My passion is making sculptures and wall pieces using beads as the primary medium, spending weeks or months to complete a single project. I've been fortunate to have been juried into many national beadwork, fiber arts, and fine art exhibitions since I started showing my work in 1998. Being a true Gemini, I cannot stick with one thing, so I experiment with bracelets, pouches, needlecases, dolls, shrines, earrings, polymer clay, stamping, shrink art, collage, and anything else that will add variety to my life! I also enjoy writing and have published numerous articles, artist profiles, and projects in magazines such as Beadwork (where I've been a regular contributor since 1999), Belle Armoire, and Bead & Button, as well as in several books about beadwork.
In 1997 I put up my first website, Aunt Molly's Bead Street, a fun online educational resource with free patterns and tutorials. In 2001, I launched a more formal portfolio site called Mary Tafoya: Beadwork, to house my resume and portfolio samples.
As a former graphic designer and graphic arts instructor, I enjoy merging the two fields of computer graphics and beadwork in my patterns offerings. Each pattern has been beaded by me personally, and each sheet includes a printer-tested color graph and bead color legend (usually for Miyuki Delicas). Each tutorial I offer includes illustrated step-by-step instructions which have been reviewed and tested by beadworkers of all levels.
THE FINE PRINT: I include contact information and a terms of usage statement with each item. Although my offerings here are intended for personal use, I do not restrict my customers from selling work they create from my patterns (as long as the items are not mass produced or made in a work-for-hire situation). I do, however, restrict distribution -- please do not copy or republish them, whether for sale or as a freebie, without prior written permission. Some of my items would make great classroom projects -- if you are interested in purchasing patterns and tutorials for your bead store or students, please contact me to make bulk order arrangements. I am also available to teach these and other projects in your shop or beading group!
Blog Spot - http://blogs.ebay.com/seriousbeader |
