Beading

Seed Beads

Armenian moms, aunties and grandmas are never with idle hands. Even while “relaxing” and watching a movie, every woman in my family will be working on some sort of project, often involving a needle and thread. When I was a child, Mom gifted me a bead loom which sparked my interest in seed bead jewelry. I sew Delica seed beads together using Flat Square stitches and Brick stitches to create one-of-a-kind, statement jewelry. In the three years since I launched my jewelry line, I have successfully released thirteen collections, sold over 1200 pairs of earrings, and grown my business by harnessing my social media platforms and promoting at various art fairs and pop-ups throughout California.

Atchk

“Atchk” in Armenian refers to the evil eye and is used as protection against negative energy and misfortune. Atchk can often be found hanging in many SWANA homes, in our cars, pinned to a baby’s diaper, tucked in a jacket pocket, and adorning our bodies in various fashions. Each year at the St. Vartan’s Armenian Bazaar in Oakland, Mom and Grandma would let my sister and I pick out a piece of jewelry. It was always so difficult to choose just one but I often went home with an atchk bracelet. Decades later, I sourced a collection of colorful atchk beads and charms from Greece, constructed a line of earrings and bracelets, and launched them at the same bazaar I grew up attending so many years prior.

Beaded Embroidery

After putting in my 10,000 hours with the seed beads, it was time to start investing in my long-term creative goals and experimenting with embroidery. I have enjoyed the freedom that comes with this craft as I am now able to integrate a variety of materials in various shapes and designs.