Little did I know in high school when I beaded my jeans with my name, along side the name of my boyfriend, that beading would later evolve into a lifelong passion. For over twenty years now bead artistry has afforded me a sense of fulfillment and relaxation.
I’ve worked with a variety of bead mediums throughout the years but my favorite is seed beads. I enjoy how versatile they are to both single and multi dimensional artwork. These tiny glass gems work up into pieces of artwork just begging to be picked up and touched. Often leaving one surprised by the cool and smooth feel of the beaded “fabric” And when light reflects off the vibrant colors of the seed beads one senses with their eyes another richness which deepens the dimension of the artwork.
Think back to childhood….remember running your fingers through your grandmother’s button box? The way the buttons felt sifting through your fingers. And remember how much fun it was to feel the different textures and look at the different designs of the buttons. Those are the same feelings I have when I run my hand through my bowl of beads as I begin a new piece.
Think back again….did your grandmother give you the box that held the buttons? Or did someone give you a trinket that you admired? When children are given a “treasure” their eyes light up and take in an audible breathe of delight as they reach for their special gift. As adults we often lose the wonderment of children to the world around them. It’s my hope when I create a beaded art piece that I can bring back that same kind of simple heartfelt pleasure. I get a great deal of personal satisfaction donating and giving my artwork away.
Another tidbit about my beading, flowers are a special joy to create. My grandmother was especially fond of flowers and I find a real communion with her when working on bead projects with flowers.
They say every artist has a muse. Mine is a Lego skeleton man. I have one I keep on my beading table. I also have the Lego skeleton man tattooed on my arm.
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