Beaded Designs (Geoms)
In my later practice (2009-present), I turned to glass seed beads as fundamental elements, and to the intimacy of hand-woven beadwork. I developed intricate structural pieces crafted from hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of glass seed and bugle beads. Threaded and interlaced on fine nylon, these works combine patience with precision, translating pattern, rhythm, and care into tactile form.
My jewellery is inspired by natural geometries and, more recently, by endangered species and coral reefs, embodying both fragility and empathy. Each brooch or neckpiece functions as a meditation on coexistence, where repetition becomes reflection, and the small gestures of making carry large emotional resonance.
I am drawn to the geometric structures embedded at the core of all living forms and explore how to translate them into wearable objects. This approach allows me to create jewellery that is delicate, simple, and reproducible. My industrial design background informs these explorations, shaping how structure, material, and making come together in each piece.
My jewellery pieces, affectionately called Geoms, are lovingly handcrafted and combine two-dimensional and three-dimensional beadwork. Silver and glass bugle beads are threaded with nylon, and at times complemented by Swarovski crystals, glass marbles, semi-precious stones, leather thread, or silver chains.
“jewellery, especially beaded jewellery, has symbolism and meaning. It means different things to different people, and throughout history, it has been more than just wearable art.” Anon.
Alongside small-scale works, I also create large-scale, delicate, and intricate wearable pieces with a more theatrical presence. In these works, the humble glass bugle bead becomes a critical element for exploring complex geometric patterns and spatial structures.
Handcrafting these patterns with small elements and a continuous uniting thread emphasises interconnectedness and the omnipresence of geometric order. It serves as a reminder of our relationship to the whole, how individual parts gain meaning through connection.
“Beads as inspiring symbols of the cultural and spiritual aspirations of every major ethnic group and geographical region.” Liu, R. K. 1995. Collectible Beads: a Universal Aesthetic, Ornament Inc.