Meet the artists teaching at the 2022 BSCF Bead Retreat!

Sherry Serafini
https://serafinibeadedjewelry.com/

Unusual objects and shapes become part of a new story as Sherry stitches beads and gemstones, one at a time, to a felt like base. Most pieces are born spontaneously as the beads and Sherry’s imagination dictate the design. She seldom works from sketches. Sherry finds this meditative form of art to be a rich counterpoint to a society full of instant gratification. Some pieces take a year to complete.Each piece is unique.My simple intentions stem from my belief that “there can never be enough beauty in this world.

Sherry was raised in a military family, moving every few years. She credits that nomadic lifestyle with giving her an adventurous and uninhibited approach to her work.Sherry was voted one of the top 10 instructors in the United States by Bead & Button magazine. She lectures and teaches throughout the world. She has been published and has written articles for several well-known magazines. Her work has been featured on the covers of trade magazines and catalogs and is the co-author of the Art of Bead Embroidery with artist & friend Heidi Kummli and Sensational Bead Embroidery by Sherry Serafini. Sherry’s beaded art is known internationally and has been worn by Grammy winner Melissa Etheridge, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Lenny Kravitz, pro golfer Michelle Wie and singer Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas.

Cynthia Rutledge
https://www.cynthiarutledge.net/

“My path to being an artist has always been driven by my desire to create something that is beautiful to me. I bead for myself, to satisfy my desire to create, to feed my soul. That others admire my work is a gift. If they see something in my work that appeals to them, that calls to them, then I am blessed indeed, as maybe they can see a glimpse of the part of me that is just following my heart.”
Cynthia Rutledge

Cynthia is a contemporary seed bead artist and educator, specializing in peyote stitch and off‐loom weaving techniques, with an emphasis on developing sculptural unsupported shapes in beadwork. As an educator (over 25 years), Cynthia shares her expertise on the road for most of the year. Her work has been exhibited in national and international shows, many books and publications including her first solo book, “Timeless Beadwork Designs”, which became available in January 2016.

Isabella Lam
https://www.isabellalam.com/

Isabella Lam started beading in 2009. She is a popular teacher at the Bead&Button Show. She has been published in numerous beading magazines in Europe as well as in Bead&Button, Beadwork, and Bead Design. She lives and works in Israel.

Nancy Cain
http://nancycain.com/

Beading is my handcraft. It is a way of thinking and living. It is a process that is deeply satisfying.

I have always been fascinated with handcrafts, whether it was clay, paper, buttons, fabric or simply found objects. I studied art in college and worked as a graphic artist for 16 years all the while exploring various handcraft techniques.

One day in 1988 or 1989 I was smitten with a beaded watch band. The cost of the watch was prohibitive as I was newly married. Intrigued with these beads, I searched out a local bead store to investigate. The venture into the bead store was the beginning of my journey.

I found my artistic niche in beads. I enjoy delving into beads mentally and physically depending on the circumstances. My favorite stitch is peyote and over the years I have only added two other stitches, netting then herringbone. I like to call these three stitches ‘sister-stitches’ since they transition from one stitch to the other effortlessly.

I feel that the beads alone give me the most inspiration. If you understand the physics (mechanics and technicality) of the stitch, then you can create whatever your heart desires. Knowing what each bead size, shape and finish will do and how they react with each other, plus how the beads respond to thread weight and use then the sky is the limit for designing! Nature is also phenomenal source of inspiration.  I have created beetles, bees, dragonflies and now a sea urchin pendant. The challenge of creating something from life with seed beads is something that keeps me moving forward with my bead creations.

In the early stages of a piece I work almost exclusively in my head. I mentally imagine the beads, working out engineering and design aspects before actually touching the beads. It is quicker than actually beading and I can only do this when I am alone and quiet. The middle of the night is the best!

Teaching is a journey for me as well. Each class is different even with the same project. My focus is heavily about the process a piece takes. In art, the artist explores the process and the product or finished piece is the result of that exploration. For me, the process, whether mentally or physically is thrilling, frustrating, challenging and where the real bead joy is. It is the journey. When I am teaching a class, I get to view the process again through fresh eyes. We can reconstruction it as is or deconstruct it by looking at the process, delving below its surface and learn new lessons from it. The direction and depth of a class can be varied: the more inquisitive the class, the more detailed the ideas of process can get. It is a spontaneous journey we can take together.

I feel incredibly fortunate to do work that I love and have a passion for. Having a studio in my home and keeping a limited travel schedule allows me to keep my priorities on my family.

I enjoy sprinkling a few beads here and there whenever I travel, imagining them as tiny little magical gifts to be shared.

Erin Simonetti
http://www.beadsbeadingbeaded.com/

Erin Simonetti has been weaving beads on a bead loom, for over 46 years.
Her methods are unique and create a means of managing warps effortless.

Each design created, is handled so the creativity is forefront!
Considering how many warps to finalize, in the end, is not why you pick up a bead loom!

Erin’s Bead Loom Classes, with “L Tech”, are held only a few times per year and very sought out due to the lack of such detailed bead loom instruction, anywhere else in the bead weaving world. Every aspect, of this oldest form of bead weaving, is instructed, i.e., starting with the loom construction and why so many choices on the market, the suggested thread, types of needles, how to warp perfectly each time, weft threads and securing on then off again, using a word chart to follow a pattern, setting up your bead palette to handle a large number of bead colors, right through to her unique means to edge, then her personal warp management methods. Her classes tout, –When you cut the cuff from the loom, it will be on your wrist within fifteen minutes!– Some classes, depending on the project design, offer various forms of warp management and edging ideas.

Beyond her teachings, comes a detailed pattern that looks like bead painting. Her patterns are undeniable and she footnotes to not swap out her bead color/finish choices. The bead painting/design, is realistic in color, offering the weaver further insight into weaving multiple number of bead colors, easily. Erin sells patterns in her online shop, but those pattern/designs taught in her classrooms, are exclusive to her classes only. This makes your finished bead art a ‘one of a kind, wearable art’ and include lessons you can carry out in future bead loom weavings.

Please consider meeting Erin in one of her scheduled classes and experience a new look at the bead loom. Her schedule can be found here under the Class Schedule Tab. Also, visit her Face Book Page, for up to date creations, conversations. The Events Tab on the FB Page, also offers her class schedule. following BeadsBeadingBeaded on Face Book.