Name: Yvonne Cornelius
Website Link: http://www.BluebonnetJewelry.etsy.com
(back of necklace)
Where are you located? Killeen, Texas
Tell us a bit about yourself: I’m originally from the suburbs of Chicago. I married a wonderful Texan (26 yrs.) and after early retirement for both of us, we settled in Texas. We have 4 dogs, all with funny and different personalities. I’ve been beading for 11 years, but only in the last 2 years have I been selling my jewelry.
When and why did you begin creating your jewelry/art? My husband was overseas and I was living in a new town and didn’t know anyone. I was working on a basket purse and it had a peyote flap attached to the basket. Since I didn’t know anything about beading, I bought some books and a video of how to do peyote stitch, and went from there. I liked beading so much I gave everything else up. Did I ever finish that basket purse? Nope, still sitting there.
What do you make? Jewelry of all kinds – bracelets, necklaces, earrings, pins, and pendants
Lariat
What materials and methods do you use? I love to use Swarovski crystals and seed beads in my jewelry. Besides that, I use all sorts of items like shells, pearls, cabochons, gemstones, stones, rivolis, buttons, delicas, flowers, leaves, and charms. I’m always looking for something I can bead around or use in my bead embroidery. I also like to incorporate lampwork beads from other talented artisans in with my designs. Using off-loom weaving works for me the best which includes stitches like peyote, netting, brick, herringbone, freeform and right angle weave. I enjoy bead embroidery the most. I’ve been doing kumihimo with beads for the last six months along with some wirework. Felting is the next thing I would like to learn.
Where do your design inspirations come from? Usually the beads will dictate the design. Sometimes it can be a color, a certain cabochon or lampwork bead that starts the design process off.
What is your best working environment/where is your studio? I have my own studio/computer room in my home near the living room so I can hear TV or just have background noise. If I totally want to be alone, I can just close the door.
Where can your products be seen? Etsy, My blog, and Flickr
Who are you a fan of? It’s hard to choose just one. Sherry Serafini, Heidi Kummli, Laura McCabe, Edda Blume, Amy Clark Moore, Sharilyn Miller are just a few. I have many others I admire.
Tell us a little about one of your favorite creations: One of my favorite pieces is the bead embroidery bracelet, “Almost Autumn.” I like using the different textures and how they work together.
Almost Autumn
Anything else you wish to add? I think we still need to educate the public about beading as an art form. People don’t realize how much time is put into each piece of jewelry and why pieces are priced the way they are. Each single bead is put on one at a time and a little bit of that person goes into each piece. Once the public knows that it will last for generations and isn’t manufactured, I think then people will consider it art.
That is precisely what we hope to accomplish and the reason for this website. Thank you for sharing your beautiful artwork with us!
15 Comments
October 11, 2008 at 9:37 am
Absolutely FANTASTIC pieces !
Yvonne is a true artist when it comes to matching and combining stones and beads. Great interview.
October 11, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Thanks for this wonderful interview from a gifted artist. I’m in awe of your work!
October 11, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Such a deserving artist to be featured here. Very intricate work and it is definitely art creations here. Great color combinations, lots of texture. Luxurious.
October 11, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Fantastic article for such a talented bead artist. Yvonne’s work is beautiful and well deserves the attention she receives from it. Great pieces which show the detail of the items she makes. Nice very nice.
October 11, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Lovely work and informative interview. Just love Almost Autumn. Fabulous piece with all my favorite colors. I can’t imagine the time and artistry that goes into something like that. Congrats on the interview.
Lois
October 11, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Your work is really lovely. You are very talented. Great interview.
October 11, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Wow! Proud of you on being featured! Congrats! What a beautiful and fabulous jewelry that you have!
October 12, 2008 at 4:16 am
Beautiful work — thanks for featuring this great artist! Joella
October 12, 2008 at 8:59 am
What magnificient beadwork! Love the interview and “getting to know you” background. I agree about educating the public on the time it takes to develop these “ART” forms. They are mini works of art and should be collected as such and to be able to display them on our persons are is even more of a bonus. True heirlooms for the ages.
October 13, 2008 at 9:27 am
Thank you all for the wonderful comments. I truly appreciate each and every one. I’m so lucky to have this interview.
October 13, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Yvonne, so sorry it has taken me this long to acknowledge your insightful interview here. All the best to you! I admire your craftsmanship that is evident in each and every piece. I am honored to share eSMArts membership and to be inspired and surrounded by such a talent as yours.
Best,
D
October 19, 2008 at 7:23 pm
I’m sure, you deserve even more recognition!
October 21, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Yvonne your work is fantastic, I love the necklace on top of the page here, so full and colorful. The Almost Autumn bracelet is beautiful!
November 10, 2008 at 2:08 am
Yvonne yours is some of the most beautifully designed and carried thru jewelry I’ve seen on the net. True artisanship. I love bead embroidery.
December 22, 2008 at 10:46 am
Congratulations, Yvonne. I reached here by following the path from your blog. And I found all kinds of interesting bits on your blog.
You deserve every one of these ‘highlights’ in your business and probably a whole bunch more.
Helene ~Glass0Beads (#0, not letter O)