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Barbara Ellis
by Sigrid Wynne-Evans
Barbara Ellis is an incredible Artist! She has been a "Bead Fairy" for me for my "Magnificent Mermaid" series of booklets. The work she did on "The Siren" pieces was first class.
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Barbara has also done an astounding, jaw dropping work for "The Dream Home" in Naples FL. After seeing the pictures of the flowers and other accessories she beaded for the home, there was no question in my mind that she is a superb artist.
Barbara has many delightful designs available. I think my favorites are "Mistletoe and Peace" bracelet (item 9124) and her Elephant series (items 9049, 9046 and 9043). Don't miss them!
Barbara was born in Chicago Illinois. When she was about 16, her parents decided to move to Naples, Florida. Barbara finished High school in Naples and moved to Sarasota where she attended college and earned a degree in Interior Design at Ringling School of Art and Design. Barbara has her credentials and continues with the educational requirements to maintain her professional license in the state of Florida. Barbara has been working for the same design firm for 26 years!
As you might guess, Barbara has always loved art and all forms of it. Her first introduction to beading was when she and a friend decided to participate in a holiday craft fair. They made all kinds of craft type items, Christmas related, lots of sewn items such as stockings, tree skirts, etc. One special item they made was the Christmas Spider. The Spider was made out of crystals from old necklaces, silver bugles and crystal silver lined seed beads. Included with the spider was the famous story with spider webs, Santa and Tinsel. It was a huge success.
Then, some time afterwards, Barbara and her husband went for away for a long weekend. They spent the first day at a baseball game, "His Choice". The second day was Barbara's choice. She saw an advertisement for a bead fair which she of course chose to go to. That was it! Barbara was hooked forever after that.
Barbara purchased books, tapes, and beads and began to teach herself. Barbara says: "I remember watching a VCR tape over and over again, driving my husband crazy until I finally caught on. Some of my early Icons were Sig, with some of her first books, Suzanne Cooper, Linda Chirby, and Ann Paxton with her Icon Amulet Bags, think I made every one of them. I continue to have many beaders that influence me since I can't get enough of this stuff. I love to design my own but I also continue to do projects by others, such as Cynthia Rutledge, Sig and many of the designers at Bead-Patterns."
Barbara hasn't taken any beading classes, but she hopes to someday. Ironically she teaches on Saturdays at a local bead shop in Naples. She has a small following that keeps her creating and developing more all of the time. Their encouragement is a blessing to Barbara.
Barbara started designing with beads almost immediately. Once she learned a stitch, she then wanted to make something with it. Barbara really didn't have any interest in computers until this world of beads become so prevalent. The first bead program she started with was Bead Plan (no longer available) to create some of her earlier designs. Still to this day many of her designs start out on pencil and paper with sketches first before the designs get to the fine tuning on the computer.
Searching the web, Barbara found Bead-Patterns.com. The contest "Committed to Beading" was being held at the time. Barbara says: "I entered several pieces and was fortunate enough to win third place with a special tapestry that I designed and created for the contest. Then they had another contest. "Something for Him", I entered this contest with two pieces and was overwhelmed when Rita announced I had won, First, Second and The Peoples Choice award. This was so amazing. The one that took first place was a tapestry by Sig based on a John Waterhouse painting of a Siren that she commissioned me to do as a "Bead Fairy" doing the beadwork for her. (Winning the contest was an extra bonus). The second place and peoples choice was a mini tapestry of a Marine Tribute, made for my husband. This piece actually lead me to becoming a bead designer at Bead-Patterns. I was receiving lots of request for a pattern on this. It was created with Beadscape, and yes I was one of many that bought a Mac for the main purpose of using Beadscape. With lots of encouragement and hours of personal assistance from Rita I finally created my first pattern for sale at this site. This too was quite an achievement and taught me so many more skills."
For Barbara, inspiration for her designs comes from "everywhere". Since her day job is also artistic, creativity between her day job and her beadwork overlap all of the time. Things like fabrics, wall coverings, area rugs, artwork, clothing, etc. constantly influence some of Barbara's designs.
Barbara's Elephant series came from a stencil design used in one of her client's homes as a border motif. The paisley bracelet was influenced by a wonderful area rug and one of her favorite elements.
