My story . . .
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My story . . .
I have been beading since the 70’s when my husband and I made “love beads” to put ourselves through college. For about twenty years now I’ve been teaching and enjoying designing new pieces for my students; guiding them in creating something different from what you see elsewhere. In short; I’ve gone from selling finished jewelry pieces to designing and selling kits so that others may have the joy of making the product themselves.
My story . . .
Mixed media artist and educator, Linda Burch is challenged by new techniques and non-traditional materials. She has been teaching bead embroidery for 13 years, which began with embellishing quilts and wearable art. When Linda discovered soutache bead embroidery she realized the unlimited creative possibilities using soutache braid, beads, and natural stones. She loves to share her enthusiasm, love of teaching, and her creative talents with her students. Her fiber arts and soutache jewelry are exhibited at local art shows.
My story . . .
Well let's see . . .I’m the wife of an awesome husband for 21 years this October; I graduated from the Fashion Insitute of Design and Merchandising as an Interior Designer and graphic artist. I'm also wedding consultant, a seamstress; I've owned multipleconsulting businesses and even a retail rubber stamp & scrap-booking store front. My training and artistic passions are in painting, drawing, fiber arts, sculpting, and multi-mediums. I love to re-upholster and refinish furniture, as well as sew my own apparel & draperies; I also enjoy photography, crafting , altered art, card & scrapbook designing, working with polymer clay,paper arts of all types, jewelry making, and fiber arts such as: quilting, costume designing/making, weaving, macrame, tatting,and crochet. I’m a want ‘a-be chef, baker and cake artist; I love to teach and laugh and help others explore their own creativity; I’m playful, kooky, passionate & a hopeless romantic, I'm detailed, and a worshiper and lover of Christ. Last but not least . . . from the moment I wake up to the time my head hits the pillow, my mind never stops creating!
My story . . .
Hello, I'm Albina Manning and I was born in Yoshkar-Ola, Russia, a small town not far from Volga River. Ever since I was a child, I loved doing anything by hand, especially knitting and sewing. I graduated from Mari State Pedagogical Institute and then worked for 9 years as a certificated elementary and physical education teacher in my hometown. In 2003 I moved to Arizona. My work, a Bonsai Shakkan (tree), has been used by Fire Mountain Gems both as a back cover advertisement and inside their catalog. In 2009 I won the 1st Place Gold Medal award with my ‘Inca’s Gold Necklace’ in FMG’s Wirework category. In 2011, I won a Bronze Medal with my 'Nautilus' Necklace in FMG's in the Wirework & Chain category, and in 2012 - Bronze Medal with my "Silver Rain" jewelry set in their Metal Jewelry Designs category (FMG). I have been published in the ‘Art Bead Circle Magazine’, Germany's ‘Perlen Poesie’, Russia's ‘Fashion’ magazine, ‘Step by Step Wire’, and in the hardcover book, ‘Mixed Media Jewelry Techniques’. My latest success is in my 3 part DVD series ‘Coiling and Weaving’; which is devoted to working with round wire and creating your own beautiful designs. It was released in April 2011 through Wire-Sculpture.com. I now enjoy teaching private classes, instructing at the Gem and Bead Mall (Superstitions Springs Mall), and at the J.O.G.S Gem & Jewelry Show in Tucson. You can learn more about me on my blog: http://aroundwire.blogspot.com My story . . .
I have been making jewelry for nearly 10 years. Retired from church music I found myself in need of a creative outlet. I started beading as a hobby which evolved into a home based jewelry business that quickly morphed into a retail store. In 2009 my business partner Caroline and I began our formal retail experience with Bead Rhapsody & More LLC. In 2012, in order to grow our business and offer a greater selection to our customers we decided to join Gem & Bead Mall Inc. of San Diego by becoming their first franchise in Arizona. As true business partners, she keeps the books and I make the jewelry. The best of both worlds for each of us. I have been taking wire work classes with master wire artist Ann Thayer and try my hands on new jewelry making techniques all the time. My passion still lies in the chainmaille weaves, which I have learned on my own with lots of practice and patience. I pride myself in paying close attention to details and craftsmanship. My story . . .
Now that I've retired twice I enjoy being an entrepreneur and sharing my love of crafts with others. I enjoy quilting, cross-stich, crocheting, and knitting, but believe it or not I'm not much of a beader! I prefer working with numbers so I stick to doing the "books" of the business. -Ha!