Monday, May 19, 2008

Featured Artist Spotlight....Bellebeads!!!






I met Bellebeads through the Etsy Angels Team. Although at the time, we weren't officially a team! Just a group of caring artists who banded together to raise money for two young boys in LA who lost their mother just before Christmas. Through these efforts, the team was born and also several lasting friendships! Bellebeads is actually a mother/daughter duo who share a passion for lampwork, family, friendships, and so much more. Their official shop name is Family Flame Artisan Beads, which I think sums it up pretty well. Around Etsy, they are known as Bellebeads! Marianne (mother) and Adrianne (daughter) are not only talented, they are smart, funny, caring, beautiful women who have enormous hearts. It is this passion for life and art that resonates in their creations. I am the proud owner of some of their beads and am even more proud to call them my friends.

They were recently featured in an Etsy Storque article that I encourage you to read HERE

Okay...now here is more information about this dynamic duo. I asked, they answered!


MJ: How long have you been creating/designing? When did you first learn you had a creative side?
M&A: We both have been creating pretty much our whole lives. Adrianne usually following in her mother's footsteps. It was an instinct, like second nature to us. We are the 4th and 5th generations of artists in our family.

MJ: What is your inspiration to create? What is your motivation to succeed?
M&A: Our inspiration comes from family, special memories, and places we've been as well as our love for nature. Our motivation is to do well at what we love. My own mother always said, "Do what you love and you'll never work again."


MJ: When you are not working on your craft, what are you doing?
M&A: We both love gardening and fishing/boating. Adrianne hunts and plays paintball and Marianne is an avid bird watcher/animal protector.

MJ: Do you belong to any groups on Etsy?
M&A: We are proud members of the Etsy Angels Team (EANGTEAM) and Marianne is also a member of the Wild, Wise, and Witty Grandmamas Street Team.

MJ: What is on the horizon for you? New products? Etc.?
M&A: For now we are working towards getting some electroformed beads and experimenting with that. We also plan on doing some Precious Metal Clay (PMC) work and possibly doing a website sometime.

MJ: Share one thing about you that you think would surprise people?
M&A: HA! Silently we are very competitive with each other :)







Check out Marianne & Adrianne's Etsy Shop.... Bellebeads

4 comments:

Annie Howes said...

What gorgeous beads. I've never seen anything like them!

Annie
http://anniehoweskeepsakes.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Beautiful blog on 2 amazing artists!! The colors and design of their beads are so beautiful...

I am also part of the Etsy Angel team and am proud to call them friends as well. Two very nice women to converse with.

Lisa said...

Great feature Jen!
I love Marianne, Adrianne and their beads!
I can't resist their beautiful baubles and have a wonderful collection going :)
I get compliments all the time on their beads when used in my designs.

Amanda said...

Fantastic write up on two of my absolute favorite artists!!! I love Bellesy and her daughter Addy!!!

I am sooo addicted to their beads and wow...I keep finding more I want....and have to have!

Great write up Jen!