Face to Face – Chérie Marr

With the end of the month, we’re publishing the newest Face to Face interview with our fellow beaders and designers! It’s incredible how we all come from different corners of the world, each carrying our own unique and fascinating stories. Our backgrounds and experiences make us who we are and this gives us opportunity to grow, connect and learn.

This time we interviewed a member from the Beadingschool Club, who may not post her jewelry pictures often, but she comes to all live broadcasts! She’s loving and dedicated mom, always supportive, kind toward the beaders in the community.  We enjoy her company and we are so happy she’s here with us!

Meet the Beadingschool Club member, lovely beader full of inspiration and kindness,

Chérie Marr!

Please tell us about yourself. 

My love of beads and everything that sparkles might be hereditary as both my mother and her mother have a love for sparkle. My mother played with beads when she was a child, so, when I was little, she bought beads for me. They were just plastic beads, and not all that fancy, but they were so beautiful to me. I loved them! I used to put the beads on safety pins or ribbon, changing the designs over and over, playing with my beads for hours. 

 

I’d just like to mention, my mother is from England and grew up wading in the North Sea. She met my father through a blind date set up by friends. He was in the US Air Force and had only been in England for a couple or so weeks. Well, after that first date, my father was smitten and it didn’t take long before he asked my mother to marry him. As I’m writing this, tomorrow (June 25) will be their 64th wedding anniversary. My parents got married and over the years welcomed three sons and then me, their only daughter. 💗

 

When and how did you start to create? 

When I was 6 years old, my paternal grandmother passed away. I was fortunate enough to get some of her jewelry. One piece is a seed bead necklace. I would sit and admire it as I held it, carefully brushing my fingers across the beads. I still have that necklace and it is just as it was the day it was given to me. It must be 100 years old. I treasure it. 

 

How did you learn to bead? What did beading bring to your life?  

We didn’t have a bead store in the town I live, so, I didn’t have any knowledge of bead weaving or embroidery, and I never imagined in my wildest dreams that one could make their own jewelry. Then one day, I was looking at the magazine rack in the grocery store and there was a bead magazine. At that time, the internet was new to the world and didn’t have a lot to offer but I decided to search for an online bead store and found one. I bought some Swarovski bicones and rounds, wire, and some findings. When my package came in the mail, I was elated! I managed to make a couple of bracelets with what little I had purchased, and was thrilled with my accomplishment! But that’s where it ended…for a while. I had other priorities. I had a beautiful little boy and I worked full-time so, jewelry making took a long pause. 

 

When my daughters were little, I bought beads to put in their braided hair like Bo Derek in ‘10’. And I bought colorful seed beads from the grocery store and made my daughters safety pin bracelets. My love for anything that sparkles continued with using rhinestones to cover deer antlers, deer skulls, and more. With my daughters being Mexican ballet folklorico performers, I made their ‘Día de los Muertos’ headpieces and masks – which I bedazzled with rhinestones for their performances. 

 

When they were flower girls in their uncles wedding, I bought pearls and crystal bicones to sew onto their flower girl dresses. And when they were set to participate in a Chinese New Year parade, I had the idea of using chopsticks and adding beads to them to put in my daughters’ hair. A small bead store, the town’s first, opened in 2010. Rosy’s carried Chinese crystal rondelles, pearls, some agate, and findings. I went in and asked the gal (over the years I’ve come to know Chely well❤️) if she could show me what I needed, how to use the tools to make the loop on the head pins, etc… She was wonderful! She patiently showed me what to do. I went home with pink beads to match my Isabella’s costume and turquoise beads to match my Emma’s costume. Soon I found myself hooked. I wanted every color bead there was in the store! I wanted to learn how to make earrings and bracelets. Some things I learned through trial and error but most of what I learned I owe completely to Chely and Rosie. Rosie owns the bead store and has always been wonderful to me over the years. She has shared all of her knowledge graciously, as has Chely. I came to find my own style using techniques Rosie and Chely taught me. 

 

So, the years passed with me enjoying stringing jewelry, making rosaries, playing with wire, a little macrame, etc…and then one day in 2020, I was looking on YouTube and I came across a tutorial on bead weaving. Wow! I bought a few navy blue seed beads online. I was interested but apprehensive as I didn’t know the first thing about what thread to use, what needles; I didn’t know the difference between a delica, or a round, or the differences in sizes, or anything! I watched a tutorial about how to bezel a rivoli, and I must’ve pulled it all out to start over a million times but I kept practicing until I got it right. This has been a pattern with me when it comes to bead weaving. I think I pull apart almost everything I make, at least once, and I start all over. I’m always looking to improve my bead work. 

 

I didn’t find the Beadingschool Academy until the beginning of 2023. I saw the ‘La Dolce Vita’ unboxing, and I was in love but, again, I was apprehensive. By June 2023, I threw caution to the wind and ordered my first fuchsia Academy box. That was one of the smartest things I’ve ever done! I had no idea the Beadingschool Academy would change my life- but it has! I wish I would have found Erika and the Beadingschool Academy sooner! 

 

…and what has Erika and the Beadingschool done for me? What have I learned? How was finding the Beadingschool one of the best days of my life?

