Such a story book ending for this beginning jewelry designer - she discovers beads one day and the next is flying of to Paris to show her collection along with some of the big name clothing designers of our day. It's enough to make a beader aventurine-green with envy. From Beginner's luck works for McClintock:

Karen McClintock didn't set out to become a jewelry designer.

In fact, no one could be more surprised by her success than McClintock herself.

"I still can't believe this is happening," the 43-year-old Ottawa-based designer said repeatedly during the week we shared in Paris recently with Canadian fashion icon Linda Lundstrom.

"How did I get here? It's surreal," she said, her utter amazement - and delight - evident.

Things just seem to keep falling into place for McClintock, who has quickly become known as one of Canada's hottest up-and-coming jewelry designers.

It all started about two years ago - as a bit of a fluke, actually. While getting ready for a garage sale, McClintock came across an old necklace, which she was convinced she could "improve."

"I knew nothing (about making jewelry)," she admitted.

So she headed over to the craft department at her local Wal-Mart and picked up what she thought she'd need to re-string a few necklaces for the garage sale.

They sold like hotcakes. And she was hooked.

I couldn't find her web site - she may not have one - but I did find some of her jewelry over at Sheperds's Fashions. It's very chunky and full of lots of luscious beads with some chain here and there as well.