Penelope Diamanti has been designing distinctive jewelry for over 40 years. Starting out selling at craft fairs in the mountain west while still in college, by the 1980's she was supplying necklaces and earrings to over 400 galleries and museum stores in the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In 1989 she created the first of three Beadazzled bead and jewelry stores in Washington DC. Locations in Baltimore and Northern Virginia and a website soon followed (see http://www.beadazzled.com )

Trained as a journalist, she curated and wrote Beadazzled: Where Beads and Inspiration Meet with photography by William L. Allen to feature work by top beaded jewelry designers (available at Beadazzled and on Amazon).She is currently beginning work on a second volume focused on applied color theory specifically for bead and fiber artists between bead-hunting trips to Latin American and Asia.

Always interested in the cultural significance of the beautiful materials she uses, Penelope has devoted decades to bead research and served on the Boards of the Bead Society of Greater Washington and the Bead Museum DC. She also teaches workshops and gives lectures on beading, color theory, business skills for artists.

In January 2012 Penelope retired from active duty with Beadazzled to follow her primary passions: Ayurveda and designing beaded jewelry. Her work is currently available on this site and at:

Beadazzled

1507 Connecticut Ave. NW

Washington DC 20036

202-265-2323

Hours:

Mon - Sat: 10AM - 8PM

Sun 11AM - 6PM

Beadazzled in Baltimore and Tysons Corner VA also carry some Diamanti Designs Jewelry. For locations, directions, and hours please visit: http://www.beadazzled.com