 

Well, Erika has given me courage to bead pieces I never would have beaded, using colors I never would have used. I feel much more confident! I have learned so much from Erika about bead weaving, bead embroidery, sizes and shapes of beads, what is the best thread to use, and I could go on and on. I’m forever grateful! Erika is a shining light in my life. Erika means joy. Erika means challenging yourself. Erika means community. The community of the Beadingschool Academy. The camaraderie. The cheering for one’s accomplishments, and the helping advice and support when one is struggling. The excitement and overwhelming joy over beads that others, who do not share our love for beads, cannot understand. We understand each other. We understand the giddy squeals when we see a beautiful bead, a beautiful cabochon, or when our special package filled with beads arrives in the mail and soon onto our bead mat. 

 

I live a very quiet life. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for 20 years. When I leave the house, it’s to do a task like dropping off or picking up children, grocery shopping, things like that. I don’t go out with friends. I don’t talk on the phone (other than to my mother). I really enjoy being a homebody and crafting, although there never seems to be enough time to do all the beading and crafting I’d like to do. I have two dogs, Rhett and Scarlett, whom I adore. My son will turn 29 this year, my oldest daughter is 19, and my youngest is 18. My son graduated college Summa Cum Laude and currently both of my daughters are attending college. Watching Erika or Nitti during “Coffee Time with Erika” or “No One has to Bead Alone” makes me feel just that, not alone. I enjoy my time ‘talking’ about beads and beading with Erika and Nitti, and all the other ladies who are watching. The Beadingschool feels warm. It’s a hug. It’s a special place and I’m so happy to be a part of it. ❤️

 

Is beadwork your hobby or profession? What does your average day look like? When do you have time to create?

I enjoy beading in the evening after dinner when my chores for the day are done. I sit at the island in my kitchen and put on an old Jean Harlow or Doris Day movie, or tv show like Columbo or Matlock. Beading is my hobby and my passion! 

 

Tell us about the piece of jewelry you are the most proud of.

Making rosaries and my other religious pieces brings me tranquility, peace, and joy. I proudly display some of my rosaries in my home.  

Other pieces that bring me pride are the bead weaving pieces that I found challenging but was able to accomplish. 

I have everything I need to really start bead embroidery. I’ve dabbled with it for practice, but I have no finished pieces. When I complete a piece, and it’s beautiful, that will make me very proud. “Mastering” bead embroidery is one of my goals. 

 

Where do you like to create? Do you have a designated area in your home where you keep your beads? Can you show it to us?

I bead at my island in the kitchen. I have the best lighting in the house in my kitchen. My honey, Edwardo, was so sweet to surprise me with a magnifying light that attaches to my island. I didn’t even know such a thing existed! I can see everything up close. It’s wonderful! My island is a piece of Mexican furniture that a friend (who owned a store) brought back from Mexico for me. Almost all of the furniture in my home was made in Mexico.  I don’t think I mentioned here that I live on the Texas/Mexico border. We are “sister cities” to our neighboring city across the border and we are known and referred to as the “Queen City”. 

 

What is your favorite stitch? Which colors do you like the most? On the other hand, is there any color combination you try to avoid?

I really love peyote stitch and right angle weave.

I LOVE Autumn colors like golds, browns, oranges, yellows. 💛🧡🤎

I really love all colors of the rainbow, so I’m happy to work with every color. 😊

 

Do you follow instructions or do you like to develop your own designs? How would you define your style?

With bead weaving, I follow instructions as I don’t believe I’m knowledgeable enough to make my own design but when stringing beads, I make my own designs and color combinations.

 

 

Who are your favorite designers and why?

Erika Sandor, Ruxandra Puscas, Anita Schackmann (Nitti), Zuzi Hake, in no particular order. They are all fabulous in different ways, and I have favorite pieces from each of them! 

These ladies all create beautiful designs that make beading fun, sometimes challenging, always rewarding. 

 

Do you have a favorite design by Erika? Tell us about it!

I am CRAZY about “The Traveller” and “Chandr DeVee” for bead embroidery!  This is such a tough question because I LOVE so many of Erika’s creations! 

I just finished beading the “Fly” pendant and I enjoyed every second of it! Now that it’s completed, I smile each time I look at it and have been considering making another one in different colors- just because I loved beading it so much! 

 

Which is the bead/component in your stash which you treasure the most? Do you already have plans on how to use it?

I really treasure all the Swarovski I have in my stash. I try not to use it because I won’t be able to replace it. 

 

What are your plans for the future as a beader? Is there something you would like to learn?

To continue learning. I’d like to find more time to bead and to really delve into bead embroidery. I also plan to learn Huichol. Having been born and raised on the Texas/Mexico border, Mexico has always been a big part of my life. My children are half-Mexican and I would love to make them beautiful Huichol necklaces or earrings.

I would also like to try my hand at bead crochet because, why not!?

But first I’d like to work on “mastering” bead embroidery and bead weaving.

 

Thank you for answering our questions, Chérie!

We hope all your beady dreams come true, that you continue to learn and explore more beading techniques. We’re thankful for your support and everything you bring to our community and enjoy beading with you during #NoOneHasToBeadAlone. 🙂

 

Dear beading-friends and beadwork admirers, please, use the comment section if you have more questions you would like to ask, or greet our Chérie.

Stay tuned for more interviews for Beadingschool.com by Erika Sándor!