| Jacque' Owens | |
"Jacque’ Owens lives in Stone Mountain, Georgia. She started beading about 8 years ago. She wanted to take something on vacation to work on that would not require a lot of space, so she took a small loom that had been abandoned by her daughter when she discovered boys. That loom created a monster. Her grandson refers to it as the bead bug. Her husband says he is a bead widower, and claims to be a patron of the arts because of the money he’s invested in beads.
Shortly after beginning to bead Jacque’ noticed a small dark spot on one of her hands. After being diagnosed with scleroderma, and told she might lose the use of her hand, she thought she might not be able to bead much longer. The beadwork proved to be therapeutic. Her scleroderma is now in remission, and Jacque’ swears she’ll bead forever.
Although beading began as a hobby, it eventually led her to do her first show. A few years later her daughter began to bead with her, now they teach together and do several shows a year.
Jacque’ now teaches all over the country. Recently she has taught for The bead retreat 2000 in Gatlinburg, Tenn., Chevron Trading Post in Ashville, N.C., The Bama Bead Shop in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Beads by Blanch in Bergenfield, NJ., The Whole Bead Show in Tucson, AZ., and The Place to Bead in San Ramone, CA., as well as teaching at a local bead shop named Beadazzles.
Her beadwork Kimono titled, "The Sea Kimono" is featured in the first Caravan challenge book, "The Sea", and also took first place at the Sugarloaf Arts Festival for three-dimensional art. Her newest piece, "Creation and Ms. Turtle", will be pictured in the second Caravan Beads challenge book. Her first book, "The Art of Beadweaving", is distributed all over the world. Jacque’ says she enjoys getting emails from places like Korea, New Zealand, Australia, and England. Her second book, "All About Beaded Beads", is due to be released soon, and her third book on beaded flowers is already in the works.
Jacque’ hopes to continue to expand her beadwork and to continue teaching at bead shops and beadshows around the country."
Be sure to visit Jacque's Web Site, it is just full of beautiful inspiration. Be sure to catch the Gallery and the Patterns!
Also, don't miss the review of Jacque's book The Art of Beadweaving. And, don't forget the wonderful tutorial Jacque' has prepared for us, on Ndebele Stitch, with a double fringe. The bracelet she designed using this stitch is called "The Caterpillar"! It's gorgeous!
