About Laura Rebecca Silverman

Where do I even begin? I'm not a California native, but I've lived in the Los Angeles area since 1958. I've spent most of my life struggling with being "different" than my peers, more creative, more insecure, large.

In January, 2003, I walked into the doors of Slimmons, the exercise studio of Richard Simmons. There, with Richard's help, I shed over 200 pounds, struggled with life-and-death matters of health, left my career working in Home Entertainment at major motion picture studios, languished for a while, and finally discovered my passion and my true life's work had been there, right in front of me the whole time.

I had always "made" things. Embroidery, knitting, weaving... they were part of the package. But when I discovered beads and the creation of jewelry, I felt like I was coming home. This was what I was meant to do... what I was about.

I've gone after this passion with abandon. I've also worked hard, both with Richard and through Therapy, to become a wholly functioning person, and rather successfully I'd say. I live in Tarzana, a suburb of Los Angeles, with my two dogs and my two slider turtles. I'm in love with an amazing man who I intend to spend the rest of my life with. I have more friends of substance than I know what to do with. I'm respected for my accomplishments, not only in artistic pursuits, but in first losing then maintaining a huge weight loss, counseling my peers to help them with the same, animal rescue, writing, and being fearless in trying out new pursuits and ways of being.

So what more could I want? Well, to start, I'd like to find my way out of the SSDI/Medicare system so I can go after my passion as my business too. Becoming a truly healthy person would be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but in lieu of that, a Public Insurance Option would be nice. If I could afford medical insurance on my own, if only I was insurable as an individual, I'd be off of disability faster than you could imagine. I'm that sure of my jewelry, of what I do.

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The Works That Were Exhibited