Kathleen Smith

Kathleen Smith

Fire Mountain Gems and Beads 2009 Beading Contest

Finalist

Meet the Designer-Artist


Where do you live?
Spokane, Washington

Describe your artistic style.
I like stringing the beads and then making designs from the strings. I also like working with the smallest beads.

What inspires you as a designer-artist?
I have several problems with my health so I have to sit and watch the world a lot and get ideas from it.

What materials do you most enjoy working with?
I enjoy working with tiny seed beads.

What is the name of the piece you submitted with your success story?
Spring Teddy Bear

What inspired this design?
I love teddy bears and so I made one out of beads.

How did it come together? For example, did you plan it out or did it define itself once you began working?
It defined itself once I started working but I also planned part of it.

Share Your Background


When and how did you begin making jewelry/beading?
I began making jewelry because the beads are interesting to work with.

Who introduced you to beading?
I got a book from my mother.

Do you have an artistic background?
Yes. I do have a little bit of an artistic background because in college I took classes in floral design.

How did you discover Fire Mountain Gems and BeadsĀ®?
I received a catalog from them.

What other hobbies do you have?
I crochet and do counted cross stitch.

Beading Success


What role does jewelry-making play in your life?
Jewelry-making is a hobby for me but is also helps me physically because I stay off my feet due to a disability and beads are easy to do that way.

Any advice for aspiring jewelry-artists?
I haven't been working with beads for very long, but I would say to just have fun working with them.

View all of Kathleen's designs in the Gallery of Designs.