What is SilverSilk?

About Nealay Patel

I’m Nealay Patel, the owner, designer, and creative heart behind SilverSilk & More. I’m a jewelry artist, educator, and graphic designer with a passion for helping others find joy in making. Through SilverSilk, I teach makers of all skill levels how to use our knitted wire chains and other materials to create professional-quality jewelry with confidence.

For me, design is about problem-solving — finding the balance between beauty, structure, and storytelling. Over the years, I’ve shared my work through books, television appearances, and hundreds of online tutorials that reach jewelry makers around the world. What began as a love for teaching and design has evolved into a full creative business. Today, I manufacture SilverSilk’s knitted wire chains, design and test new custom findings, and personally pack and ship every order that leaves my studio. Every strand, every tutorial, and every package reflects a personal touch and the same passion for innovation and craftsmanship that started it all.

Early Discovery

I started making jewelry during my freshman year of high school. I took a class called Business Technology, and we were asked to develop and market an actual product. I happened to be the “CEO” of our fictitious company, and it was my teammate’s idea to market jewelry to other high school students. I was sold on the idea. After gathering materials to make the jewelry, I put together our first products while my teammates handled the paperwork. I really enjoyed making simple jewelry for the class project and decided to keep going with the leftover supplies after the school year ended.

That summer, I watched The Carol Duvall Show, where artist Lillian Todaro from California demonstrated her freeform sculptural necklaces. I was completely inspired by the colors, texture, and the detailed craftsmanship of her work. I experimented with design configuration, arranging components to make them work as a necklace, which is still one of my favorite design challenges today.

My first finished piece was a Dutch spiral necklace, made from a pattern I found online using seed beads and cotton thread. It was my first attempt at bead weaving, and I remember how proud I felt when it actually worked. From there, I was hooked.

Finding a Voice in the Jewelry World

Submitting my first jewelry design was a completely blind leap. I had no idea the magazine would actually publish it. I didn’t even know how to mail it properly and had to resend it after my first try. But the experience was rewarding — seeing my work in print for the first time gave me a sense of accomplishment and motivation to keep designing.

Teaching came next. I began offering classes at a local bead store, and it was a rough start, but practice taught me how to communicate creative ideas more clearly. I eventually taught at my hometown’s technology center, offering a semester-format jewelry making course for adults. It was structured around progressive learning, and I designed each session to build on the last. I taught for two years while in college, and those evenings became some of my favorite memories. My students taught me things I didn’t know, and the friendships I made in those classes have stayed with me.

When I wrote my first book, Jewelry for the New Romantic, I wanted readers to see a new way to use beading wire. Sales were modest, but it gave me something far more valuable — visibility. The book caught the attention of Soft Flex Company, whose products I had unknowingly used throughout my designs. They reached out to collaborate, and that partnership became a huge turning point in my career.

Teaching gave me the foundation I needed to understand what other makers struggle with and what they need to succeed. I never wanted to be just a salesperson. I wanted to connect with my customers, understand their challenges, and help them create something they’re proud of.

A New Chapter with SilverSilk

In the summer of 2014, I met Nina, a distributor for SilverSilk, while working with Soft Flex as a guest designer on Jewelry Television in Knoxville, Tennessee. She showed me samples of SilverSilk’s knitted wire chain, and I had never seen anything like it. I tucked the samples away, not quite sure how to use them at the time. A year later, while attending Bead Fest Philadelphia, I met Sarah James from Jesse James Beads. She sent me home with a variety of their bead strands, and I eventually combined them with SilverSilk for my second book, Jewelry Made with Knitted Wire.

That collaboration opened new doors. I began working more closely with both companies, appearing on JTV to demonstrate their products and teach workshops. Those experiences built the foundation for what would become the next phase of my creative journey.

SilverSilk itself had a winding history. It was originally created and manufactured by John in Pennsylvania, who partnered with Becky as the first distributor. After their partnership ended, John found new distributors — eventually Nina and her sister Nora — who later decided to retire and sell the business. Since I already had a relationship with them, they reached out to see if I’d be interested in taking it over.

I officially acquired SilverSilk & More in 2018 and began working closely with John for about a year before he retired completely. When he stepped away, I took over the manufacturing and reconfigured the knitting machines myself, learning through trial and error. By 2020, I was producing my own SilverSilk chain and, like so many others, navigating the isolation of the pandemic. Having the ability to create and connect virtually through SilverSilk kept me grounded and inspired.

A Modern Era of SilverSilk

The acquisition marked a turning point for both me and the brand. I officially took ownership of SilverSilk & More in 2018 and began the process of reimagining everything from the ground up. With my background in graphic design, I overhauled the website, branding, photography, and product presentation to give SilverSilk a modern, cohesive identity. Around the same time, I began appearing on creative platforms like Beads, Baubles & Jewels on PBS, where I shared my passion for knitted wire jewelry with a wider audience. These experiences helped me grow as both a teacher and designer and reinforced the importance of blending education, artistry, and innovation.

It wasn’t just about a facelift — it was about rebuilding a brand with heart and purpose. I launched new social media channels, taking over the existing Facebook page, creating an Instagram account, and developing a YouTube channel that could reach jewelry makers everywhere. Bit by bit, SilverSilk began to grow again.

At the same time, I was balancing a full-time career as a senior graphic designer at a company specializing in personality assessments. That work sharpened my understanding of communication and design psychology — skills that I now consider my superpower in running SilverSilk. It taught me how to connect emotionally with makers and present creative ideas in ways that inspire confidence and curiosity.

SilverSilk Sundays, my weekly livestream show, was born out of collaboration and community. Partnering with Danielle Wickes, we began creating tutorials that blend her seed bead artistry with my knitted wire chains. Our sessions have become a space where creativity and friendship intertwine, helping thousands of makers feel connected and inspired.

My involvement in The Great Bead Extravaganza — a collaboration among fourteen jewelry companies that formed during the pandemic — also played a major role in expanding SilverSilk’s reach. Through live events, special bundles, and themed tutorials, I’ve had the chance to partner with brands and designers I deeply admire, including Jesse James Beads, Jewels Avelar, and Soft Flex Company.

At its core, SilverSilk is about making creativity accessible to everyone. I believe jewelry making should feel approachable, not intimidating. With just a few simple tools and techniques, anyone can create something that feels polished, personal, and high-end. My goal is to empower makers to experiment, explore, and feel proud of what they create.

The SilverSilk brand continues to evolve with input from its community — their feedback shapes the products, tutorials, and innovations that keep this art form fresh. Each design, video, and collaboration is a reflection of that shared journey. Together, we’re keeping creativity alive, one chain of SilverSilk at a time.