What is Beadwork?
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According to the all powerful Wikipedia, beadwork is the art or craft of attaching beads to one another by stringing them with a needle and thread or thin wire, or sewing them to cloth. That is pretty good definition, it's straight to the point. I like that.
Beadwork is an ancient form of artwork. It's been around for thousands of years and has roots in many different cultures all over the world. Beadwork is also simple, but complicated. It's simple because, as stated above, it's art that is created with beads. It's complicated because there are so many different ways of doing this. I work primarily with a couple different techniques, though I dabble in almost all of them. I like to work in off-loom weaving and embroidery. So, what are these techniques? Off-loom weaving is creating an object with just a needle, string, and some beads. The beads are woven together without the use of a loom, hence the name, off-loom. There are a lot of different stitches that come with this technique, but I mainly work in peyote/gourd stitch. Bead embroidery is pretty much what it sounds like. It's embroidering on fabric using beads. This is the technique that I use the most. I love the freedom it gives me and I love what it looks like when finished. |
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Who am I?
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My name is Victoria and I have been beading for almost 20 years. That still blows me away every time I tell anyone that. I still remember the first beadwork book my mom bought me and those first cheap beads. But as soon as I started, I knew I was hooked.
My techniques and style have evolved over the years, but I still love creating beautiful beaded items. I started by making simple Native American inspired jewelry for myself. This eventually morphed into the beaded mixed media and 3D art I make today. Still using the ancient stitches (as well as some new ones), just with a modern twist. Beads are not my only love. I love my smelly little pug. She brightens my day and makes me smile. I post lots of photos of her on instagram. You should go check it out and fall in love with her like I have. I also dabble in lampworking and photography. I live in Madison, so riding my bike is an obvious love. It's one of the most bike friendly cities in the US. I love to cook and entertain. And speaking of Madison, I love my city. I'm a transplant from Chicago (I've lived all over Illinois and Wisconsin), but I now considered it my city. It's friendly. The arts are huge here. Outdoor activities are a must. The restaurants are great. And well, the liberal attitude fits me perfectly. My husband and I bought our first house here and we've really grown to love all that is Madison. We welcomed our first child in March 2016 and love being parents. It's a challenge some days, but it's worth it. |
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What the heck Does Three Fates Mean?
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So where did my business name come from? I mean there is only one of me and not three, so why did I choose that name? Well, truth is, I have a great love of history, especially ancient civilizations like the Greeks.
The fates, or Moirai, in Greek mythology were the ones that controlled the thread of life. The number of fates is different in different cultures and at different times, but the Greek fates are usually represented by three; Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. They each represent a different aspect of the weaving of the tapestry of life. Clotho, was the youngest and the spinner of the thread. Lachesis, the middle fate, was the one who measured the thread, determining the length of one's life. Atropos, was the oldest and the one who ended life with her scissors. This story was always my favorite. I love the idea of all of our individual threads being woven together to create this wonderful tapestry. All of our threads intertwining and interacting, influencing each other. It captivated me. And when I started weaving my own ideas into larger pieces, the name just came naturally. |
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