CEDAR FALLS - When it's nap time for 3-year-old Marcella and 3-month-old Nicholas, Cedar Falls mom Bev Carda finds time to be creative.

With a love for arts and crafts ever since she can remember, Carda, a registered nurse by trade, has found an outlet for her passion.

Creative Adornment is the perfect name for her line of decorative glassware. Carda takes glassware and other objects and adorns them with glass stones, beads and wire.

"A couple of years ago, my sister-in-law Deb Liebig received a handmade gift of glassware decorated with glass beads and wire," Carda said. "She decided that she would like to make it and sell it as a craft for a hobby, which grew into a business. She showed me some of her work and I decided that I would like to make that type of art-craft here in Cedar Falls."

The creative process for Carda begins by purchasing and cleaning the glassware items. She then skillfully sketches out her desired pattern where the stones are to be placed, visualizing how she wants to weave the wire around the stones. The stones are then carefully glued to the glassware and left to dry for a day before excess glue is removed. For the final touch, wire is woven around the stones and glued to the glassware to complete the process.

"I have to make the glassware in an assembly line-type process where I glue the stones on several pieces of glassware at once, then when they dry overnight, I weave the wire on all of them the next day," Carda said.

Carda began selling her creations at local craft shows. At the urging of a friend, Debbie Larsen of Hudson, she upped the ante. She allowed Larsen to peddle the pieces in area gift shops.

"Looking back, it was just natural to try and get Bev's decorative glassware in local gift shops," Larsen said. "I also saw that working weekend craft shows wasn't feasible with a young family. I made a couple appointments to take a sampling of her items. Bev was surprised when I called with the good news. The owners saw something I saw too. Her pieces were unique and they agreed to find a spot in their shops for her work."

The owners of the three shops that carry her pieces were on board right away.

"I decided to carry Bev's line because I really didn't have anything like it in my store," said Kris Boettger, owner of Barn Happy in Cedar Falls. "It was a more 'dressed up' product. I thought it would make nice wedding, shower or birthday gifts. I also thought it would be nice for someone who does a lot of entertaining and likes unique pieces."

Rosanne Bowers, a regular customer at Barn Happy, liked Carda's pieces the moment she saw them. She has purchased several bowls and even some stainless steel utensils with Carda's colorful marks on them.

The complete Creative Adornment line includes large plates, dip bowls, salt and pepper shakers, butter dishes, sugar bowls, salad bowls, vinegar bottles, picture frames and a variety of bar equipment like wine and margarita glasses.

"I can decorate most any glassware with my glass beads and wire," Carda said. "I also make decorative utensils such as salad tongs, large spoons, butter knives, etc."

Julie Winter-Havel, owner of the Blue Iris in New Hampton, carries Carda's line of glassware for its all-around appeal to customers.

"Bev does one-of-a-kind pieces. There is a piece that fits in anyone's home," she said.

{M3Find it here

{M3Three Northeast Iowa gift shops carry Bev Carda's Creative Adornment line. They are:

{M3Barn Happy

{M311310 University Ave., Cedar Falls, (319) 266-0888.

{M3The Red Geranium

{M3122 E. First St., Sumner, (563) 578-8678.

{M3The Blue Iris

{M3110 W. Main St., New Hampton, (641) 394-4158.

For special orders, contact Bev Carda at (319) 266-5509.

WEB BUTTON HERE See more about Bev Carda's creations on video at www.wcfcourier.com.