Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Designer & Bead Artist Interview -Beadworx

What is your personal name, business name, website and location?
My name is Bettina Welker and I create my jewelry under the name "beadworx". You can find my work here: http://www.beadworx.de/
I live in the southwest of Germany in a little village called Heusweiler near the french border. Next big city is Saarbruecken, Frankfurt is 1.5 hours drive from here (in case anyone knows a bit of Germany).



What kind of beads do you make? What kinds of processes do you use? What is your favorite beadmaking technique?
Well, that depends on my ideas for a project. I don't do specific beads. I do canework, I extrude, I do texturing and transfers. Everything that comes handy to a new project.
I can't focus on one technique the whole time, this would be too boring for me after a while. And for that reason, there is no favorite technique - my fave is always the technique that I'm currently working with.


How did you get into beadmaking? What are some of the important things you do for your business?
I always wanted to be a gold/silversmith when I was young. But there were not many training positions then and I decided to go to the university and study graphic design to live out my creativity. So no beadmaking or jewelry for at least two decades. In late 2003 I accidentally discovered millefiori and caning when browsing the web for something completely different. I knew Fimo from the time when I was a kid and I instantly was hooked on the idea to make jewelry and beads from polymer clay.
I only do OOAK work - you wont find any duplication in my work, maybe there's a same-style-piece (in a series), but never one that is similar to another. I still hope that will work out for me someday and I don't need to do wholesale production for one particular piece.

What is your workspace like and how do you work in your studio? What is a typical day like?
I just set up my studio in the basement of our house. It's a 4 x 5 m room with plenty of working space - finally. I just had a studio feature at Libby Mills' blog (go see: http://libzoid.net/blog/2008/03/24/studio-snapshot-bettina-welker/)
My typical day starts with my day job as a graphic designer (well I have to eat - right?...*g*) after my 8 year old has left the house. If there are no jobs to do in the graphics department I head to the studio to play and create.


How do you stay inspired and motivated?
Going through the world with eyes wide open. I can get inspiration out of so many different things I see every day.


What beady plans do you have for the future? Do you have new designs or ideas you will be exploring soon?
I am currently playing a lot with the polymer clay extruder and tube beads and there are still some ideas to be worked out.

If you have a discount code you would like to give our readers, please list it here, including the expiration date:
I'm busy setting up my new shop on my website (www.beadworx.de/shop/ ) and there are still some categories to be filled. Just mention the word "artbeadscene" for a 10% discount through September 15, 2008

5 comments:

Tari of ClayButtons.com said...

Thanks for the interview Bettina! Your work is beautiful and intriguing!

Beth Hikes said...

These are wonderful! Really inspired work and lovely photos. Thanks for featuring this artist.

Lisa Peters Russ said...

Bettina, Your work is great. Well Done!
Would love to see more

Tejae: Heart Shaped Art said...

Your work is just fabulous Bettina! Thanks for sharing.

tejae

Anonymous said...

Really inspiring.
Bettina's work is really amazing.
Modern, playful, gorgeous colors !

Thank you for this interview !