An unexpected passion
My passion for jewelry-making was an unexpected one. I began making necklaces at the age of twelve when I was presented with a brand-new Shrinky Dinks kit. (Wasn't every crafty adolescent?) I had always loved to create things, but hardly anything felt right until I had a pair of jeweler's pliers in my hand. This hobby blossomed, moving away from crusty, oven-baked plastic, and soon I found myself selling the occasional pair of beaded earrings to my friends, my teachers, and my friends-of-friends. This past spring I found I needed to distract myself like many others did, and so my mother sent me a book that she had been given long ago which outlined instructions for making beautiful beaded pieces modeled on Native American patterns. This book was written by Horace Goodhue, a Dakota artist and beadweaver who personally taught my mother some thirty years ago. The book clearly captured my attention, because I soon found myself spending days upon days beading in my room, listening to Tom Waits and feeling overjoyed by how much I was learning. Once my room slowly started to disappear under mountainous piles of necklaces and bracelets it was (firmly) suggested that I open up an Etsy store. And so, if you've finished reading this long-winded explanation, you'll understand that what you see here has been my passion project for several months. I love making beautiful things for people. I love knowing that the art I make with my hands will be worn and loved by someone else. I also donate a portion of all profits to queer and BIPOC organizations in need at the end of each month. Thank you for coming to my shop! And thank you for reading.
An important note: though many of my patterns originate from a book of traditional 1st Nations beading methods, I do not and will not advertise my pieces as being of indigenous make or theme. Cultural appropriation-- the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society-- is unacceptable. I acknowledge that many of my patterns originate with Horace Goodhue's book "Indian Bead-Weaving Patterns," and insist that my buyers respect this as well.
