Artist Highlight Barb Grainger
Garden for My Flowers
Bronze Bowl a study in shape, form and texture
Barbara is a gifted speaker who lectures and gives demonstrations at artist’s guilds, bead societies and, occasionally, public schools. Her heart is to see beadwork recognized and elevated to the status of the fine art that it is. Her work has been exhibited in several shows in the Northwest. Some of her earlier work was on display at Lalooska Gallery in Ariel, Washington. Some of her more contemporary work was recently on display at Bead Artistry: A Continuing Evolution show in Newport, Oregon.
She was born in Exeter, California, and has 2 sisters and one brother. They moved a lot and she was shy as a kid and pretty much a loaner. She has lived in Oregon since she was 12 years old, but has never become, Oregonianized." I don't like the rainy and dark skies. Thank God for the Ott-lite! It has helped me so much on those gloomy days". She have three grown children, a daughter and two sons, and 5 grand kids, and yes, they all play with beads. :) She has been married for 35 years to her high school sweet heart, Danny.
She has been beading all her life, seriously since 1966. She played with 'pop beads' in the 1950's. In '60's I had 'love beads' and in the late 60's, early '70's. A few years later she met a Sioux-Blackfoot woman who taught her how to start a tubular peyote project. She taught me the first three rows of odd-count peyote and left the rest up to me. From then on I explored peyote on my own for years.
She joined the Prodigy Network and found a beading board. She sent out the directions to her online friends. Inspired by Aurora's Brick stitch book, and the encouragement of all my cyber beading friends on Prodigy, she wrote her first book, Peyote At Last! A Peyote Beadwork Primer. She decided to self-publish, her first printing was 50 books just for my cyber friends. They started taking them to bead stores and started getting orders. And the rest, as they say, is history.
She has worked with battered/abused women for years on a volunteer basis and used to have a ministry where we worked with incarcerated women and adult victims of childhood sexual abuse. She is currently taking steps to volunteer at a women's shelter so she can teach them to make simple beaded projects. Battered women have self-esteem issues. Something as simple as making their own earrings can help them feel value and confidence. Every woman should feel loved, protected and cherished but years of brainwashing has left them feeling hopeless, useless and helpless. I try to bring a little light into their lives.
Barb Grainger
If you would like to email her the address is beadteach@aol.com
Barbara Grainger, an internationally recognized beadwork author, artist and instructor specializes in innovative beadwork techniques. Known for her clear instructions and expert teaching ability, she brings over 30 years experience, experimentation and expertise to her relaxed classroom atmosphere. She is the author of three beadwork books, Peyote At Last!, Peyote Design Techniques and her newest book, Dimensional Flowers, Leaves & Vines, which have sold through out the U.S. and Internationally.
Peyote at Last! What a perfect name for this book, because when I finished it I could do "Peyote at last". This is a great book for anyone who has ever wanted to learn and understand the basics of this versatile stitch. Using large diagrams and explicit instructions she explains even and odd count peyote (flat and tubular), as well as how to increase and decrease within a piece. She even offers some design tips.
Peyote Design Techniques In this book she takes peyote one step further and explains how to create your own designs. There are sections that cover reading graph paper for flat and tubular, as well as patterns, and graph paper to design your own. She explains in detail how to design in peyote, in great detail.
Dimensional Flowers, Leaves & Vines This is a great book for those who are familiar with beading and need to be creatively inspired, as well as someone who is just starting out. There are beautiful 3d flowers, as well as netting techniques discussed here. The above willow pattern is from this book. In this book you will learn the art of beading. With beautiful color pictures and clear directions you will be designing your own masterpieces. Pictured below are 2 projects that can be made using this book.
For information on buying these books contact Barb Grainger at beadteach@aol.com. Her mailing address is Barbara Grainger, P.O. Box 1902, Oregon City, OR 97045
