barbara wilcox

Barbara Wilcox moved to Western North Carolina in 2010, seeking a more peaceful lifestyle for retirement.

After a career in public relations and higher education, Barb signed up for her first jewelry class in 2011. For three years, she participated in a beading cruise, taking classes with nationally recognized instructors. She attended Jewel School for six years, sponsored by Jewelry TV in Knoxville, and has travelled to the Czech Republic several times on beading trips.

In December 2020, Barb shared her miniature Christmas village, “Beadville,” with Carolina Mountain Artists Guild by placing it in the window of our shop. With almost 80,000 beads, the village captivated visitors as well as the local news media.

Barb creates her pieces in her home studio in Mills River, NC. She has dabbled in everything from polymer clay to metal working and enameling to wirework, but always returns to her first love, seed beading. In addition to jewelry, she is known for her detailed and dimensional ornaments. She received two First Place and Best of Show ribbons at the Mountain State Fair in 2025.

She has also taught classes at several local bead shops and currently teaches private classes in her home studio. You can also find her work at local art and craft shows.

In her free time, Barb can be found in her garden or traveling the globe with her husband, Bob.

You can find other examples of her work on her Facebook page, Be-Dazzled Beadery, and on her website, bedazzledbeadery.com