Artist Spotlight, Rose and Petal Beadworks
PoCo Inspired: Tell us a bit about yourself
Rose and Petal Beadworks: My name is Renée-Lynn; I am the face behind Rose and Petal Beadworks, my small hobby business that is named after the stories my dad would tell me about eating wild rose petals on his long walks while growing up in the country.
I practice Métis beadwork and leatherwork and I incorporate them into the jewelry that I make, as well as the wearable pieces that I create, such as leather moccasins, gauntlets, pins, hair ties, pouches and bags.
I am of French, Dutch, Métis and Canadian Heritage. I was raised in French and English and we practiced various traditions from my mixed heritage. I live in Winnipeg, although I was raised outside of the city, and still crave the country life. I come from a very large, very “artsy” family full of musicians and visual artists, clothing designers and seamstresses, bakers and builders, leatherworkers and hairdressers, graphic designers and gardeners, etc. I may not be able to sing or play the guitar like most of my cousins can, but I can make them all moccasins, haha.
Art and creativity have always been a huge part of my life; my dining table is usually covered in craft supplies and unfinished projects and I am grateful to have kids and a partner who are just as creative as I am. It is truly inspiring to be surrounded by so much art and creativity.
I have struggled with various chronic health conditions for most of my life. After working in Education for nearly 20 years, I had to go on sick-leave. Since then, my beadwork has been a lifesaver 😊 It is wonderful for my mental health, it brings me internal peace and happiness, it connects me to my ancestors and it distracts me from my chronic pain. Beading is my best medicine.
I practice Métis beadwork and leatherwork and I incorporate them into the jewelry that I make, as well as the wearable pieces that I create, such as leather moccasins, gauntlets, pins, hair ties, pouches and bags.
I am of French, Dutch, Métis and Canadian Heritage. I was raised in French and English and we practiced various traditions from my mixed heritage. I live in Winnipeg, although I was raised outside of the city, and still crave the country life. I come from a very large, very “artsy” family full of musicians and visual artists, clothing designers and seamstresses, bakers and builders, leatherworkers and hairdressers, graphic designers and gardeners, etc. I may not be able to sing or play the guitar like most of my cousins can, but I can make them all moccasins, haha.
Art and creativity have always been a huge part of my life; my dining table is usually covered in craft supplies and unfinished projects and I am grateful to have kids and a partner who are just as creative as I am. It is truly inspiring to be surrounded by so much art and creativity.
I have struggled with various chronic health conditions for most of my life. After working in Education for nearly 20 years, I had to go on sick-leave. Since then, my beadwork has been a lifesaver 😊 It is wonderful for my mental health, it brings me internal peace and happiness, it connects me to my ancestors and it distracts me from my chronic pain. Beading is my best medicine.
PoCo Inspired: When did you first start making jewellery and what was the first piece you ever made?
Rose and Petal Beadworks: I have been drawing, painting, baking, sewing and creating for as long I can remember. I made simple macrame hemp necklaces as a teen but never went back to jewelry making until 2012 when I ventured out to Poco one day to find some supplies and a project to keep me busy mentally during a short leave of absence from my work. I made a necklace and pendant to wear during Festival du Voyageur. I wore it that year and have never put it back on since, haha…it’s pretty gawdy, but I made it with love and I keep it as a reminder of how my skills have evolved over the years.
Rose and Petal Beadworks: I have been drawing, painting, baking, sewing and creating for as long I can remember. I made simple macrame hemp necklaces as a teen but never went back to jewelry making until 2012 when I ventured out to Poco one day to find some supplies and a project to keep me busy mentally during a short leave of absence from my work. I made a necklace and pendant to wear during Festival du Voyageur. I wore it that year and have never put it back on since, haha…it’s pretty gawdy, but I made it with love and I keep it as a reminder of how my skills have evolved over the years.
PoCo Inspired: What inspires your creativity when making a new piece of jewellery?
Rose and Petal Beadworks: Every piece that I make has an intended recipient in mind. I draw from the recipient’s sense of style, personal tastes, colour preferences and personality traits, etc. What inspires my creativity when I am making a new piece, you ask? The person who will be receiving it 😊
Rose and Petal Beadworks: Every piece that I make has an intended recipient in mind. I draw from the recipient’s sense of style, personal tastes, colour preferences and personality traits, etc. What inspires my creativity when I am making a new piece, you ask? The person who will be receiving it 😊
PoCo Inspired: What is the single most important skill you have learned and why?
Rose and Petal Beadworks: The single most important skill that I have learned is how to bring an image that is on paper or in my head, come to real life in my beadwork by working with different sizes, shapes, colours and finishes of beads. I have learned to use smaller beads, for e.g. size 15 and size 13 charlotte cuts for linework, and how to use different finishes, like matte or silver-lined beads, to create different textures or to bring attention to certain parts of my beadwork.
Rose and Petal Beadworks: The single most important skill that I have learned is how to bring an image that is on paper or in my head, come to real life in my beadwork by working with different sizes, shapes, colours and finishes of beads. I have learned to use smaller beads, for e.g. size 15 and size 13 charlotte cuts for linework, and how to use different finishes, like matte or silver-lined beads, to create different textures or to bring attention to certain parts of my beadwork.
PoCo Inspired: What challenges do you face in your work?
Rose and Petal Beadworks: My health creates challenges for me every day. I live with several chronic health conditions that affect my mental and physical capabilities, which differ from day to day; some days I can do beadwork, some days, I can’t do much of anything. This affects how long it takes me to complete my projects, which in turn, affects my capability to meet deadlines and build my hobby business into a sustainable business.
Rose and Petal Beadworks: My health creates challenges for me every day. I live with several chronic health conditions that affect my mental and physical capabilities, which differ from day to day; some days I can do beadwork, some days, I can’t do much of anything. This affects how long it takes me to complete my projects, which in turn, affects my capability to meet deadlines and build my hobby business into a sustainable business.
PoCo Inspired: What is your biggest achievement so far in your business?
Rose and Petal Beadworks: Being asked to participate in the “goody bags” given to the actors at the 2022 Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. For health reasons, I couldn’t participate, but fingers crossed that I will be able to do it for the 2023 Awards 😊.
Rose and Petal Beadworks: Being asked to participate in the “goody bags” given to the actors at the 2022 Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. For health reasons, I couldn’t participate, but fingers crossed that I will be able to do it for the 2023 Awards 😊.
PoCo Inspired: Where can we find you to shop online or in-person?
Rose and Petal Beadworks: I don’t have a shop yet, but folks can message me through my Instagram account @rose.and.petal.beadworks or by sending me an email at roseandpetalbeadworks@gmail.com.
