Face to Face: Linda Katz
Our newest Face to Face interview with our fellow beaders and designers is here! This time we looked into the Beadingschool Club community as it seems to be endless source for interesting, inspiring beaders and we cannot be more proud!
She’s lovely, up to face any challenge and she enjoys matching her jewelry with outfits and share these photos within the community to inspire all of us. We enjoy her smile, company and beautiful jewels in the Beadingschool Club and we are so happy she’s here with us!
Meet the Beadingschool Club member, carrying and lovely beader that is full of inspiration,
Linda Katz!
Please tell us about yourself a bit! When and how did you start to create? How did you learn to bead?
My name is Linda Katz, I’m a wife and mother of 2 beautiful women (32 and 28 years old) and 1 baby granddaughter. I was born in America but we moved to Israel when I was 10 years old. I work as an administrative secretary in a small private company, dealing in textiles for women, so a lot of my selfies have all the hangers of textile hanging in the background.I started learning how to bead in 2010. I was at the mall with my mother and saw a beautifully beaded necklace in the shop window with a Swarovski crystal shell. We went in, asked about the price (and it was a bit pricey, of course) but the saleswoman said it would cost less if I made it myself with her guidance. I was very happy to try it out and so began my bead journey. I bought the materials there, she showed me how to make it, but then I looked around the shop and saw all kinds of other pretty beads and asked her if she could teach me to use those as well. In the end, my mom signed me up for a full course of a few beading sessions to my utter delight, as a birthday gift and after that I was hooked!
In addition, I think you need to invest a lot of money in inventory in order to make up items to sell and that would be very difficult for me. So for now, it will remain a hobby.
I love the challenge of learning new stitches and I love to play with the different colors, finishes, shapes and sizes. A big bonus is I wear all my creations and can match them with my outfits, exactly to my taste. Either everyday jewelry for work or fancy, sparkly jewelry for evening and special occasions. When my daughter got married, I made a set of jewelry and was very happy by the results, although it did take me a long time to complete them.
My favorite bead stitch is RAW, perhaps because it was the first one I learned, but I also like herringbone, netting and peyote. I’m also starting to like brick stitch as well. Lately, I’ve started working on the loom but that is relatively new. I love happy colours such as purples, pink, green, turquoise in all shades and making color combinations. I also like the metallic colors of gold, bronze and silver which are staple colors for making the pieces more elegant. Brown, yellow, orange, grey and white are colors which I’m less comfortable with but I never say never. Tastes change over time and anything is possible. Just today I saw a gorgeous beaded flower in yellow.
Melissa Grawkosky Shippee is another wonderful designer.
Jean Power has great intricate geometric designs.
Erika Sandor has ingenious pathways in her colorful designs.
Ella Des – Ellad2 has lovely designs which are great for everyday wear.
Erin Simonetti has very unique, genius tips and tricks with the loom, as well as how to finish it off, and embellish it (not just straight weaving).
Cath Thomas has a few special techniques which she shares such as “From Petal to Pod” and “Diamond Weave” (together with Gerlinde Lenz, who also invented the Peyote with a twist – not crochet).
The list of designers I admire goes on and on: Heather Kingsley-Heath, Ruxandra Puscas, Heather Collin, Melanie de Miguel, Isabella Lam, Miriam Cielo Shimon, Mandi Z Olaniyi, Sandra Scholte, Sabine Lippert, Nicole Velthuis-van Eldik, Beki Haley, Jayashree Paramesh, Rangashrii Santhanam, Cindy Holsclaw, Betty Stephan, Carol Dean Sharpe, Cindy Newcomer Daniel, Diane Fitzgerald, Edgar Lopez, Gwen Fisher, Lisa Kan, Liisa Turnnen, May Brisebois, Melannie Potter, Monica Vinci, Shelley Nybakke, Marsha Wiest-Hines, etc.
I really love the look of Estrella pendant unfortunately, I missed her workshop. I am happy though that I managed to get a kit of Theodora from Erika during the advent calendar last December and looking forward to beading that beauty. I have beaded The Shooting Star pendant which I like a lot and wear often.
What are your plans for the future as a beader? Is there something you would like to learn?
There are a couple of techniques which I still haven’t tried such as Albion (I have the book), Diamond Weave (also have the book), Kumihimo, more elaborate Hubble stitch, MRAW.
Where can we see or buy your designs?
