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Courtesy of Joyce Matheny
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Kids have done it since string and macaroni noodles existed on the same planet. Today, you can find it everywhere from dime stores to Bergdorf’s. Beaded jewelry, it seems, never loses its timeless fashion qualities. Yet, whether high fashion or street fashion, it is above all a craft—one engaged in not only by established designers but also by self-made artisans who recognize their hobby’s higher artistic potential. Want a relatively easy and inexpensive way to express your individuality? Here's five tips for embracing beaded jewelry from three St. Louis artists whose work defines what it means to create art from everyday life:
String everything with a hole. You might not think a chandelier chain, orthodontic rubber bands, or leftover wire from your latest home renovation project can have anything to do with jewelry beyond childhood. Nancy Solomon, founder and owner of Newly Hatched Designs, however, has used all of these items in her high-quality, one-of-a-kind accessories for herself and others. If you stare at something long enough, you never know what you’ll start to see. So, let your mind go wild. You might be surprised at how much can actually work as jewelry. If you have even a vague idea or just like certain colors together, Solomon says, “Get some string and get a clasp!”
Make it personal. Dawn Pizzarelli defines her artistic style by its mixture of “hard and soft together.” Her favorite piece is a pendant with her son’s birth stone in its center. While her processes of stone setting and fabrication are slightly more involved than Solomon’s simple “put items on string” technique, both women’s results are their own, standing as reflections of their interests and personal taste. Take advantage of the versatility of beaded jewelry. Natural stone, Swarovski crystals, or plastic notebook binding—regardless of the materials used, your favorite piece will often be the one you have some personal connection to. So, make memories, and let your jewelry tell that story.
Utilize pieces you don’t want. A lot of people are swamped with jewelry they don’t wear. When Solomon’s friend handed her what she thought were junk pieces, Solomon saw instant possibility.
“She’s like, ‘Just take this. Do whatever you want with it,’ Solomon recalls. “What I did was I recalibrated it and actually gave it back to her. She’s like, ‘Oh, this is so pretty!’ and I’m like, ‘Well, do you recognize it?’”
So, get out that old gift you didn’t like but couldn’t bear to return. It just might be salvageable.
Show your true colors. Joyce Matheny says she considers herself an advocate for self-help. The owner of Doe’s Sicilian Designs, she creates beaded jewelry in an effort to help women feel secure knowing how they look matches who they are. She says the key to achieving this mirror reflection is total customization in her work. People don’t come ready-made, so neither should beaded jewelry. Usually, high customization comes at an equally high cost. Artisanal beaded jewelry, however, is a naturally variant accessory and a favorite of independent-minded designers embracing their creative passions. All three artists say they never create the same piece twice.
Don’t get stuck following trends (unless that’s your style). The pressures of societal norms can cause people to think about their style choices as if they’re limited by some sort of rule book. Throw it out. Even high fashion is less about conforming and more about standing out—creating pieces that no other artistic mind envisioned or thought to try. Imagine if Alexander McQueen had shied away from outlandishness? People can choose innovation every day.
“You pick up a necklace, and everybody kind of sees it in a different way even though it’s the same piece of jewelry,” Solomon explains. “I think that the reason that you picked up the particular necklace—whether it’s from your own jewelry box or a store—will probably determine how you’re going to wear it or how it feels to you. And it’s different for every piece of jewelry and for every person.”
To get in touch with a beaded jewelry designer, contact Eleanor Ruder of Compônere Gallery of Art at 314-721-1181 or visit componere.com
