Introducing.....Neva Brown

The second of the Aussie contingent and another fellow Battler, Neva does some very cool pieces using bead embroidery and bead weaving. Neva was one of a small group of beaders who took me up on wanting a FB group for an honest critique and formed "BEad Honest" which she pretty much runs.  I'm thrilled to have her aboard the Mavens so, let's get to know....

Neva Brown

 What did you do before beading?

All my professional life I have been an Interior Designer and Graphic Designer, having had my own business since 1979. My work has taken me to most corners of the world to design, and all my work has come to me by word of mouth referrals. I have been very fortunate in this way. Whilst travelling to China, I came across and studied Feng Shui, and subsequently incorporated its principles in my interiors. In 2002 I set up a design School, teaching not only Design in various forms, Colour, and also Small Business Management as well as being business mentor to this day.

What brought beading into your life?

I had been playing with beads from an early age, making ‘Surfie’ necklaces for
myself and my friends whilst at school. As I matured, I would design my own
jewellery and had a jeweller friend, make the pieces for me. Beads came back into my life around 2003 when my health took a downward turn, and after life saving surgery, I wanted something to do during my rehabilitation.

What is your comfort zone?

Comfort zone...hmmm....is there really such a thing? I like using seedies of all sizes,I prefer 11’s and 15’s and also 18’s but really enjoy incorporating other things in my work. I guess I’m really comfortable creating collars with bead embroidery, once an image/design is firmly in my mind, it’s “All Systems Go!” I am also comfortable bead weaving, and really enjoy the challenge of a new design and technique.

What aspect of beading do you find most challenging?

Reading tutorials, or should I say deciphering tutorials. I simply can’t do it. Give me an engineer’s drawing any day. So I no longer try. I am now writing tutorials though, strange as that may seem.

What would you most like to bead if you had the time and supplies?

I would like to a complete jewellery line for a fashion runway show, collaborating with a couple of high end fashion designers. Or design the jewellery for a theatre production.

Who, if anyone, has influenced your style of beading?

Initially Sherry Serafini and Heidi Kummli, their collars were intriguing, so full of life and movement. Also Laura McCabe was an influence with her precise style and attention to detail and of course those ‘eyes’. 

If you could only use one bead weaving stitch which one would you choose and why?

Probably CRAW, it is a versatile stitch and lends itself to being very sculptural. You can create both delicate pieces on its own and also good bases for embellishing.

Do you have a favorite place to buy beads and supplies?

I primarily like to support local businesses, so my preferred supplier in Australia would be Cranberry. They have an amazing range of Miyuki, Matsuno and Toho seed beads as well as Czechs rounds and shapes. Not to mention all those little extras and unusual beads and gems. If I can’t get what I need from there, there are a couple of other places I frequent.

What Neva says about herself

As my friends know, I really don’t like talking about myself.... but if I need to say anything it would be that I am a very passionate person. I love to immerse myself in the task at hand and give it my all. I am a perfectionist, and won’t let things just be unless they are perfect. I love to be at one with nature and find my inspiration comes from my surroundings. I live just out of Sydney Australia, and enjoy escaping to the solitude and serenity of the country. My beading is not just a piece of art but often an insight into me, something I take joy in creating and pride in sharing. 

I am a mother of one amazing young man, and he is now engaged to a wonderful lady who also shares my passion for beads. I love to sit and bead with her, teach her new techniques and watch her soar in her creations. It’s very satisfying for me to know that I can help someone else develop their interest and watch her share what she has learnt from me with others. 

I am and have always been very health conscious, and attentive to what goes in my body. We, my husband and I love to grow our own food produce, and we have quite a lovely and extensive food garden which feeds us both, and sometimes our friends and neighbours’ quite well. I have been writing a cook book for quite a while now, developing my own recipes, and one day I will publish this, if only to leave it as a legacy to my son.

My long term goal for my jewellery journey would probably be to buy a small disused Church/Chapel and convert it into a gallery, to display and sell not only my work but also that of other aspiring artisans.

Introducing......Aurelio Castano

Yes.....my second gentleman! If you haven't seen Aurelio's work yet you're in for a treat.  He makes some wonderfully colorful jewelry and some, let's say, quirky things.  Aurelio takes the mundane, such as a cigarette, and turns it into a beaded work of art that always manages to bring a smile to my face.  I think his work answers the question "what inspires you?" with a simple "everything!"

It's great to have Aurelio on board, I'm looking forward to learning more about how his mind ticks....so let's get to know....

Aurelio Castano

 What did you do before beading? And what brought beading into your life?

I hold a degree on metal smith which I used in my career as jewelry designer. My metal work was a known traditional, edgy style which was published in the Art-Jewelry Magazine.

What brought be to beading was my inclination for tri-dimensional work and my passion for color which metal work tends to lack.

What is your comfort zone?

I don't think that there is such a thing as a “comfort zone” for me. There is nothing more rewarding for me than to experiment with new techniques, color and bead shapes.

What aspect of beading do you find most challenging?

I find that incorporating different materials and shapes into my design can be quite a challenge, but the result can sometimes be the most rewarding aspect of beading. Other times it is nothing more than a disaster, but therein lies the fun and the lesson.

What would you most like to bead if you had the time and supplies?

I don't know that there is a specific project that would like to bead. The fact is that all of my designs are inspired by the supplies I have collected over time. My beads are like little treasures I find while browsing through a store, sales, or shows. Bought because of their beauty rather than for a specific purpose. I have LOTS of little treasures! Of course when I need a specific one I can never find it so I go out and buy more. :-)

Who if anyone has influenced your style of beading?

Many years ago when I was a missionary in the Amazon jungle of Colombia I lived with the Coreguje and Witoto tribes who created the most colorful, wild, nature inspired jewelry. To this days the sight of such beauty has been a vast source of inspiration.

If you could only use one bead weaving stitch which one would you choose and why?

I knew there would be a difficult question. I could say that Peyote stitch. Why? Well it functionality lends itself to a vast array of possibilities. Now don't get me wrong, other stitches would be thrown in. I'm unfaithful like that.

Do you have a favorite place to buy beads and supplies. ?

Sure, If your store carries a bead that catches my eye that will be my favorite store of the day.

What Aurelio says about himself

Aurelio Castaño is an active artist in the tri-state area. His work has been showcased in a number of local and national exhibitions. Inspired by his Andean background and working in a number of media, Aurelio creates a wide array of visually stunning pieces which can be worn or displayed.

Aurelio holds a Certificate in Applied Arts and Associates in Visual arts from The Westchester Community College and went on to receive a Bachelors in Visual Arts from Empire State College.

His work can be found at the Mamaroneck Artist Guild in Larchmont and other prominent local galleries. He founded “Grupo Artisto”, an arts program for Westchester day laborers and their families.

His beading courses are offered year round at the Westchester Center for the Arts in White Plains, NY (formerly the Westchester Arts Workshop). He is available for private instruction.