Interview with Ileana Munteanu of Enchanted Beads

Business Name: Enchanted Beads

Real Name: Ileana Munteanu

Etsy Page: http://www.etsy.com/shop/enchantedbeads
Blog Page: http://ileanasmagicaltime.blogspot.com/ and http://enchantedbeads.blogspot.com/

Web Page: http://www.enchanted-beads.com/

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/ileana.munteanu

How did it come to be that you started working with seed beads?

I always loved the way they feel, the variety of color, scale and shape, the infinite possibilities they offer. All this help me to mold my pieces. I would use my seed beads much like a painter uses colors and brush strokes to convey his version of imagery.

How long have you been creating with seed beads?

More than twenty years.

Is there was any significance to the name of your shop?

A shop owner in Washington DC, the first one who accepted my jewelry on consignment, said about my jewelry: "These are enchanted beads". I liked what she said and I made it my business name.

What inspires you?

Nature is my main source of inspiration: flowers, ladybugs, butterflies are featured in my pieces. Sometimes I get inspired by the semiprecious stones I find. I put them together with pearls, gemstone beads and colorful seed beads in a specific design, carefully coordinating the colors to achieve a natural, shaded look by incorporating several nuances of beads for each color I choose. After completing this most important first step, I find the right time for the beading process.

Do you listen to music or TV while you work?

I mostly listen to classical music, but I enjoy watching the news or even movies and shows.

Do you have common colors you work with?

I like all colors when they serve my purpose, but I mostly choose neutral colors, earthy colors.

What is your favorite color palette?

Gold, caramel brown, honey, moss green, chartreuse , Garnet, lavender, lilac, salmon pink

Do you have a favorite technique? Which one and why?

I use many techniques and I like to experiment in order to create new ones. I mostly use lace, peyote and modified peyote.

Do you do shows or vending of any sort? Where?

I do about three shows every year, around Mother's Day and Winter Holidays.

Do you teach beading classes? Where?

No, I don't teach.

Do you sell your work in any galleries/shops? Where?

I used to sell in many galleries on the East Coast. After I opened my Etsy Shops I went down to only two Galleries.

Where do you see yourself in your business in 5 years?

I am not able to predict what will happen in five years. I wish I could keep my good sight and my energy. I am working hard to being more successful on Etsy.

Interview With Jacquie Champion From Angelque Creations

Etsy Page: http://www.angelquecreations.etsy.com
Blog: http://www.angelquecreation.blogspot.com

Web Page: http://www.angelquecreations.ca

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/angelquecreatio

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/angelquecreations

Tell us a bit more about yourself? I live in Vancouver , Canada aboard my sailboat called Angelique of Vancouver, a 34’ Coast. In 2008 I retired from my project management job at BCIT and my husband and I went on a 10 month cruise to Mexico and the Sea of Cortez . We had planned cruising offshore for about 20 years and finally decided to go.

How did it come to be that you started working with seed beads? While I was in Mexico waiting for our boat Angelique of Vancouver to be transported back on Dockwise transport I took a weaving class from a lady on her sailboat who had been bead weaving with seed beads for 25 years. My first weaving experience with needle and thread was the double helix stitch in Mexico sitting in a pub drinking margaritas. I was hooked.

How long have you been creating with seed beads? I started in April of 2008 with my first bead weaving class in Mexico and when I returned to Vancouver in May of 2008 I started learning other weaves such as peyote, herringbone, St Petersburg , brick, square, right angle and ladder stitches from magazines and on line tutorials. I basically taught myself.

Is there was any significance to the name of your shop? Yes when we were getting ready to head off on our big adventure, my husband was trying to set up our email account. He was going to use Angelique after our boat but found that the name was taken in our chosen host server so he made a hybrid name of Angelque by removing the I in the name of the boat. In order to keep things consistent I set up our web page for our adventure under http://www.angelque.ca/ Upon returning and consequently setting up the business name it only seemed fitting to use the hybrid version of our boat for my jewelry and therefore it became AngelqueCreations.

What inspires you? Nature the ocean and sea life, other artists, I would love to get to the level of many in our group. I have yet to try bead embroidery as I have so much more to learn about the basics. I find that I am expanding my skills every time I start a new project.

Do you listen to music or TV while you work? I have to admit that I am a Country Fan and therefore listen to JR FM 93.7 a country station. My dad is most liking turning in his grave as he was a country fan and all the while I was growing up I hated country. (Still hate the older pain and wine songs which where a favorite of my dad’s)

Do you have common colors you work with? I tend you use the colours found in Mexico in the Sea of Cortez . I love the bright blues of the water, the tans and greens of the desert.

What is your favorite color palette? My personal favorite color is green, almost any shade of green. Our boat was once described as jelly bean green and I remember when we first looked at it, my husband and I were walking along the dock to the boat and I said “I hope it is not the ugly green one” Well it was the jelly bean green boat and I have since come to love the color. Our boat is very easy to pick out in a crowd.

Do you have a favorite technique? Which one and why? I don’t have a favorite technique yet as I feel that I am still learning. I do tend to go back to Peyote stitch because it was the first one that I learned and comes more naturally to me.

Do you do shows or vending of any sort? Where? During the Christmas weeks I was in several shows one was Make it Vancouver . I have applied already to several Christmas shows for the coming year and I will be vending at a few farmers markets and at Simon Fraser University where I rent a table a couple times a month. Mostly it is my on line shop at http://www .angelquecreations.etsy.com.

Do you teach beading classes? Where? Several of the ladies that I work with wanted to learn how to do some basic weaving stitches and since I am self taught I feel a bit funny about teaching. I have however taught some classes to my old colleagues at BCIT.

