Name: Tina Holden
Website Link:http://beadcomber.ca
Where are you located? British Columbia, Canada
Tell us a bit about yourself: I grew up in Germany but immigrated to Canada in the late 70’s. I was first drawn to the intricate beadwork of the North American Indians when my mother sent me a beaded wallet. I was fascinated by how a pattern could be created by weaving tiny beads together.
Floral pendant
When did you start designing jewelry/art? I’ve been designing since my early teens, basically teaching myself as there wasn’t too much literature on beading or beadwork out there. Once I was able to afford the materials or tools involved in my 20’s, I collected so many materials that I opened up a beadshop “Beadcomber” which I ran for a number of years. Pretty soon it took up all my spare time and I gave it up to focus on designing and creating on a full-time basis.
What do you make? Jewelry in general such as Necklaces, Collars, Bracelet cuffs and others types. Then there are many styles of Earrings. On occasion I have made handbags and purses, belt buckles, rings and unusual things such as Wands for Healing, Dream Catchers and other types of hangings.
custom power pendants
What materials and methods do you use? I use a lot of wire, polymer clay and beads which range from glass, to bone and semiprecious stones. I also use prehistoric ivory (mammoth tusk ivory) and semiprecious inlaid antler pendants, which my husband carves and creates. I hammer and hand forge/form wire, knit, crochet and braid with it. Copper and Rebar wire are probably my favorites. There are so many artists using sterling silver that I’ve shied away from using it as it is so common. I will use it, though, when I have a request for it. Polymer clay, a soft PVC which can be hardened at about 275 F, I sculpt and often make my own focal pendants from it which I then embroider and embellish with other beads. I also weave with seed beads, but there are so many techniques and I’ve probably done most of them. To name a few: Herringbone (Ndebele), lattice, right angle weave, peyote, brick, Russian snake and I’ve even invented a couple for which I don’t have names (lol).
Buddha collar
Where do your design inspirations come from? My inspirations come from all sorts of places and history, sometimes even the futuristic, depending on what mood I’m in. Sometimes I work on a piece with a specific outcome in mind, but of course the stones and materials sometimes lead the way and I end up with something completely different than what I first imagined.
Polymer clay creatures
Where can your products be seen? I have much of my work in Galleries, most of which don’t have websites for individual artists.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tinaholden/
Upcoming events: Tofino Public Market May to October, Saturdays 10-2
Tofino Artists Studio Tour: June 4 to Sept 24, every second Saturday 10-5
Magazine articles or press:
Arts and Entertainment, Westerly News, September 2000 and November 2000
Westerly News Article, May 2002
Polymer Cafe (http://polymercafe.com) Spring 2003, Summer 2003, Fall 2003, Summer 2004 and April 2008
Polymer Clay Daily (October 2007)
“Polymer Clay Mixed Media Jewelry” by Shirley Rufener Krause Publications Fall 2008
Who are you a fan of? Eni Oken (Wire), Sherri Serafini (Beadwork), Victoria (Tory) Hughes (Polymer Clay)
Price range: $10 to $2000
Tell us a little about one of your favorite creations: It was Fall and driving down the highway the mountain and side of the road were covered in Maples with the most beautiful colours. That evening I sat down to create polymer clay leaves in greens mixed with gold and copper leaf. To string I crocheted together strands of copper wire along with semiprecious stones and recycled (beach) glass beads.
Fallen Leaves
Anything else you wish to add here: Thanks for the opportunity and best wishes with your site!
Thank you Tina Holden for the information about you and your art – you are so creative and multi-talented!
2 Comments
August 23, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Amazing work, Tina! Each piece is a piece of art really. Such intricate and complex creations. You are very talented.
August 29, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Thank you for the compliment! Appreciate it