Sonny and Barbara Banick have been making jewelry together for almost 20 years.  It began when Sonny decided he needed a hobby while Barbara was working and going to school.  After telling her for years that he could make the large dangling earrings that she spent lots of money on--one day he did!  Once Barbara and their daughter, Erika (and most of their friends), had all of the beaded earrings they could ever want, they encouraged Sonny to get into his first craft show.  That is how BEADESIGNS got its start back in 1992. Once Barbara finished school, she began making jewelry, too.  Together they have learned a lot about beads and gemstones over the years, and they still enjoy making jewelry and selling it at art/craft shows and in their home studio. Barbara enjoys designing necklaces using beads in a variety of shapes and colors such as her "gypsy bead" necklace, but Sonny does it all:  he designs, wire wraps, creates wirework designs, and finishes pieces that are as well made as they are lovely.  His favorite thing to do--and his greatest talent--is wire wrapping gemstones and beads for his pendants, necklaces and earrings.  He has developed a fondness for working with these stones and enjoys choosing each stone that he will ultimately wrap (especially druzies).  Sometimes when he has finished a piece, he does not want to let it go, so it becomes a gift to his wife or daughter!   Sonny enjoys socializing with his customers as much as he enjoys making jewelry.  He welcomes custom designs and teaches wire-wrapping techniques now that he has retired after 30 years as a pipe fitter.