Rose Mary, designer of clothing patterns under her Sewfast Design label, teaches beading classes as embellishment or jewelry making at Monica’s Quilt and Bead Creations in Palm Desert and Road to California in Ontario, CA.
Mary Jameson
Rose Mary has always loved working with beads and all things sparkly. Her first beading project was actually her wedding bouquet, a huge assortment of ivory roses and baby’s breath all made in the French Beaded Flower technique. Since then, she has been designing fashion in various mediums for over 30 years, first working in the LA Garment District, then from her studio in the gorgeous California desert. A graduate of FIDM, the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in LA, she has designed and created hundreds of custom wedding dresses and specialized couture for a wide variety of clients. While creating ice-skating costumes, she found herself with an excess of sequins, crystals and beads which led to her exploration into the world of jewelry design. Fashioning pieces to match her gowns or fill the desires of clients who wanted commissioned work, she infused new energy into her career. Today finds her a designer of clothing patterns under her Sewfast Design label, sold throughout the country at independent fabric shops. She also teaches beading classes, as embellishment or jewelry making at Monica’s Quilt and Bead Creations in Palm Desert and this year at Road to California, in Ontario, CA.
As you notice the beadwork that embellishes clothing, quilting and home décor in today’s market, there is a realization that these little beams of light are everywhere. Beading brings a certain life to whatever it touches; a certain fascination and depth is created and it usually adds flair to a garment or intrigue to a quilt or pillow. Join us for the afternoon and discover how many different ways beading is used today and a little bit of the history of beading and bead making and how fascinated man has been throughout the ages with adornment. This is one of the grand influences that transverses cultures and connects people to things of the past. Learn how the application of beads has changed over the years, as well as how some techniques have stayed constant. Some of these methods are even enjoying a renaissance in today’s craft arenas. With all the tools we have at hand and all the resources through the internet and Pinterest, the sky’s the limit and your creativity knows no bounds.
Find out the many beautiful ways beading can enhance your garments or quilts when Rose Mary visits Sew-N-Sews meeting on February 8 at 1:00 p.m. in the Navajo Room at Sun Lakes Country Club. She will bring a display of gowns and costumes that showcase different types of beadwork and some works in progress that might tempt you onto the world of beading. She will also bring an assortment of vintage handbags from the 20s and 30s that show remarkable workmanship in small scale. On hand will be a selection of works in progress, so you might try your hand at some type of beadwork—who knows what creative doors might open for you!