I am a weaver of beads with needle and thread. My work ranges from small scale jewelry items to large scale exhibition works. My current interests are in metalsmithing and textiles with a goal of bringing creativity and innovation to my wOrks.
I am also an avid collector and reader which gives me insight and knowledge of beading traditions from around the world. I also work with metals, knitting, and paper. For general information on beading, please see my online blog: Beadweaver.blogspot.com If you are interested in some of my current works, please take a look at my online journal -although it is not necessarily representative nor exhaustive (As of June 2015, squarespace deleted my Ramble On log, so no previous posts are available.) Thank you for visiting and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions.
Exhibitions & Awards
2010 - The Canvas Project 3 - Brooklyn Art Library, New York
2010 - ZAPP Conference Artwork Exhibition
2009 - Finalist, Bead Dreams: Fiesta
2008 - Winner, 3rd Place Seed Bead Design ~ Bead Dreams: Journey
2008 - Finalist, Bead Dreams: Noose
2008 - Finalist, Wearable Expressions Exhibit: Signs of Spring
2008 - Finalist, Wearable Expressions Exhibit: Worried
2007 - Winner, 1st Place Necklace Design ~ Bead Arts Awards: Signs of Spring
2007 - Finalist, Bead Dreams: Signs of Spring
Publications
2010 - The Canvas Project 3: Encyclopedia of Artwork
2010 - The Woven Bead: A Year of Inspirational Beadwork
2010 - Bead Dreams 2010: The Best Of the Bead & Button Show
2009 - The Woven Bead: A Year of Inspirational Beadwork
2009 - Bead & Button Special Issue: Bead Dreams Exhibit
2009 - Kalmbach Publishing: Crystal Jewelry 2 (invited submission)
2009 - Bead & Button Magazine: Butterflies Galore April/May (invited submission)
2008 - Bead Dreams Awards: Bead and Button Oct/Nov Issue
2008 - Wearable Expressions 2008: Exhibition Catalog
2007 - Bead Arts Awards: Step by Step Beads November Issue
2007 - Bead Dreams Awards: Bead & Button Magazine Oct/Nov Issue
2007 - Pondo Stitch: The Bead Book, South Africa June Issue
2007 - Lavender Lace Bracelet: Beadwork Magazine April/May Issue
2006 - Fabulous Fuchsias: Bead-patterns The Magazine May/June Issue
Gallery Representation
Highland Art Gallery, Weaverville California
The Beadman, Redding California
Calabash Art Gallery, Ballito, South Africa
Online Media
2005 to present: Beadweaver.blogspot.com (An online news journal)
Education & Teaching
Susan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and two Master of Science degrees. Among her honors have been University fellowships in teaching, recipient of the Hisaye Mochizuki Award, and recognition as a leading newsletter editor from the State of California, Medical Society Alliance. In 1997, she returned to her interest in the Arts and has studied weaving, metalsmithing, enameling, and ceramics with a major focus on beads. She has also taught bead weaving courses at her local community college. Today Susan maintains a popular online news blog, Beadweaver, as well as continues to focus her pursuits on functional beadwork design.
Continuing Education
Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, San Francisco: Fabrication I & II with Yas Tanaka; Enameling with Debra Losier; Steel Simplified with Suzanne Pugh; Haystack Mountain School of Crafts: Humorous Beadwork with Joyce Scott.