I was reading an article recently on abcnews.com about being careful with how you present yourself through the internet. It sited several situations where people had lost their jobs due to unflattering photos being posted on social networks like Facebook. The article mentioned checking Google images by doing a search of your name. Taking this to heart, I typed in Beth Anderson. What I found was a wonderful woman who makes beautiful jewels for your table. I immediately contacted her for an interview. Needless to say, she was surprised and delighted to speak to another Beth Anderson.

Beth, please tell us a little about yourself and how you got started. Oh, and by the way, you have a great name!

I have always been a stay at home mom because when we had children, my husband was a Navy Pilot. The Navy job took him away from home for weeks and months at a time, so it was important for me to be home with my children and do the work of two parents. Our last tour of duty was Coronado, California. We were living in paradise! It was perfect, but an expensive place to live. In 1997 a fellow Nawlins girl (New Orleans) gave me a Christmas with Southern Living book. The section that shows you how to make holiday gifts got my creative juices going. It was the holidays and I wanted to give my friends gifts, but was very short on cash. So, I decided to try to make wire- wrapped table toppers. I had fun with it and received compliments on my work.

Two years later we moved from paradise to Ft. Worth Texas. I had a nice new home to decorate which fulfilled my creativity outlet for a while, but needed more to fill the void of our southern California lifestyle and friendships left behind. When my daughter began to go to kindergarten, I was home with no children and had to find something to keep me busy. So, I started wiring wine glasses. Craft shows are a big deal in Texas, so I started selling my work at a high school craft show. People were actually buying my stuff. It gave me the confidence to make more and expand my product line.

As I worked at home on the kitchen table I made sure each piece was a high quality item because I did not ever want anyone to return something that I sold them due to a flaw in my work. In no time at all I was selling at various Junior League shows and exclusive country clubs in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area which required me to amass large inventories of all my pieces. That is where I achieved my greatest success.

I loved seeing the women have fun shopping and the interaction I had with them. I always listen to their feedback on my product and give them what they are looking for. That is where most of my inspiration comes from, my clients. My mother also inspires me with her ideas on what the next new items should be. I believe that people who love a little bling in their life whether it is costume jewelry, a bedazzled crystal studded shirt, or beaded purse are attracted to my line of tableware. That is how I came up with the name, Table Jewels, because it is like having jewels for your table.

We no longer live in Texas where the serious shoppers live…I miss them so much!! We are now in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Our area does not have the venues I had in Texas for mass volume sales. With much encouragement from my husband, I finally got a website last January. It is set up so that you can select an item, click to enlarge it, and then choose the color scheme that is desired. Right now I am looking for ways to get more exposure for my site and my product.

Visit www.tablejewels.com Virginia Beach, Virginia

Tags: glasses, Home Decor, jewels, plates, serving pieces, table