About Us

Hi! My name is Anne Cleo Dunsmore, these artworks you are clicking thru are my love and my obsession. I enjoy every day, walking with my dogs in the morning, and a indulging in creativity with glass and occasionally metal. And more than that, each of the animals and fish on these pages are a landmark of my experiences.

My Grandfather's fishing trips are some of my happiest childhood memories. I am always striving to get the sparkling life I saw then, on the end of my line, emerging from the water like a living emerald. I was astonished when I saw my Grandfather in a dream, soon after I started making the trout. In my dream, he looked at me sideways and said, "So what are we making?" He didn't say, "What are you making," he said "We." In his life, he was a brilliant craftsman and woodworker. Since then, I feel his spirit is with me, and that he enjoys the glass trout and koi as much as I do.

The glass fish are sold as beads, and also in necklaces of my own creation. I offer two sizes of necklace, the simply elegant pendant, or larger pearl or chitory strand necklace.

The simply elegant pendant, on either silver chain or on black satin cord, is crowned with the security and quality of a steriling silver clasp. The larger necklaces partner a fish with either pearls, or with delightful medley of colors and textures, glass, stone, horn, metal and pearl. I call this the Chitory strand. They all come with sterling silver clasps, so the wearer never need worry about allergies.

Each fish necklace is meticulously balanced with a scale, to ensure it hangs straight on the wearer, and won't slide around the neck. The fish beads are counter-balanced with stone or glass beads.

All my glass beads are hand made by me in my Maryland studio. I kiln anneal all the peices immediately after creation. Each is rigorously inspected for imperfections, before it reaches you. They are made from luschous Moretti and Krugler glasses.

Enjoy our sculptural animal beads, and goddess beads, listed under totems. Some beads are incorporated into a necklace, and some are loose and ready for you to bring your creativity to the sculpture.

Grama Tortoise's Beads and Jewelry is named after the mythical Kopechele, the Grandmother Tortoise, whose gift of jewelry helps a young woman to recognize and achieve her potential power. To read the African myth as I heard it when a child, click on the button Grama's story.

Whether you make your own jewelry, are seeking a spiritual talisman, or simply prefer the unique and striking look, Grama Tortoise offers what you are looking for.