I do not have an Etsy shop or any place to buy my work but I load most of my work on my personal FaceBook page. I don’t actively try to sell anything but if someone like to buy my work, I do sell on occasion. For example, I posted a sweet necklace with hearts on a silver chain and one of my friends really liked it and asked if I could make one for their granddaughter. I asked what her preferences of color was and we agreed on a price and I sold it to her gladly. Another time, I wore a pretty pendant and my friend liked it and asked if I could make one for her, which I did for a discounted price. For my family, I make them free of charge or just ask them to cover the materials cost if it’s expensive.
Thank you for answering my questions, Linda!
We wish you wonderful time with loved ones, fun with organizing your beadroom and lots of idea and inspiration while exploring new beading techniques you wish to master! 🙂
Dear beading-friends and beadwork admirers, please, use the comment section if you have more questions you would like to ask, or greet our Linda.
Stay tuned for more interviews for Beadingschool.com by Erika Sándor!
Hi Linda,
Thank you for your lovely story! It is always nice to hear more of someone when the name pops up a lot of times.
You are always so positive and happy with all the jewels you make and they are lovely every time.
Hope to see more of your beautiful jewels in the future❤️😘
Josien van Langen
I’m so glad you enjoyed my story. thank you so much ! I love to show how I wear my jewelry because I think it enhances how it looks combined with what you wear. When I wear jewelry, it usually completes my outfit and gives it an extra special touch. Even if it’s just a small crystal pendant… I find that many people like seeing a person wearing jewelry than just seeing it alone, except for perhaps beaders 😉☺️
Dear Linda
Thank you for sharing your interesting story. I love your pieces and the way you post them with your matching outfit, or should I write your outfit with the matching jewellery? Your jewellery is an inspiration.
Big Hugs
Mirjam
Thank you sweetheart for reading it all with your busy life. I am proud of you too ! ❤️
Thank you for your kind words Susan! I always try to be supportive of fellow beaders. Even if it’s not my taste, I admire the art and creativity.
It is interesting to learn about different people. Some started beading very young and others like me started late in life but we all share the same passion.
It’s clear to see that you really enjoy your beading, and love to wear your finished pieces. I love seeing your versions!
Thank you Catherine. The best part of beading is to make it match your own taste and preferences. It’s always so satisfying when a jewel looks perfect with what you are wearing in my eyes.
I love to see your beautiful creations as well.!
Thank you for sharing your beading journey, Linda. It’s so fun to learn how everyone got started. It’s also nice to find out more about you and you life. I love seeing the jewels you create and share in our group, and you are always so kind and generous with your comments on everyone’s creations. Sending love ❤️ and hugs 🤗
WOW! Very proud of you sis. 👏
Your passion, patience and effort to learn new techniques all the time is very admirable. I admire Mom as well for always supporting us in all ways and having us pursuit all our dreams and wishes. No wonder why she won the best mom award🩷 love you
Beautiful work! Great getting to know you!
I love seeing your work and getting to know you better Linda! Aren’t moms wonderful! I am so glad she bought you that birthday gift years ago that you and your friends and family get to enjoy! You are an amazing beader and I really like your beautiful happy color combinations! Thank you for all the encouragement you give us all in the club! Hugs my friend!❤️🤗🌷
Thank you dear Terry! Yes, I am thankful for having a great mom! Without her support, I wouldn’t have discovered this great outlet for creativity. I am lucky ! I just love colorful colors and I know you do too. I could bead with conservative colors such as black, silver, gold but I would get bored very quickly because there is no challenge is creating great color combos. For me half the fun is matching up colors which I know is very hard for most people. I love it!
Dear Linda, it is nice to know more behind your name. I see how experienced you are and how many designers you know, etc. Your works are always beautiful and you spend so much time with beading. Thank you for telling about yourself and all the best wishes
Beatrix
thank you Beatrix.
indeed, after so many years I am familiar with many designers who I admire and take lessons from. When I first started beading I looked up on Facebook any creative people I could find.
Slowly that increased through the years. I now have over 1500 friends, not all creative but most of them are. Friends of friends who I feel might inspire me in some way. Unfortunately, fb changed their algorithm and I see a lot less of my friends and more stupid adds… 😕 but I already know where to look to find what I like by now.
I love seeing your creations and lovely smile!
Hi Linda,
Lovely to read and get to know about you.
I love how you discovered beading, it was like they called out to you. Meant to be..
I love your posts and your interesting little finishes.
Take care and hugs,
Neeti
Your work and your story are so inspirational. I love your color choices – the blues and purples, and your attention to all the little details. Thank you for sharing and being a part of this community and my friend.
You rock!
I’m glad you found my story interesting Lita. Thank you for your interest and your kind words.
I love color and always feel a need to inject it into my work. It makes me happy. I’m very happy to be a part of this great beady club and to have such kind and supportive friends. I am indeed fortunate.