World Artisan Gems

Name: Kerri Fuhr

Website Link: www.kerrifuhr.com

Where are you located? British Columbia, Canada

Tell us a bit about yourself: I am a full time glass bead designer living in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. I live with my very supportive boyfriend, 3 dogs and my rather pugnacious cat!

When and why did you begin creating your jewelry/art? I started eight years ago when I treated myself to a glass beadmaking class for my 30th birthday. The class was taught by a friend of mine, Walt Pinder, and I had so much fun that I bought myself a beginners kit and started making beads in my garage at home. After a few years of learning the basics and making gifts for friends, people started to ask to buy my beads! So I ventured into the world of bead shows and started selling my work. Learning jewelry skills along the way, I then started selling my beads and jewelry in local galleries and now for the past four years this has been a full time career for me.

What do you make? I create glass beads as well as jewelry. I mostly specialize in creating beads for other jewelry designers to use in their creations as well as specialty focal beads for collectors world-wide.

What materials and methods do you use? I create my beads using glass rods imported from Italy as well as specialty glass made in the US and Canada. I use a small table-top torch that is powered by an oxygen concentrator and natural gas which is fitted directly from my bench in my studio. Using simple tools and small threads of glass called stringer, I “paint” with glass in the torch flame and create my miniature works of art one at a time.

Where do your design inspirations come from? I find that most of my inspiration comes from the natural world around me. I enjoy creating beads with insects and birds especially. Dragonflies, honeybees, ravens and herons are among my favorite subjects to depict in glass. I strive for realism in my pieces and so I spend a lot of time studying my subjects. I also love history and the designs in late medieval and victorian tapestries inspire me. I currently have a line of beads I call my “Tapestry Collection” that are inspired by the botanical styles of these historical woven pieces.

studio

What is your best working environment/where is your studio? I am fortunate in that I have an amazing studio right in my backyard! I designed it and had it constructed to be the perfect environment for making beads. An eleven foot workbench, a custom – fitted gas connection for my torch, lots of windows and ample storage make it a great place to work! I also decorated the studio in a lavish Moroccan theme, as our climate here is often grey and rainy so I wanted a cheerful and sunny place to work each day. Warm colors and exotic touches keep my spirits up and inspire me everyday, no matter the weather!

Where can your products be seen?  You can visit my website to view galleries of my past work as well as view work that is currently available. I sell my beads on Etsy. There is also a link on the “Available Work” page on my website and bead show updates are listed on my website also. 

Upcoming events: I will be at several great bead shows throughout the year!

The Best Bead Show – Miami, April 24-26
Double Tree Merchandise Mart – West Hall
711 NW 72nd Ave, Miami FL, 33126
http://www.crystalmyths.com

Whole Bead Show, Vancouver May 1-3
Empire Landmark Hotel
Crystal Ballroom
1400 Robson Street, Vancouver BC
Friday & Saturday 10am to 6pm
Sunday Noon to 5pm
www.wholebead.com

Bead and Button Show June 4-7
Midwest Airlines Center
400 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI
www.beadandbuttonshow.com

Puget Sound Bead Festival July 10-12
Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center
1500 Broadway Ave; Tacoma, Wa
www.pugetsoundbeadfestival.com

ISGB Gathering Bead Bazaar July 24-26
Miami, FL
(more information TBA)

Magazine articles or press: I have been a featured artist in The Glass Bead Magazine, as well as recently featured in the Flow Magazine for the Glass Craft Emerging Artist Awards.
Who are you a fan of? I admire so many talented glass artists it’s hard to mention them all, but Vittorio Costantini, Andrea Guarino, Leah Fairbanks and Holly Cooper among my favorite glass artists!
Tell us a little about one of your favorite creations: I have recently been experimenting with enamels (powdered glass) and I enjoy the watercolor-like effects I am able to achieve on my beads with them. A bead entitled “Heron’s Moon” is one of my most recent favorite creations made with the use of enamels and fine stringer.

Heron's Moon

Anything else you wish to add?  I am now starting to teach intermediate and advanced glass bead classes at various studios throughout the US and Canada and am working on a tutorial series on the techniques I use to create my beads that will be available soon! Please check my website for updates!