I found my calling as an artist mid-life. Always
described as a creative person, I was reluctant to think of myself as an
artist. But with a strong need to do something creative with jewelry left
by my grandmother, and determined not to dispose of all the colorful pieces
except within my family, I purchased a beading book, a set of basic tools,
and went to work. Little did I know what lay ahead…
What was initially to have been a small update project soon became a hobby,
and then a small seasonal jewelry and glass bead business. My penchant for mixing colors
and texture, developed from a knack, into a skill. My creative designs in glass and
trademark fun and funky jewelry have helped me to build a national client base.
To keep my Lampwork line fresh I’m constantly pushing the envelope to
evolve as an artist, always looking for something new and different to experiment with.
I find the beadmaking process a soothing and healing time, a perfect release for the
daily stressors in life.There is comfort in the creation
and execution process of my work which has been described as eclectic, innovative,
and provocative.
My current body of work is a mixture of soft and hard glasses, Fine Silver, Ceramics,
Resin, Copper and found objects.
My work glass work ranges from miniature serene “floral-scapes” on my beads,
to whimsical fish, frogs, and faces, to tried and proven raided dots, and organics. It depends on the mood of the day…and how I’m feeling.
My friends describe me as “swinging from the chandelier” and it’s
definitely represented in my work. I want to “lift up”, inspire, encourage
and make an impact on the purchaser of my beads and components. There’s no greater
compliment than someone willing to purchase their hard earned money on something you've created.
In May of 2003, i sensed the company I was working for was trying to retire me.
I took what to me was a bold step by initiating a severance pacgage and opened KOLLECTIBLES BY KATHLEEN in Berkley
Michigan. It was my dream come true, a place where I could teach the skills I
had acquired, work with other artists in the studio, and have a gallery that
showcased my work and that of other artists, selling one of a kind jewelry and
handmade beads to designers and collectors. After three years I moved to a larger
location, changing the store name to “Burning Bead Studio, Inc.” The
new name better described everything that I was doing in the studio and gallery.
I
haves studied over the last 6 years with renowned beadmakers all over the country,
and continue to enhance my own beadmaking skills by taking workshops and
classes throughout the year.
In May of 2007 I closed my studio, to become a nomad. I now travel throughout
the Midwest and Eastern part of the United State selling my art at Bead Shows and Juried Art
Fairs. This is the life I love....