"A Place for all Beaders to Showcase their Creations."
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Gail Devoid
- Female
- Boscawen, NH
- United States
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- Blog Posts (3)
- Discussions (7)
- Events
- Groups (3)
- Photos (159)
- Photo Albums (2)
- Videos (2)
Gail Devoid's Groups
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Wire Challenge
59 members
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Seed Beaders
207 members
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Bead Embroiderers
111 members
Gail Devoid's Discussions
Do You Rate the Pieces You've View?
Started Jul 24
What do you think?
Replied Jul 13
What do you think?
Replied Jul 12
Welcome to Need For Beads!
Latest Activity
This is a very elegant design. Your beadwork is excellent, and I know how hard it can be to get those little beads just so.
A beaded jewelry catalog? You mean of this stitch? I have most of my work at http://www.kodakgallery.com/needforbeads
This must be fun to wear. Let us know how you did in the competition.
oh ok
cant wait to buy a copy and try out something new myself.
Whats ur take on making a beaded jewelery catalog?
I call it the Caterpillar stitch, and the book is not done yet.
so what name did u give to ur stitching technique. and where can i get ur book?
Profile Information
- What is your favorite beading activity?
- Bead crochet
- Other beading activities you enjoy or want to learn about?
- Wire working
- About Me:
- Gail H. Devoid, Ph.D.
Bead Designer and Teacher
I visit many websites for beading topics, and always wonder about the beaders whose work I see. Every now and then, I come across sites that have autobiographies of designers, and I really enjoy learning more about them. Please let me tell you a little bit about myself.
I learned crafts at an early age, as my mother taught me how to knit, crochet, sew, and embroider. At the age of eleven, I learned how to loom with beads. I loved knitting while growing up, and beading took a backseat to that for quite some time.
Once I built a house in Harwinton, Connecticut in 1977, gardening became my passion. Before I moved to New Hampshire in 1993, I completed the Master Gardener program through the Connecticut Co-operative Extension, taking the course of study at the University of Connecticut branch in West Hartford.
The beading part of my life started in earnest with a gift from my husband of a pin that was a reproduction in glass of the Hope diamond. Wanting to wear this as a necklace, I searched the Internet for a brooch converter. Accompanying that online order was a small bag of beads, and a silver finding, one suitable for a cabochon stone. Being happy with the new way to wear the faux Hope Diamond pin, I wondered what I could do with this free finding from B'Sue Boutiques.
At work, a woman in sales had a hobby of making jewelry, and I turned to her for advice. She helped me with this first jewelry-making project and mentioned she was selling her seed beads, findings, books, cording, and thread and getting out of the hobby. Before she broke up the collection of beading supplies at a yard sale, I asked to see everything. We struck a deal and I bought everything. What would the people at B'Sue Boutiques think if they knew what they started with a few free beads and one finding?
The Internet helped me learn to bead and the Fire Mountain Gems catalogs became my reference books. Research on the Mirrix loom brought me to the two groups that I credit with helping me bloom quickly with this art and craft: The Bead Society of New Hampshire (BSNH) and the Fun With Bead-Patterns.com Yahoo Group.
At the first BSNH meeting, I saw exquisite seed bead jewelry done by several members, polymer clay beads done by artist Ann Dillon, lampworking beads by several NH artists, and a bead crochet project in progress with a woman learning the technique. I was enthralled. Discussion of an upcoming bead retreat convinced me to join the society. A bead crochet class at the retreat taught me the basics.
Once I learned more about beading, I started sharing what I knew through the Yahoo Groups and the bead society. I have taught throughout New Hampshire, and I am active in several Yahoo Groups, such BeadChat, BeadCrochet, and Beadyshenanigans. I teach techniques through programs at the Bead Society of New Hampshire, and have taught classes at Michaels in Concord, NH. Nothing compares to the happy look on a new beader's face when she or he learns a new technique and walks away with a beautiful piece of beadwork, so I thoroughly enjoy these classes. I also publish free tutorials on my website.
My first magazine article appeared in Issue 4 of Bead-patterns.com The Magazine. One of my tutorials has een published as part of a beading calendar for 2007, and another for a 2008 calendar. The lastest 2009 calendar has two. One of the watches I designed appeared in a C&GG catalog, and a bead crochet necklace was featured in Bead Babe's May 2006 Brag Page. Several other pieces were highlighted by Bead Babe, the most recent in November 2008. Bead-patterns.com recognized my work as a designer in May 2006, naming me Designer of the Month.