The Perfume Bottle , Asian Perfume Bottle, If the Shoe Fits, and The Little Black Dress patterns are all influenced by fashion.
Sometimes world events influence Barbara's designs.The tragedy of 911 lead to her 911 memorial bracelet. Hurricane Katrina inspired her Magnolia Bracelet design. Politics inspired her elephant or donkey bracelet designs.
Even a movie can influence a design such as the Geisha bracelet series inspired by "The Geisha" and my "Road to Tara Bracelet was inspired by the movie "Gone With The Wind".
Holiday's can influence Barbara's designs to relate to that event, such as her Peace Dove Pin or Peace Angel and Mistletoe Bracelet, New Years - Cocktail Bracelet, Valentines day-Heart Bracelet or Heart Pin , Halloween- Spider, Witch or Pink and Batty Bracelet.
One of Barbara's newer directions and her personal favorite has been inspired by some antique pieces of jewelry that she calls her Romance Collection, "The Jeweled Teardrop Bracelet" and her latest "The Jeweled Teardrop Necklace".
When I asked Barbara what her biggest achievement is, she said:
"I would have to say that my biggest achievement actually brought both my two worlds together, professionally as an Interior Designer and artistically as a Bead Artist. I was selected to do the Interior Design of a 6,500 square foot 2004 Dream Home here in Naples. It won many awards and I was given many accolades for all aspects of the design work. One of my favorite things was show casing some of my beadwork in the home. Some of those pieces are:
1.) Living room on the cocktail table is a large vase filled with crystals and a 7' tall beaded floral arrangement of azure blue dendrobium orchids.
2.) Dining Room - A complete table setting for eight with a beaded center piece consisting of 2 large hurricane globes and a large beaded lilly garland wrapping around the sides, a mirrored tray in the center with small ghost orchids and candles surrounding the main beaded floral arrangement. Each place setting has a napkin with a brick stitched dragonfly beaded napkin ring.
On the built in credenza behind the table showcases the custom beaded floral consisting of beaded Spider mums in shades of spa blue, sage and copper.
3.) The Master Bedroom has a floor vase filled with a 6' Ice blue beaded pussy willow arrangement.
4.) The Master bathroom has smaller arrangements of beaded ghost orchids on display.
5.) A hall niche displaying a vase of beaded cherry blossoms."
Barbara says that she pretty much works "everywhere". There is probably evidence of beads throughout her home. The computer is located in her guest bedroom on a small desk and table with printer, scanner etc. There is an armoire in the room that use to hold sweaters, it is now filled with beads, a three drawer chest also filled with beads and a closet converted with shelves for yes, more beads. She tries to label everything and uses all kinds of organizing systems.
Most of Barbara's beadwork is done at the dining room table. Some of her easier pieces are created in the den on a lap table in front of the television or even in the car when she travels. Design work is created primarily on Beadscape. Some designs are created on the computer at her office with other programs such as Powerpoint, Microsoft word or Bead Wizard.
Barbara would like devote more time to her beadwork and the creative aspects. She hopes to be able to achieve this in the next few years as she slows down with her Design Practice. On Thursday evenings Barbara entertains a group of friends and has what she calls "Bead Nite". She and her friends create and share ideas. On Saturdays, Barbara teaches beadwork at a local bead store where she also sell some of her pieces. Her work can also be found at a local nail spa boutique.
Barbara says:
"My two worlds of Design overlapped again when I was asked to do a table top arrangement for the Ritz Carlton's Charity Heart Ball to benefit the Heart Association. I used custom made table cloths of silver taffeta, red silk organza overlays trimmed with beaded fringe and silk Napkins folded with beaded rings. The centerpiece was a multi-tiered beaded floral arrangement of Roses, and baby's breath."
"Recently the design firm I work for hosted me and two other aspiring artists with a Jewelry Trunk Show. Many of my gallery pieces were shown and sold. This event was well advertised and once again, I was supported by my piers and clients. I truly am very lucky to have so much support and encouragement."
"The world of beads has become my calming space, a place where I can go to design, create, learn, teach, and share ideas with others. It has given me a new found patience that I can respond to with others. Their have been many rewards, but the personal satisfaction has helped me achieve what I am today and hope to be tomorrow."
Barbara Ellis
e-mail - Patterns - Biography
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