Spotlight on Suzann Fine
I am going to sound like a broken record because I started crafting in childhood like many others. I started with macaroni noodles and crayons, eventually sewing and “stringy“things (knitted, crocheted, knitted/macrame, kumi). Later on it was leather, silver, and when introduced to a torch and glass … I knew I had found my passion, and everything else I made, made my glass that much better!
I was married in my mid 20’s, had three boys and was a stay home mom. I turned to crafts and cooking as a side gig, and sold dog toys, ornaments, scarves and homemade dog leashes at crafts shows for years.
When the boys started going to college, I had time for me again! I found the SCA – Society for Creative Anachronism. Historically correct Medieval Reenacting is one description. At the first SCA event I attended, at the Arts and Sciences display, there was a bag of beads. My friend said “Oh, I can totally hook you up with someone to help you learn.” I met him at the next event and I was hooked.
It was still a few months before I got my first hot head. The SCA gave me so many other arts to play with that are part of my beadworking projects today. They also gave me my first introduction to silversmithing, kumihimo and more.
Sitting at the torch was, and is, my happy place. I could lose myself for hours, as long as the little cylinder lasted. I was self taught, no-one local in the SCA made beads, so I began teaching at SCA events. I needed to share this wonderful art I found.
I had a traveling setup of 10 hothead torches, tools, tables and chairs that I would take to events, set up shop and teach all day. It was so much fun helping people make their first beads!! I shared and gave more than a few hot head set ups to others so they could continue making beads at home
I also studied the history of the different beads, the basics of the SCA, studying, documenting and participating in the activities. I ran the Bead Rescue Project at events.
I would make replica beads and hide them on cards around the event site. I had a central location participants could come to, to find out the history of their bead. I gave them cords to wear their beads and a card with their bead history on it.
It wasn’t long before I wanted to learn and do more.
Fast forward 6 or 7 years, and there was time for glass again! I am now single and my boys are amazing young men. I finally began taking classes, (glass of course), with so many wonderful instructors! I have also taken classes working with silver, chainmail, and spiny knotting. There is still so much more I can’t wait to learn! I will say that silvered glass is my recent obsession.
I am working on getting my Etsy store up and running – not totally ready yet – and am beginning to get out with my beads again. I am so excited to be able to put the ideas that are in my head, into reality!
