one of the bead shops I visited and after going home and practicing this new skill, I fell in love with wire, too."

"I studied metalsmithing in college and attended weekend workshops on glass bead making. I earned a certificate in pearl and bead stringing from the Gemological Institute of America. A couple of years ago, I attended my first chainmaking class at a bead shop I was working at and was instantly hooked. I soon discovered that I could combine all three of my favorite things: beads, wire, and chainmaking."

"I have been teaching chainmaking and basic lampworking classes for about one year and I absolutely love doing that, too."