Inspiring Conversations with Leslie Fawcett of Leslie Fawcett Beadwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Fawcett.

Hi Leslie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I grew up in Fern Creek, KY. I am a graduate of Western Kentucky University. After college, I moved to Nashville, TN. When I got married we moved further south to Thompsons Station, TN where we’ve raised 2 amazing daughters! I always took art in grade school and high school and enjoyed it but never really thought of myself as an artist.

In college, I focused on Broadcasting with a specialization in TV Production. I have worked in some form of TV Production since I graduated college in 1988 and I’m proud of that. It’s my real-world career and it’s been a blast. My bead weaving is a hobby that I love! When I was younger, I went to a lot of craft fairs and art festivals with my mom and sister. Growing up in Louisville, KY, it was always an event to go to the St. James Court Art Fair.

Somewhere along the way in the late 90s, I started collecting lampwork beads and going to bead and gemstone shows. This led to a subscription to Lapidary Journal. In the back of the magazine, they had all sorts of how-to articles, from how to cut gemstones to wire wrapping to bead weaving techniques. One of the articles, by Valerie Hector, was about how to weave a beaded bead.

I gathered the supplies I needed to follow the tutorial and while on vacation with my family in and around Yellowstone National Park, I made my first beaded bead. I had a little bit of a sleepless night, I was so excited about how it all fits together. I was hooked! I purchased more beads, about 60 colors, and started striping them all together. I think it took me about 2 years to weave them all. I had this huge bag of beaded beads and I made myself a long 48” wrap necklace out of some of them.

People started complimenting me about it and I started thinking about what I could do with them. I started coming up with more designs and color combinations, combining them with gemstones and making earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. And here we are today, over 20 years later with a whole lot more beads and some other beading techniques acquired along the way! It’s nothing glamorous, just lots of tiny seed beads and a needle and thread!

I’m still learning and trying different techniques. Most of all I love playing around with all the colors! I’ve always loved jewelry! Classic pieces you wear every day; fun pieces to go with your mood, and your outfit; statement pieces you bring out for special occasions or just because you feel fun and funky. I’m so thrilled to still be able to make my jewelry and sell it!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Not in the least! Hahahaha! There have been a couple of times where I think, ‘Wow, I’ve finally made it!’, only to get knocked back down by weather or poor sales or unable to get back into a show that you did well in. While I do have my pieces in galleries and/or stores, I still prefer art festivals. It’s primarily how I sell my work. I did my first craft fair when I was about 6 months pregnant. I didn’t even have a tent yet.

I lost my first tent the first time I used it in stormy weather. (Cinder blocks are not the way to go!) Not the greatest feeling to walk into the festival grounds to find your whole setup all over the ground and your tent in a heap in the corner! I lost my second tent to tornadic weather, I was about 8 months pregnant with my second child for that one!

Over the years I’ve learned a lot about how to set up and secure a tent for a festival, whether on grass or pavement. But still, no matter how well you think you’ve prepared, mother nature is the boss. Recently in 2021, I lost my long-time tent in a straight-line wind event when the tent across from me plowed into my setup while I was still in the tent. It makes you rethink your decision-making paradigm.

The jury process is also difficult. Jewelry is always a tough category to get into and my work is not the norm. It’s colorful and bold and not everybody gets it. I’ve taken a lot of rejection over the years. Also marketing myself and my work is not my strong suit. I’m realizing now that it takes a lot of work, way more than you think, to get yourself out there, and noticed. That’s something that I am trying to work harder at this year.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My business is jewelry and whatever else I create thru bead weaving. My jewelry features beaded beads that are individually hand woven by me using peyote stitch and glass seed beads. I then either string them solely or combine them with gemstones and sterling silver to make a variety of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

With a needle and a nylon thread, I take tiny glass beads and weave them into a rectangular piece that I then roll up and sew together. The use of the peyote stitch allows the ends of the rectangle to interlock when I sew them together, then repeated passes thru the beads reinforce the whole. I also weave flat disc pieces and ball pieces using a variation on the above technique. I use a variety of gemstones, lampwork beads, and sterling silver findings that I have purchased over the years to enhance and complement the beads that I have created.

I think what sets me apart is my eye for color. I’m constantly discovering and creating new color combinations. Each year I debut a new color scheme for my solely beaded necklaces and bracelets. I’m very proud of my longevity in this business. I have been weaving beads for 22 years with no formal training other than how-to articles and a few books.

I have been making jewelry with beads for 19 years. I continue to add new designs and recently different bead techniques. In addition to my creations, I do offer custom work. I love jewelry of all kinds and hope that my pieces will become classics that the buyer will come back to time and time again.

What matters most to you?
Other than family… The creative process! I love making the beads, designing a piece, and seeing it all come together.

Even if I’m the only one that will ever wear it. If I never did another art festival, I would still be creating beads.

Pricing:

• Earrings $24-$95
• Bracelets $45-$135
• Necklaces $45-$350

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @lesliefawcettbeadwork
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeslieFawcettBeadwork