My Favorite Bead Art Links!
Akiko Ishida
Dustin Wedekind
Bead Cave
beAd Infinitum
Bette Kelley
Marcie Stone
Yael Krakowski
Lone Beader Blog
Karen Paust
Rebecca Brown-Thompson
Wendy Ellsworth
Judy Walker
Tamuna Lezhava
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Beading, on a loom, has been a part of my life and feelings,
since I was very young. Being in a different aspect of my life, I realize
that I have always been drawn to the serenity and meditative qualities
of this medium. I find a calm, which cannot be defined, other then through my 'exhale' of satisfaction, when I consider another creation 'complete'.
erin@simonetti.com
If you want to read about my creations in progress
or view some techniques I am creating now...
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My "Spring Has Sprung" cuff was awarded
1st PLACE WINNER,
Bracelet Catagory
in BEAD ARTS 2009.
This same cuff, is also awarded
"BEST IN COMPETITION"
in BEAD ARTS 2009
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"FMG Features My Beadwork in Their Advertisements!"
One of the largest and finest jewelery and bead suppliers, Fire Mountain Gems, highlights a few of my "Wearable Art" pieces in their ads. The four samples above, are 'shells' of what is actually published in many 'beadwork' and 'jewelry' magazines.
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"Published in Beading Books"
My Beaded Necklace, "Flutterby", is published in one of Bead & Buttons beading books, "Beadwoven Jewelry". Highlighted on the 'introduction' page, my work introduces the book's selection of many beading techniques and patterns, from other published Bead Artists.
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"I also share my "Wearable Art",
at Local Coffee Shops"
I created display boards to display my Artwork, which includes not only my Seed Beads Works, but also Sterling Silver and Copper Earrings, Bracelets and Necklaces. Each board has a custom 'Needle Felted' Doll, which wears my jewelry and offers every
Coffee Shop Customer a 'smile'!
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"Mad City Coffee House, of Columbia Maryland"
One of my 'favorite display sites', located at
10801 Hickory Rdg Rd, Columbia, MD 21044. Visit for the wonderful in-house roasted coffees, weekend entertainment schedules and friendly atmosphere. Stop by often, because I change out the display board, regularly. There is always something new to share and I love giving the feel of
an 'Art Festival' to their Customers!
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When I was twelve years old,
my Great Aunt made me a wooden bead loom, much like was seen in Native
American Publications. With some beads and string, I found my self
beading, any and every chance I could get.
Since there were no books readily available, as there are today, to give
patterns and teach techniques, I had to devise ways to utilize all the
little strips of beads I loomed! My idea of 3-D beading came to light! This then created another dilemma of
deciding how to secure my creations, decrease and ascend rows to
accomplish particular shapes. I also purchased a lot of graph paper to
plan out my designs and color them accordingly. |
I always enjoyed graphing large scenes and designs depicting flowers,
birds and butterflies. My first three dimensional necklaces were
completed early in these times, but today I have proven finer
techniques. My goal was always to use glass seed beads, 11/0, 15/0, 22/0 and smaller,
create a realistic design, and mold them like clay to make wearable art.
Some people have commented that my work looks like painted fabric and
not beads! Lately, I find as much satisfaction from building in a three dimensional form as I do graphing a pattern, in a 2-D format, showing depth of a 3-D picture.
My College days found me a student at the Maryland Institute of Art,
majoring in crafts. Again, there was no outlet, at that time, for beads,
so I confined my interests to stained glass and painting. Later, hosting
a stained glass class in the evenings for interested friends. |
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I have been married for over 29 years, living on a 10 acre piece of property in
Howard County, Maryland. Together, my husband and I own two businesses,
'Content Contracting' (repairs to any and all household goods) and a
'Personal Property Appraiser' with the ISA. Through this time as well, I
continued to perfect my "mind's eye" of beading.
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My husband and three children, ages 14, 18 and 20, have been very supportive
of my "constant beading". Introducing myself to
the 'beading and festival' communities had been a perfect way to meet others, also interested in creating art through the medium of beads. In this light, I have met many
"bead lovers" who feel as passionate for beading as I do. I have shown my work, as a vendor, in many 'jury selected' art shows, been published in magazines and books.
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Please feel free to contact me,
any time, for questions
or comments.
I'll probably be working in my studio!!
erin@simonetti.com
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"Copyright:
1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003,
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Erin Simonetti
All rights reserved
No part of this site is to be reproduced for sale,
or otherwise, without
the prior written permission of the artist."
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If you have any questions about my beadwork
or art, e-mail Me!!
erin@simonetti.com
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