I am a beadwork artist from Minneapolis , MN .

I started beading as a child after my grandmother took me to a Native American beadwork exhibit at the local science museum. I used a small Native American loom to do my first piece of beadwork, which I still have. Through my teenage years I continued to bead making my own jewelry using the ancient stitches I had admired at the science museum exhibit. While I was raising my family I put away my beads, as I always say “beads and babies don’t mix”.

Three years ago I picked my needle and thread back up. I taught myself a variation on the peyote stitch which I did as a child. This new stitch called sculptural freeform peyote is both organic and tactile. I sell these pieces both at art fairs and gallery shops.

A little over a year ago I signed up for a year long project using beads as a journaling medium. The Bead Journal Project expanded my knowledge of beading techniques to include bead embroidery. It has transformed my beadwork art. I used this technique to make my first piece of sculpture which I entered into the Bead’s of Whimsy show hosted by the Textile Center . This was the first competition I had entered and my piece entitled Tatiana’s Crown won a first place award in the division of wearable, non-jewelry. I am going to expand on my idea of headdresses in 2009 with a grant that I was awarded by the MN State Arts Board.

Resume

2009 January

Finalist in Beadwork IV - The Beaded Book
Entitled The House That Seuss Built, judging will take place at the Santa Fe Bead Expo

January Recipient of Minnesota State Arts Board Grant
Project - Four beaded headdresses themed after the elements of air, earth, fire and water.

2008 September

Bead Journal Project: year long project ending in August 2009
Goal – one beaded journal page per month for one year
Member of Project’s Administrative Core Group

2008 May

Art A Whirl - show and sales

2008 March

Commission - Necklace and earring set incorporating family heirloom stones

2008 February

Beads of Whimsy International Show
Tatiana’s Crown – 1st Place Award in category

2008 January

Juried into the Textile Center ’s Gallery Shop

2007 December

Minnetonka Center for the Arts: Juried Holiday Art Show and Sale
Received special invitation to show, bypassing jury selection

2007 October

Gustavus Adolphus Juried Fall Art Show - show and sales

2007 August

Commission - Necklace for mother of the bride

2007 June

Bead Journal Project: year long project ending in May 2008
Goal - one beaded journal page per month for year

2007 May

Art A Whirl - show and sales

2006 October

Gustavus Adolphus Juried Fall Art Show - show and sales

2006 May

Art A Whirl - show and sales