Beadworks has been buying beads from Bohemia for a quarter century. Though the classic styles of pressed glass and lamp glass beads retained their appeal for contemporary customers, a renewed sense of design and entrepreneurial spirit crept back into the hearts of a new generation of artists and artisans after the fall of communism. It is this revival of innovation, particularly in lamp glass work, which has made Bohemian beads one of the most exciting parts of the Beadworks range of glass beads.

Beadworks buyers visit Bohemia annually. During one of these trips, the buyers were introduced to Alena and Alex Chladek, two of the most talented glass artists of this new generation. Alena was using color in such a joyful manner in the making of her glass beads that Beadworks was eager to partner with her and Alex. Alex, a fine designer and artist himself, created other sculptural components which Alena translated into enchanting beads.

This partnership, now formally named AleAle™ Designs, draws on a combination of their design talents and the unique skills of the glass artisans in the region of the Jizera Mountains. Beadworks is proud to play a supporting role in the creation and distribution of these fine new designs. It's another step in the long history of Bohemian glass beadmaking.