The Bead Maven

Beads first captured my attention when I was merely three years old. My mom presented me with mini little boxes of seed beads she'd picked up at the local craft store. They were glimmering drops of possibility clustered together to create a palette of intense color. Holding them in my tiny hands I marveled at how weightless and perfect they were. I knew they were special, but I never could have dreamed the role they would someday play in my life. At the time, I patiently thread them one by one, without a needle, on flimsy string. I wanted to create patterns. I wanted to see how different they could look propped up against each other on thread. I wanted to do so much more with these little gems, but my young mind couldn't begin to wrap itself around the ideas in my heart.

During my adolescence I began to pursue many different mediums to express my creativity. My ideas were large and complicated and colorful. I dove into each medium wholeheartedly believing it might just have the capacity to respond to my true vision and reflect the images that resided in my soul. Through drawing, charcoal, pastels, painting, mosaicing, ceramics, casting, collages, and poetry I released my creativity. With great focus I practiced each one, always searching for my true artistic calling. Wanting to find something that would truly captivate my attention and enable me to form something in great detail, I looked backwards, I looked inwards, and I remembered the power of beads.

Since that time, four years of experimentation and discovery have passed. I have taken my love for natural rock and glass, and I have found my perfect tools. Through the abundant variety of gemstones, pearls, seed beads, crystals, and findings, a bead artist can express herself on an unmatched level. The amazing span of colors, textures and finishes is mind boggling. I feel like a great explorer discovering undeveloped territory. From every skill I learn, I unearth vast possibilities of design. It is my ultimate goal to master all the methods for manipulating these individual cells of light, into one unified creation. And where there is no method to master, I make my own.

I mainly focus on bead weaving, bead embroidery, and wirework. With a needle and thread, I weave a glittering fabric with stitches like herringbone, peyote, right angle weave, brick stitch, and many embellishing techniques. I use the highest quality components to express my vision. I challenge the traditional perceptions of beadwork by incorporating unique found objects and making three dimensional sculptures.  I am currently honored to have been selected as the 1st Place Winner in the KGI Worldwide Swarovski Design Contest.  My winning design "Flora and Fire" can be seen here.  Last year I was one of the Winners in the Swarovski Create Your Style National Design Contest in the amateur category.  My entry for this contest, "Brilliance is Born" can be seen here.

I have been enjoying my new role as Contributing Editor for Beadwork magazine with my Department "Scarlett's Style".  I have sold my one-of-a-kind art jewelry in boutiques, trunk shows and through my own Artist Reception and website. I spent over a year teaching beadweaving and working at my local bead store as a design consultant. I am so blessed to be receiving recognition in the art world for my designs and skills. I am currently preparing entries for other major contests such as the world renowned Bead Dreams contest and have entered a piece for the Saul Bell Awards.  I will be teaching three workshops at BeadFest Portland this September.  I am working on instructions for many of my patterns and projects in hopes of publishing my own book.  The accomplishment I am most proud of at the moment is the creation of the USE THE MUSE Contest which is an event and competition that I produce and coordinate.  In the future I aspire to own and run my own full service bead store with classes and a Swarovski bar. I am driven by my desire to share my passion and knowledge for beads and jewelry making with others. I want to continue to express myself through this ever-evolving medium, and above all, elevate the craft of beading to an art.  I am Scarlett Lanson, The Bead Maven.