When we were at Wheeling, we wandered into the glass museum (against my better wishes, I might add, since Michelle + Breakable Stuff = Trouble Found. There, I saw Fenton Glass Beads.

I usually pick jewelry because I find it interesting or amusing, but these I liked just because they are pretty.

When we were at the Ripley Craft Fair, Fenton had a table that was staffed by two of the women who paint the beads.

I made Michael buy me some.

This was the bead that pushed me over the edge.

Of course, I had to get the sesquicentennial bead:

I couldn’t get just two, now could I?

So I now have five hand-painted Fenton glass beads, and want more, because they’re gorgeous, and they’re made here in West (by God) Virginia.

Gotta support the state economy, right?