Meet the Maker: Marie’s Beading

There’s just something about summer and beaded florals that is the perfect vibe, and Marie Thress of Marie’s Beading has got us all inspired!

We met Marie through one of the Brewhalla Craft Markets and love the intricate, gorgeous work she is creating. Learn more about how she dove into this handcrafted work and her inspo.

Tell us a bit about yourself!

I grew up in Moorhead, MN. I’m married. I’m a stay-at-home mom with two children. One is an adult, and one is in high school.

On the weekends in the summer, we enjoy spending time at a camper we keep parked outside of Detroit Lakes, MN. I like music and singing. My favorite genre right now is ’70s folk music. I just sing for myself usually while I’m beading or driving.

Sometimes I actually know the words to the songs. I watch a little TV. Usually, it’s reality TV like “Below Deck,” “Survivor,” or “Traitors.” I also love a good quirky drama or comedy. I listen to audiobooks, both fiction and non-fiction, while I bead, of course. Mostly my life is centered around family and beading.

Describe what type of products you create as Marie’s Beading.

I do a type of beading called bead weaving. I make beaded jewelry and sometimes beaded ornaments. I use a needle and thread to bead.

The finished product is intricate and unique. I think that’s why I’m attracted to it. One of the best parts of beading is just finding out what my project will look like when it’s finished. It’s something I am proud of, and I feel an attachment to each piece.

I might turn around and make the same piece again in a different colors because it will probably look completely different. It’s like magic! I love it!

One of the questions I get asked a lot is how long it takes to make a certain piece of jewelry. The answer will vary. A bracelet usually takes anywhere from an hour to sometimes eight hours, depending on the design and type of stitch used.

Necklaces will take longer and earrings shorter. I think the amount of time it takes to make a piece of jewelry is the reason why it’s unusual to find bead weavers at craft and vendor fairs.

Sometimes I get asked if I upcycle beads. I use all new beads. I use mostly glass beads, but occasionally I will use crystals. I prefer to use Japanese and Czech beads. They are the best quality in my opinion.

Tell us how you got started with your handcrafted business. What inspired you?

I didn’t set out to start a business. In March of 2018, I was going to have bariatric surgery to lose weight. In preparation for the surgery, the doctor put me on a very restrictive diet. It consisted of protein shakes and then a frozen meal for supper.

It was very difficult for me, so I decided to get a craft kit from the craft store to keep me busy. I found a kids’ beading kit that is very different from what I do now. I bought it and finished it in a couple of days.

Then, I just dove into the world of beads. I found tutorials on YouTube for bead weaving. I just kept going from tutorial to tutorial and soon learned lots of stitches and techniques.

Keeping myself immersed in the world of beading got me through the hard times before and after bariatric surgery. I started gifting the jewelry I was making. But I was making a LOT of jewelry.

Then, as the holidays neared, I learned how to make snowflakes and ornaments. On November 30, 2018, I did my first craft show as a vendor. I only sold bracelets and ornaments. It must have been successful for me because I just kept on going. Essentially, I was able to buy more beads.

What was one of the most difficult pieces you’ve created?

I’ve done two projects that I consider my most difficult pieces.

I made lanterns that hold little battery-operated tea-light candles. I enjoyed that project and made three different designs of it. I gave them as gifts to friends and family.

The other project was an ornament that I kept for my family. It ended up taking me about 30 hours to bead. I remember the stress of beading it, and I’m not wanting to make any mistakes because I didn’t know if I could fix it without having to start over again.

I think I did make a couple of mistakes, but I was able to fix those mistakes, thankfully. Putting that ornament on the tree is special!

Where does your inspo come from for new pieces?I love what I do. Part of that is I make what I love.

I love what I do. Part of that is I make what I love.

I tend to love flowers and things that look antique or lacy. I look on Facebook, Etsy, and YouTube for designs that I love. I have my favorite designers that I follow, but it’s a great day when I find someone new to follow.

The colors that I pick for projects also influence what the piece looks like in a profound way. Another beader might make the same design with different colors, and it might look completely different.

The colors I pick and the designs I pick go hand in hand to make my style. I guess you could say that of any artist, but it’s something that surprised me with beading.

I actually have quite a bit of variety just doing what I love. I guess I have eclectic tastes.

What has been the most challenging part of this handcrafted business?

For me, the most challenging part of the business is keeping my confidence up.

I question myself on just about everything from prices to booth layout to website design. Is what I’m saying to customers alright, or do I sound super awkward? Most of the time, I just accept that I’m unique, and I like that about myself.

I put a lot of myself into my craft. My jewelry is an extension of me, so it can be difficult to show it off to the world. I get criticism sometimes, and it’s hard not to let it get to me.

On the other hand, I also get so many more compliments, so I try to focus on that. I remember the joy I see on the faces of customers who find that one piece they absolutely love. That’s what keeps me going—that connection I feel when someone falls in love with something I made. There’s really no feeling quite like it.

What has been the most rewarding part?

The most rewarding part of having a business is being in a vendor show and having someone just love a piece of jewelry that I made.

Their joy is contagious. It’s something I think about when I’m making the jewelry. Frequently, they come back and tell me they bought such and such a piece, and they just love it. It really makes me feel happy and proud.

I feel like there’s a connection. I love talking about beading with anyone who will listen, and sometimes there are people who just want to start beading and want to hear what I have to say.

Then there are those who have plenty of jewelry but want to tell me that they love my work, and I appreciate them. I take it all in and just really enjoy my days at the vendor shows.

I also love meeting the other vendors and supporting them. Not bad for this introvert!

What is something people would find surprising about beading?

If you start out with the right project, most people could bead. I think a lot of people would find that surprising.

Start with simple projects and work your way to the more complex. Learn as you go. Just make sure you are doing something that speaks to you.

It takes a lot of time to bead. Put the time in on creating something you will love when you are finished.

Where can people find your work or connect with you?

Watch Facebook for when and where I’ll be in vendor shows. I also post pictures when I make new items. You can shop for my jewelry on my website.

Marie’s Beading
mariesbeading.com
Facebook: /MariesBeading
Instagram: @mariesbeading