Light is an invisible, ‘white’ presence but it can break in many colourful rays spreading life and joy. Beads are sherds of light but only together they bring the vitality of the rainbow. BeanBeadCraft jewellery feeds on the light of delicate beads.
Colourful, delicate, playful. Beads express their best when put in a line or intertwined in strings. For some, threading beads is a fun hobby, for Emma a wonderful escape. BeanBeadCraft jewellery filled her days, to start with…
How and when was your shop born?
Like a lot of people, 2020 was a year of boredom-busting. With all that time on my hands, I needed to keep myself busy. It all started by making a custom necklace out of wooden beads and a 3d printed gold pinecone. This was sent to Dave Dresden as a birthday present, Dave is one part of Gabriel & Dresden a Trance music DJ duo from America. They created Club Quarantine which is a very special online community that helped us all get through the past year. I received some overwhelming feedback which engaged me to start creating bracelets for friends which were sent all over the world, they called them an “Emma original”. BeanBeadCraft was created very shortly afterward in June 2020.
Could you tell us something about your background? Where are you from?
I originally come from Hampshire, England and moved to Brighton 20 years ago. I absolutely love Brighton for its diverse community and amazing shopping. The lane’s shopping bazaars are the best and I get a lot of inspiration by browsing through vintage and modern stalls.
When have you met your passion for creations?
I really enjoy working with Miyuki Delica beads, as they are so satisfying and when I am threading. It really helps balance the mind and clear away stress from the day’s/weeks. The finished products are stunning to the eye. When a take a step back and think “I made that” it gives me a sense of warmth and achievement, as each bead is only 2mm in size.
What’s your goal?
I am currently building my own website and I aim to come away from Etsy so the brand can have it’s own platform. I do have plans to show my collections at a local carnival in the summer on Brighton Beach. Showing my own products in real life will be a great way to engage with customers and see what products people love versus online shopping. It would be amazing if this works well for BeanBeadCraft as this could be a real growth opportunity. Brighton has some wonderful shows, fairs and community groups which I hope I can get involved with in the future.
How do you imagine your typical customer?
I have a wide range of customers from 18-70. My jewellery is made and created for everyone to wear and enjoy. I have made plenty of custom pieces for birthdays and special occasions.
What inspires you the most?
I am a bit like a magpie as I get attracted to anything sparkly. I love to wonder around the local bead shop in Brighton as they have a great selection of all types of beads and materials. I use Pinterest to gather inspiration, I do not look to copy anyone’s work but to take snippets to add to an idea I already have. I always have my eyes wide open to what jewellery people wear to try and create something that people will want to wear.
Do you have any inspiring place, such as a particular spot where you create or sketch your products?
All my creating happens at home in a cosy corner of my lounge. I have a lovely setup wit all my beads and crafting materials close to hand. I often to gaze into my suitcase of bead pots to see what “jumps out” I am quite an organic creator and always have little snippets of designs in my head which I let flow when the needle, thread and wire comes out. From time to time, I do get the drawing book out to jot down designs to help myself not to forget.
Do you have any projects for the near future?
I am currently looking at ways to involve other crafters into my work. As there are some amazing crafters out there who specialise in other materials, for example handcrafted wooden jewellery findings. By adding these pieces into make creations would give them a unique finish and style. As well as supporting other small businesses.
Making beaded necklaces was a Summer game for me and – sometimes, nostalgically – beads taste like my carefree childhood, arcade games and ice lollies. Emma’s beadwork connects all ages with lightheartedness and sparkles. Bring that Summer spirit back, find Emma’s BeanBeadCraft on Etsy. Her fruity earrings remind me of Pac Man’s world but her turquoise jewels come from the Egyptian displays at the Petrie Museum. Her fringed Miyuki dangles are for pool parties, fun for the adults… there’s something for every age.
Valentina Chirico aka Valens
