Bead Artist Jody Young Thrives on Sharing Creativity

“My purpose is to share what I love to do with others.”

June’s Bead & Button Show launched a shift for Bead Artist Jody Young that’s still exploding.

Her teaching and booth display at Bead & Button prompted a submission to Fire Mountain Gems and Beads’ Jewelry-Making Contest 2018 featuring seed beads.  Silver Mermaid, a wallhanging featuring a detachable necklace, in the category Jewelry is Art made Jody the Grand Prize Gold Medal Winner.

Silver Mermaid, a wall hanging with a detachable necklace was the grand prize winner in the seed bead category for bead artist Jody Young who talked with Mary Ellen Beads Albuquerque about bead embroidery.
Silver Mermaid, Fire Mountain Gems and Beads’ Jewelry-Making Contest 2018 Grand Prize Gold Medal Winner

Stretching to Create Births the Unexpected

Jody used her Silver Mermaid’s creation to talk about “a fluke.” She’d been prepared to produce a mermaid collar until it morphed into two necklace pieces that hold to the wall. It wasn’t drawn out, but rather figured out.The result is that an individual can choose how long she wants it by simply taking magnets off the back. 

This interactive piece of wearable art is soon to be a class, maybe one of the select few classes presented as one of two three-day retreats in Jody’s home. 

Or, it may be an online class. Or, part of a book. She makes no secret of the fact that she’s writing a book entitled “Beyond the Boundaries with Beads” about raised texture techniques, those special Jody-Young-ways to create texture, movement and interest in beadwork.

Free Spirit Sharing in a Respectful Way

Seventeen years ago no one was doing raised texture in beadwork. Jody wants it to be her legacy. She credits her love of nature with inspiration. It was water and the lure of the sea that pulled her to Maui where she was accepted as an artist in residence to five different venues. 

This feature creation is the work of bead artist Jody Young who talks with Mary Ellen Beads Albuquerque about creativity.

She’s also owned her own bead store, Beyond Beads Gallery, (the physical store closed when she moved to Maui) which is now an Etsy shop. Jody’s website Bead Art-Worth was inspired from a meditation about the meaning of self-worth. 

Bead Artist Jody Young is inspired by nature and she talks about creativity with Mary Ellen Beads Albuquerque.

Sixth Facebook Page is a Home Run

Throughout our conversation Jody’s commitment to share what she loves was readily apparent. I asked if social media marketing increased her success? She laughed and described the ongoing success of “Beyond the Boundaries with Beads, a Facebook Group for bead embroidery artists. There are no links and no advertisements on the page. It is merely a showing of beauty, a sharing of passions and creations where the comments are all positive.

The Beyond the Boundaries with Beads page, Jody’s sixth on Facebook, is more interactive than any of the others. Membership shows up and continues to grow. In a recent weekend, another 20 joined the group, already over 500 strong. It’s yet another example of independent thinking as Jody tries to change Facebook into a positive thing. 

Bead Embroidery is the foundation

It all started her grandmother and with embroidering her jeans in the 9th grade. Pragmatically, Jody says she’s blessed to have both a business and an artistic mind. She says, “I live in my own world. I don’t watch the news. I know my purpose — to share what I love to do with others.

“It’s my students who really inspire me,” she says. She then adds: “Sherri Sherafini inspires me too, even though I’ve never taken a class from her.”

Who inspires you as a bead artist?

Disclosure: I first met Jody Young in Tucson at To Bead True Blue in 2016. I took her Beauty of the Sea and Conversation Stick classes. I’m also a member of the Beyond the Boundaries with Beads Facebook Group. In following Jody’s art, I continue to be inspired with colors, techniques and ideas from this gracious lady. 

4 thoughts on “Bead Artist Jody Young Thrives on Sharing Creativity”

  1. How wonderful to see you sharing Jody’s story and the inspiration she has been to so many of us. I don’t know if you remember but we did that Conversation Stick class together. You added spirit beads (the perfect addition) to my piece and I think of you every time I look at it. Congratulations on your blog and all of your beautiful creations. I hope our paths cross again. In the meantime, keep sharing the joy. Hugs.

  2. I was very blessed to discover Jody when I moved from Fairbanks, AK to Spokane. I had always loved free form beading, so I went to a workshop Jody was having and the rest is history as they say. I go to her beading retreats, which has great food, fun projects and friendly beaders. What more could you ask for? And of course our fearless leader, Jody pulls it all together for a fun filled time. She offer suggestion when you get stuck, encourages when you get frustrated, and has the best kits! Thank you Jody, love you girl!

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