Face to Face: Snježana Tekić Relić
Beadingschool is a place where we bead together, share inspiration and celebrate the stories behind every piece of jewelry. We honor both the hands that create and the people who inspire our community.
After a short breake we continue to publish new Face to Face interview, as we came to the last Friday of the month. We’re excited to introduce a beader full of talent and joy who joins us from beautiful Croatia!
Meet the Beadingschool Club member, dear friend to many in the community and inspiring beader,
Snježana Tekić Relić.
I’m the Perlarica, 54 years old, and I live in Slavonski Brod, Croatia. (Perlarica is a word I invented in the spirit of the Croatian language, and it describes a woman who works with beads.)
By day, I work in a corporation where everything has its rules, procedures, and structure — a world with very little room for creativity. Outside of beads, I love reading, especially when I need to reset my mind after a long day. And at home, I share my life with my husband and son and, not to forget, Mokka, my demanding but lovable Lagotto Romagnolo. She keeps me active, entertained, and sometimes exhausted — but always smiling.
When and how did you start to create? How did you learn to bead?
My first encounter with beads is a bit unusual. It happened just before I started school, around 1978. I grew up with my grandmother, and she had a tenant from the Czech Republic — a single woman who loved spending time with me, and I loved spending time with her. With her I painted pebbles, made dough figurines, created paper dolls and their clothes, and she was the one who taught me peyote stitch. The beads we used were similar to Delicas, just larger, and together we made simple coasters.
Then life moved on. School, growing up, puberty, going out — and my path drifted far away from anything creative. Until around 2017. That’s when I started looking for a hobby that would help me relax after long, exhausting days at work. I needed silence, a break from people, and a few hours just for myself. That’s when I remembered peyote stitch.
I admired the incredible beadwork people were creating and honestly believed I would never move beyond peyote. Then I ordered my first book, started learning, and I’m still learning today.
Is beadwork your hobby or profession? How does your average day look like? When do you have time to create?
What did beading bring to your life?
Beading has taught me patience more than anything else. I used to want everything done immediately and quickly. I had tried crocheting, knitting, even playing the piano, but I got bored of all of it very fast. Beading is something no one who knows me well would ever have connected with me — and that’s exactly why it surprised everyone.
There’s another interesting fact: I never wore jewelry. Not even my wedding ring. I simply didn’t like wearing anything. That changed only when I started making jewelry myself.
Two years ago, my husband became seriously ill with pancreatitis, and he is still recovering. He ended up in the hospital, and I spent Christmas and New Year’s Eve alone for the first time in many years. For 70 days, it was a constant battle for his life. During that time, I picked up my beads and made a pendant. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any notes on how I created it, but it remains a design I’m truly proud of.
Where do you like to create? Do you have a designated area in your home where you keep your beads?
What is your favorite stitch? Which colors do you like the most? On the other hand, is there any color or color combination you try to avoid?
Do you follow instructions or do you like to develop your own designs? How would you define your style?
Do you have a favorite design by Erika? Tell us about it!
Who are your favorite designers? Why?
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?
What are your plans for the future as a beader? Is there something you would really like to learn?
Thank you for answering our questions and sharing more from your beading life and journey. We are so happy we could know you better, Snježana!
We wish you lots of inspiration and joy while beading with us and we look forward to see more from your jewels in the future.
Dear beading-friends and beadwork admirers, please, use the comment section if you have more questions you would like to ask, or greet our Snježana.
Stay tuned for more interviews for Beadingschool.com by Erika Sándor.
I really enjoyed learning a little more about you. I love the name “Perlarica,” which also resonates with me because it’s very close to the French word “perle” (bead). What a beautiful pendant! And knowing the story behind its creation is truly touching.I wish you the best with your future projects. Danièle