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Face to Face: Samia Dewan
Our newest Face to Face interview with our fellow beaders and designers is here!
Joining only a year ago, she captured many hearts in our Beadingschool Club with her open mind in the creative process and open heart for the Beadingschool community. It has been wonderful to watch her journey from a very simple designs, growing in the confidence and technical skills with every Beadingschool Academy theme box.
Besides posting pictures of her finished beadwork, we also often see ideas on how to combine full outfit, what is also inspiring 🙂
Meet the Beadingschool Club member and growing designer,
Samia Dewan!
Please tell us about yourself a bit! When and how did you start to create? How did you learn to bead?
I live in a small city in the Canadian Prairies called Saskatoon, in a townhouse where I have lived for over eight years.
Besides beading, I also enjoy indoor gardening. I have too many plants throughout my townhouse (at every window except for one north facing window). I mainly like growing Hoyas as they have beautiful leaves and flowers. I struggle with my mental health on a regular basis. Beading and indoor gardening often helps me. I have other hobbies and interests, but these are the ones I am more into these days. One fun fact about me is that I have a brown belt in Karate although I have not trained Karate for a while.
I have started bead weaving at the beginning of 2022 but I have been designing and making jewellery, on and off, since I was a teenager. Back then I had only done bead stringing, simple wireworks and simple knotting. I have learnt bead weaving by watching YouTube videos and I have never taken any formal training.
Is beadwork your hobby or profession? How does your average day look like? When do you have time to create?
Beadwork is a hobby for me. On a typical weekday, I work eight hours as an Electrical Engineer designing electrical systems and doing project management. My job can be stressful sometimes, but for the most part I love what I do. I usually get some time to bead during the evenings unless I am spending time with my Dad and Step-Mom, my friends, talking on the phone with my brother and sister-in-law or I have some other engagements. I tend to have more time to bead during the weekends but that also depends on if I have any other plans.
Tell us about the piece of jewelry you are the most proud of!
I will need to think about this. I would have to say the necklace, bracelet and earrings set, in mint green and copper colour, I have created to wear for this year’s end of Ramadan Eid celebration. It is a mixed media and style set, and I had a lot of fun designing it! It turned out beautiful if I may say so myself. I do not have a name for this set yet. I tend to struggle with naming my designs.
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?
Believe it or not, I usually create, sitting on my bed, in my bedroom. I typically have a YouTube video going, on my laptop computer, beads on my bead tray and I start beading. I am often finding beads on my bed when I am trying to sleep. Haha! I keep most of my beads in a couple of shaves in my bedroom. I am not the most organized person so my bedroom is a mess. I need to figure out a better way to organize and store my beads as my collection is growing at a very fast pace. Organizing and keeping things tidy is one of my weakest points. Kind of like those mad scientists you see in movies or television shows. Hahahaha!
What is your favourite stitch? Which colours do you like the most? On the other hand, is there any colour or colour combination you try to avoid?
Not sure if I have a favourite stitch. The very first stitch I learned was brick stitch.
Do you follow instructions or do you like to develop your own designs? How would you define your style?
I usually like to create my own designs or take someone else’s design and create a piece using my own interpretation. There are times, I do like to follow instructions as this allows me to learn new techniques and skills. I must say, I have learnt so much ever since I have joined Beadingschool Academy! My skills have improved multiple folds within a very short period of time. Thank you Erika and the Beadingschool Team!
I usually like to create day to day wearable elegant pieces. In general, my designs start with me wanting to create a jewellery set to match with a shirt or a dress. I like to use mixed media, mixed styles and techniques in my designs. I guess I am a bit of a rebel and like to do things outside of the box. I would call my pieces small statement but not “in your face statement” pieces. I am not sure how else to describe it.
Who are your favorite designers? Why?
This is a very difficult question for me to answer as I have not been in the bead weaving world very long. I did not have much exposure to that many designer’s work.
Do you have a favorite design by Erika? Tell us about it!
I will have to say Theodora pendant. It is gorgeous!! I hope I will get to bead it someday.
Which is the bead / component in your stash which you treasure the most? Do you already have plans on how to use it?
