ARTIST PROFILE
I am a Beader. When I moved to New Mexico from “back East”, I immediately began creating beaded jewelry in the traditional Native American style of beaded triangle with dangles. Back then, in 1989, we didn’t have the range of contemporary styles, or beads, that we have now. I was one of the first few people who added gemstone beads, metal conches, etc. to my jewelry art. But then, in 1995, everyone seemed to be making jewelry. Still obsessed with beading but looking for new, I turned my attention to the beaded gemstone dreamcatcher suncatcher. A few years ago I began adding antique and vintage, as well as new, lead crystal prisms to the pieces. I call my beaded artwork, “Sundreams”©.
Combining the techniques of beaded jewelry with the dreamcatcher format, my pieces are woven with semi-precious gemstones, Swarovski crystal and Czech beads, adorned with dangles of stones, lead crystal, vintage & antique prisms, sculptured glass, chimes and bells, and wrapped with colorful yarn or ribbon. A passion is to create different types of flowers, grapes and leafy vines with glass seed and flower beads, crafted into Sundreams, alone or surrounding hummingbirds as they hang from dangles, humming around a flower & vine-woven dream catcher. “Sun Grapes”, a Sundream vine woven with cascading grape clusters, prisms, beaded grape pots, and a single small hummer, took first place at the New Mexico State Fair.
Thought the years I have branced off into many different styles beyond that of the dreamcatcher. My mosaic pieces are a limited edition series, as are the crystal curtains. But I have no doubt that once the limited edition pieces have found new homes, fresh ideas will take their place!
I have exhibited my bead art in stores, galleries, co-ops and art shows throughout New Mexico - Albuquerque, the East Mountains, Los Alamos, Ruidoso, and Santa Fe, Colorado & Texas. I also teach Sundream classes in my home and at Bead Obsession in Albuquerque. I enjoy sharing my art - it’s extremely satisfying when someone, be it a man, woman or child, walks up to Sundream shining in the sun and with a sound of pleasure, almost without conscious thought, reaches out to touch.