Do you sell your work in any galleries/shops? Where? Not yet, that is the next thing on my business plan to do. I have been doing some research in my area to see where I might put some of my work on consignment.

Where do you see yourself in your business in 5 years? Hopefully my husband will be retired and we will be sailing again in Mexico and places further south. I will then have both of my passions rolled up, beading and sailing.

February Challenge-Ocean/Sea-Winner

With a resounding 1504 votes our Winner with 338 votes (22%) is Imagined seas - Lauralia



The Runners-Up are as follows:
2. 220 (14%) -Dolphin and Mermaid - GoldenZelda
3. 171 (11%) -Wave swirls - Daniellart
4. 142 (9%) -Ocean Spirit - bead4me
5. 66 (4%) -POISON - debger
6. 63 (4%) -Bead Embroidered Purse Bottom of the Ocean - jodihorgan
7. 54 (3%) -Sea Urchin - triz
8. 48 (3%) -Ocean's Whisper - incim
9. 45 (2%) -Sea World - enchantedbeads
10. 39 (2%) -Oceans' Raging Calm Necklace - Njdesigns1


I am not certain of all the past challenges, but this one has to have been the biggest one and with the most Voters. Congrats to all who entered! You all did fabulous work and I am sure our Voters had a very tough time to decide!

Our next challenge is 'Fairy Tale' and this shall prove to be fun as well and voting on that will begin March 9th.

Our blog will be undertaking some changes soon. You will be seeing more entries from guest artists and interviews and so forth, so stay in touch, leave comments and keep coming back.

February Challenge-Ocean/Sea Theme

Here we are in 2010 and we are ready to vote for the first time this year!! The challenge was chosen by the winner of the last Challenge - Melissa of Grakowsky. The elapsed time has been proven to be very fruitful with 46 entries this time around!! To best decide the Winner, you can click on their links below the image.

You can vote on your Favorite from Feb 9th to Feb 15th.
(This image is hosted by Flickr [as usual], but the number of entries has made it to where the image can only be so large while being hosted. I will see if I can fix it and do something else tomorrow-for now I recommend to go to the Artists link below to see a better view)



1. Caribbean Sea Blues Necklace - ambrosianbeads
2. Mermaid's Treasure Necklace - HannahRachel
3. the leafy series - ocean - randomcreative
4. Sea World - enchantedbeads
5. Treasures by The Sea - SmadarsTreasure
6. Iced Cap Ocean Silver Bead Woven Bracelet - Jewelrybyjane29
7. Beadwoven Glass Earrings - Red Coral - alatvian
8. Ocean Garden Set - AngelqueCreations
9. Oceans' Raging Calm Necklace - Njdesigns1
10. Sailor's Song - christinesbeadworks
11. The Mermaid Path - sagescupboard
12. Sea Urchin - triz
13. Surfing Waves Lariat Necklace - Starwaves
14. Wave swirls - Daniellart
15. The Black Sea Inspiration - ArtBeadwork
16. Breaking Waves Bracelet - MaryTDesigns
17. Shells and Seahorse - ArtfulAr
18. Calypso's Valentine Necklace - HauteIceBeadwork
19. Ocean Spirit - bead4me
20. Anfitrita's Bracelet - dreambeadweaver
21. Surf Pearls - lrcoastalart
22. Galveston - beadsandblooms
23. Tide Pool on a Cloudy Day - GinjaGirlDesigns
24. Tide Pool - sedonaskye
25. Purple Squid Brooch - annbooth9
26. The Little Mermaids Bracelet - BeadedExtravagance
27. Stormy Ocean Pools Necklace - wMarlaine
28. Ocean's Whisper - incim
29. Kelp Cuff - SophieBonneeDesigns
30. Amphitrite - Beadwoven Necklace - beadworkbyamanda
31. Ariel's Sweet Sixteen Bracelet - Stellaltinaan
32. Treasures of the Sea Brooch - roseworksjewelry

33. Finding Primo Lariat Necklace - sandystreasure
34. Bead Embroidered Purse Bottom of the Ocean - jodihorgan
35. Dolphin and Mermaid - GoldenZelda
36. Deep Blue - MadeByOlga
37. Imagined seas - Lauralia
38. POISON - debger
39. Rainbow Rockpool Pendant - nemeton
40. Sand and Sea Cuff - LaBellaJoya
41. Ocean Melange - MoreThanSomewhat
42. Beaded Cuff Moon over Stormy Waters - windyriver
43. Jewelry Seafoam - SpringColors
44. Stormy Seas Cuff - arosebyname
45. Ocean Deep Bead Embroidered Collar - glimmerstone
46. Ocean Waves Sea - beadshead

Thank you Ann of Francesca's Fancy for making this mosaic for us!!!

March Challenge Theme-Fairy Tale

As we get back in the swing for 2010, the Winner of the December theme was Iryna from ArtBeadwork and she has chosen 'A Fairy Tale' as the next theme.

The challenge piece should be inspired by a known Fairytale. Every participant needs to describe in their listing what the inspiration and name of the Fairy Tale. The piece could represent absolutely anything: good or evil characters, flowers, objects, animals or places and castles, but in needs to be tied to a story.

You may start your entry today and must complete and list it by midnight Etsy time, March 5, 2010!

Rules:
Any style, any technique with a majority of beadweaving is welcome. (Pieces submitted for the challenges should be newly-created (by you - not from a pattern) between the date the challenge theme is announced and the 5th of the month when it is due. Do not renew an existing or expired listing for the challenge.)

ONE only entry allowed per EBW Member.

The piece MUST be created between now and March 5, 2010.

See our Challenge FAQ here for all of the details on the rules of our challenges.