Hmm… another difficult question for me to answer. Honestly, I can not think of anything. My preferences tend to change a lot from time to time. I do not even have a favourite colour but I tend to prefer one or two colours at different times.
If you could design something for a well-known person or maybe a fictional character from a film or book, who would it be, and why?
I can not think of anyone at the moment.
What are your plans for the future as a beader? Is there something you would really like to learn?
My future plan as a beader is to continue to learn and improve my skills. Also I would like to create tutorials/patterns. I just need to figure out which graphic design software I should use for that. I have not done much research into this and I am open to suggestions.
Where can we see and buy your designs?
I mainly create jewellery for myself, family, and friends. I post pictures of, most of my, designs on Instagram . Btw, I also have an Instagram account for my plants.
Thank you for answering my questions, Samia!
We all are happy you are beading with us and inspire us with your jewelry! ![🙂](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/svg/1f642.svg)
Dear beading-friends and beadwork admirers, please, use the comment section if you have more questions you would like to ask, or greet our Samia.
Stay tuned for more interviews for Beadingschool.com by Erika Sándor!
It is so nice to learn more about you Samia – to have details and impressions to put with a face! I love the fact that you post pictures of yourself with your lovely beaded jewels. You are a very talented beading newcomer!
Samia, It’s surprising that you’ve only been beading for such a short time. Nice to learn about your beading journey. You’ve got a nice style and I look forward to seeing your work in the future as well. I’ve been beading as a hobby for about 13 years and admire your creativity. Since I live in an apartment, I only have house plants. They do well in general but since I don’t put a lot of effort, the flowers don’t bloom, and I’m left with just green plants once the flowers die.
Loved reading about you and your bead journey , so nice to have you in our group , keep up the great imagination with your beading !😊
Samia sometimes does tradeshows and her beadwork /jewelry can be found there for a reasonable price . Samia , great job . You have totally come so far . Wow . Keep it up. Your creativity and doing things outside the box is what makes you unique. You’ve got so much talent waiting to get out . You got this ..
Nice to read your interview Samia! I too am a plant lover. I usually do outdoor plants though. I have a few indoor plants too! My daughter manages a greenhouse so plants run in the family! She likes our jewelry from Beadingschool too. Getting organized is sort of a key to jewelry making. I had chaos when I first began. It was hard to find things so it would take too long to find my materials. I knew I had to figure that out so I didn’t spend so much time looking for things. As I got familiar with the supplies I got some organization. I must admit it took several times to organize an reorganize. Good luck with yours.
It’s so nice to learn more about you Samia!!! It’s always such a pleasure to see the designs you share with us! So happy you are here!! ❤️
So lovely to read a little bit more about your life & beading Samia. I love it when a post pops up from you usually with you wearing your latest creation.
I also admire those who manage to keep house plants alive (I have only two 😅🌿) – I think they make a house so friendly.
I look forward to seeing many new beady creations in the future.
Hugs, Faye 😊
I am so glad to get to know you a little better Samia! Your simple elegant beading style resonates with my style. I love your pieces! I also admire your love and skill with plants because that is definitely not my skill. I kill most plants I am given.😳 I have traveled around Canada but not Saskatchewan for some reason. Maybe one day. I hope you do get to do tutorials one day because you are very talented!❤️
Both thumbs up for my sister Samia! I like your designs, Sis! 😄
Dear Samia
Thank you for telling about you. I am an admirer of your beadwork. You won’t believe but we travelled through Saskatchewan a few years ago and we liked it.
Hugs
Mirjam
Hi Samia! I really enjoyed learning more about you and seeing your beautiful jewel sets with this interview.
I always love when you share on our Beadingschool page your beautiful works of art. Very inspiring!
Susan
Dear Samia,
So nice to read more about you. I do enjoy seeing your beautiful beaded creations and your designs.
Wishing you all the best!
Hugs,
Neeti
Dear Samia,
It’s so nice to meet you! I always love to see the creative touches you give to your designs. I apperciate the fact that you try to make your jewels into sets that you can wear every day.
Also nice to know about your love for plants!
Wish you all the best and keep on beading and designing!
Your’s sincerily,
Irina