Missouri Artists on Main
In June of 2012, something very special happened to me. Master artist, Jean McMullen, had leased a building on Main Street in St. Charles to open her dream gallery, called Missouri Artists on Main. I applied to be a resident artist and was honored and thrilled to be accepted and invited to be one of the 25 artists participating in this gorgeous gallery of art. When the downstairs floor of the building became available, Jean decided to lease both floor. The gallery doubled in size in 2015 and I became doubly proud to be among the 40 artists feature there.
My jewelry had found a home! At that time, I also realized a need to settle down to a specific jewelry skill. I did not want to be a "Jack of all trades" when it came to jewelry creation. I thought about everything I had learned. I had always enjoyed taking classes and learning a variety of skills and techniques but the constant running throughout my jewelry career had always been beads! I was and still am thrilled by the variety...the colors, the textures, the shapes and materials. Beads were what I fell in love with during that first jewelry class and I have never tired of them since that first night.
Being a part of this center of art, made me want to strive even harder to turn my jewelry into art. I kept evolving and learning new skills. About two years ago, I discovered bead embroidery and immediately felt that this was the destination I was looking for. I love sewing little seed beads together around a focal cabochon. I am free to embellish, design and create. Each piece takes weeks and even months to complete, but I love the process. As soon as I finish one work of art, I am anxious to begin the next project. I still love beads, but now am using them to make complex works of art!
In June of 2012, something very special happened to me. Master artist, Jean McMullen, had leased a building on Main Street in St. Charles to open her dream gallery, called Missouri Artists on Main. I applied to be a resident artist and was honored and thrilled to be accepted and invited to be one of the 25 artists participating in this gorgeous gallery of art. When the downstairs floor of the building became available, Jean decided to lease both floor. The gallery doubled in size in 2015 and I became doubly proud to be among the 40 artists feature there.
My jewelry had found a home! At that time, I also realized a need to settle down to a specific jewelry skill. I did not want to be a "Jack of all trades" when it came to jewelry creation. I thought about everything I had learned. I had always enjoyed taking classes and learning a variety of skills and techniques but the constant running throughout my jewelry career had always been beads! I was and still am thrilled by the variety...the colors, the textures, the shapes and materials. Beads were what I fell in love with during that first jewelry class and I have never tired of them since that first night.
Being a part of this center of art, made me want to strive even harder to turn my jewelry into art. I kept evolving and learning new skills. About two years ago, I discovered bead embroidery and immediately felt that this was the destination I was looking for. I love sewing little seed beads together around a focal cabochon. I am free to embellish, design and create. Each piece takes weeks and even months to complete, but I love the process. As soon as I finish one work of art, I am anxious to begin the next project. I still love beads, but now am using them to make complex works of art!
We set up a table for the St. Charles annual celebration, the Festival of the Little Hills. I am happily "manning" the table!
One of the many things I love about Missouri Artists on Main is that there is a classroom! My love of jewelry combined with my love of teaching is being exercised! I get to teach the skills I have accumulated over the years to others. I have experienced many happy times in the MAOM classroom!