One of the reasons I started beading was to relieve the stress from working on a Ph.D. in Organization and Management. Part of the process of finishing my dissertation is overcoming the fear of publishing something that people will find boring. I work on developing my confidence through my interest in beads. The feedback I receive in the Yahoo group from those I have helped continues to be a vital source of encouragement to me. Becoming a better writer, bead designer, and business researcher continue to offer me my biggest personal challenges, and offer an avenue to increased accomplishments.
I finished my Ph.D. in June 2007, and I had no fears when I published my dissertation. I served as the Corresponding Secretary (2005-2006) and President of the Bead Society of New Hampshire (2006-2008) and I am the Vice President of Finance at Labsphere, Inc., which is part of the Halma family of international companies. I also sit on the Labsphere Board of Directors as the Finance Director.
- My Website:
- http://www.tarnhelm.com/NeedForBeads
Gail Devoid's Photos
Gail Devoid's Videos
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Cellini Spiral - Part Two
Added by Gail Devoid
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Cellini Spiral - Part One
Added by Gail Devoid
Gail Devoid's Blog
Corning Museum of Glass
This past week I took a road trip through New England: New Hampshire of course, Maine, Vermont, New York, just a bit of Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. I'm sorry I missed Rhode Island and Connecticut, but that's the way the trip went.
One of the museums that I visited was the Corning Museum of Glass. I took over 500 photos of what I saw there, and I thought I would share one of the pictures of beadwork done with what looked to me to be 22/0 beads. This is beaded knitting from the 19th
… ContinuePosted on July 5, 2010 at 12:00am — 2 Comments
Mzuri Beads Used in Chain Maille Design
These fun and lightweight paper beads from Uganda offer several design options. I did this chain maille piece with brass jump rings. After adding Mzuribeads to the bib, the necklace hung properly because the beads did not weigh down the chain maille.
A matching pair of earrin
… ContinuePosted on June 20, 2010 at 10:05pm —
New Design
I'm designing a new piece, writing up the instructions, and I'm going to publish them. I finished the piece, and I think I can make it better, but first I want to publish the instructions, so I took a picture of the piece as-is. I'll re-do the piece another day, as I think I can improve on the design by making chain maille that is just a little smaller in diameter than the focal piece of pearls and sapphires.
This means there will be before and after photos that will show the
… ContinuePosted on June 20, 2010 at 10:04pm —
Comment Wall (27 comments)
- At 8:50pm on July 12, 2010,
cheryl roberts said… - thank you for the friends request Gail, lovely to meet you, i will be adding some of my pictures in here as soon as i find my feet, its an amazing place,and some of the jewellery in here is outstanding, have a great day
- At 5:25pm on July 1, 2010,
Pamela Perkins said… - Wow, everyone is so nice here, thanks for the introduction to the site, and the way to get around. I am new to beading but am a jewelry artisan of wire wrap designing, but am wanting to add beading to a certain type of design that I have started to make on my own. I found you all by a friend and I am pleased to be here, I will be looking around and am eager to learn so thank you my new friend, and thanks for the warm welcome. Hugs, Pam
- At 1:52am on June 25, 2010,
sheila kragen said… - Hi Gail! Thanks for adding me as your friend. What a great website!
- At 2:40pm on June 21, 2010,
Joana Morgan said…
Thanks for adding me as a friend!
- At 9:56am on March 8, 2010,
Nufle7 said… - Hello new friend, Gail! Thanks for the uplifting words. Looking forward to learning LOTS more!!! Continue to be an inspiration...
- At 8:58am on March 1, 2010,
Norma Jean Dell said… - Thank you so much for the compliment!
- At 8:54am on January 9, 2010,
Patricia C Vener said…
- Hi Gail! I have been to your town! (Ok it was for a funeral - my sister-in-law's mother was a verteran - but it is a lovely area!) Congratulations on also being featured. :)
- At 8:06pm on December 24, 2009, Jeff gave Gail Devoid a gift…
Hi Gail Hope you recover soon and just to let you know our thoughts are with you. Jeff and Ann
- At 6:32am on September 9, 2009,
Anita Tamir said… - I discovered your Cellini tutorial quite a while ago. Very easy to follow. If you take a look at my photos you'll see a couple of my necklaces use it. So thank you very much!
- At 9:31am on July 31, 2009,
Carol said… - You have some GORGEOUS pieces in your gallery Gail! You inspire me! :) Ciao!
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