World Artisan Gems

Fossil

Name: Vampi Choy

Website Link: http://vampsart.com

Where are you located? Richmond, Texas

Tell us a bit about yourself: I am 38 years old and I moved down here from Canada to marry my husband in 2003. We share our home with a little twit of a hairball, Fishhook.

Rose cuff

When and why did you begin designing jewelry/art? I was suffering from chronic depression and bipolar disorder when I came upon my mothers stash of beads and sequins. Mom had a small amount of different beads, Czech, acrylic, resin, and it just hit me that I could probably bead up a picture of a koi fish. I really don’t know where the idea came from, I just know it was a long time coming. After 4 days of continuous beading, I had my first bead embroidered piece and from there I was obsessed.

What do you make? Mostly jewelry, but when I need a break, I’ll try my hand at small bags and accessories. Right now I’m working on a unity candle cover for my step-daughters upcoming wedding.

Spanish cuff

What materials and methods do you use? Mostly seed beads, but I’ve grown to encompass crystals, shells and whatever can be glued down or sewn down or has a hole in it. I prefer bead embroidery, but freeform stitches are my second love. There’s no structure, no pattern, and no boundaries.

Where do your design inspirations come from? I honestly have no idea. It’s usually colors that dictate the design and what is going to be made. I get color combinations in my head that won’t stop weaving in and out of my brain until I at least make a bracelet out of those colors. If the colors still flow through my brain after that, then a necklace is usually in the making.

What is your best working environment/where is your studio? We just purchased our first (and only) home, so I’ve got my own 12×12 ‘craft room’. I don’t really call it a studio because it doesn’t really strike me as such. I prefer to work in the craft room because it has the best lighting for what I do and I’ve got everything I need there.

Where can your products be seen?    The Beaders Showcase, My Website, and Deviant Art

Upcoming events: I am taking part in the Houston Bead Society Annual Bazaar on November 7th to 9th, 2008

Serenity

Magazine articles or press: 

Exploring Beaded Art Dolls, Cindy McCornack – Violet doll
Embroidered bead collar, Bead & Button, October 2003
Embroidery with Beads booklet, Bead & Button, 2004
The Healing Powers of Beading, Jewelry Crafts, December 2005
Your Work, Bead & Button, February 2008 – Garden of Miss Content collar

Who are you a fan of? There’s quite a few… Sabina Anderson, Heidi Kummli, Sherry Serafini, Laura McCabe, Rebekah Hodous, Tina Koyama, Yulia Crystal, and a lot lot more. I find new bead artists every day, who inspire and astound me.

Price range: $75 and up.

Tell us a little about one of your favorite creations: My favorites change with each piece I make. I think my favorite for right now would be my ‘Garden of Miss Content’ collar. The colors are just so soft and spring like and the Regency Rose cab is just spellbinding.

Garden of Miss Content

Anything else you wish to add here:  I just wanted to add that beading isn’t a hobby for me, nor is it quite a profession. It’s something that I literally need to do. This is what I do to keep my mind healthy and focused. I do believe that everyone in this world has a creative streak in them… they just have to find it

We are so glad you found those beads and you chose this type of art, it appears by the beauty of your art, it was a perfect choice for you.