An artistic animal, Nicole Vazquez could have been a contender for the title of culinary ace or star interior decorator, but when a chance outing to a beadery lit her fire, she was inexorably drawn into the hot world of beaded jewelry design.

Born in the United States to a British mother and a French father, Vazquez grew up in England and studied hotel and catering management in Stratford-on-Avon. She took to the skies as a flight attendant, traveled the globe, then put herself through the New York School of Interior Design – not surprising for someone who redecorated her bedroom at age 9. But, the day she accompanied her sister-in-law to a wholesale beading supplier, Vazquez’ world turned. Dazzled, she bought bags of glass and plastic orbs, and in short order found a store that taught jewelry-making basics. The glow was on.

With two small children – Max (now 9) and Isabelle (now 7) – Vazquez put her beads on the back burner. Two years later, she celebrated her 38th birthday by taking friends to the Bazaar Star Beadery in Ridgewood. That rekindled the spark. More beads, more designs. When someone bought a bracelet literally off her wrist, Vazquez knew the time to hesitate was through.

In 2004, she formalized the business, and last year built a Web-store, positioning her jewelry as “classics with a trendy twist.” For nuptials on a beach, she was commissioned to design the bridesmaids’ bracelets. Their dresses, “a specific shade of coral, summery and fun,” provided the creative impulse: three strands of coral on sterling, with a starfish hanging from the toggle. Vazquez notes that, walking through her hometown of Glen Rock, she invariably sees someone wearing one of her creations. “There’s a recognition factor,” says Glen Rock resident Nina Dietrich, who owns eight or nine pieces. “People ask me, ‘Are you wearing a Vazquez?’”

Eager to “give back,” Vazquez twice chaired Coleman Elementary School’s dinner-dance, raising some $24,000. This year, she pledged to donate to the school a dollar for every piece of jewelry sold through www.nicolevazquezjewelry.com.

So, the Vazquez bead goes on.