Face to Face: Susan Gardner Broughton
Our newest Face to Face interview with our fellow beaders and designers is here! We keep introducing beaders from the Beadingschool community and wanted to interview this lady for some time already!
Joining in summer of 2022, we immediately noticed the pattern in her beaded jewelry and her love in rich, extra long, statement earrings. We all needed someone inspiring as her in our life and I believe most of the Beadingschool Club members recognized her after reading these lines. She is a nature lover, kind person and dedicated beader. We’re all very happy she is beading with us!
Meet the Beadingschool Club member, beader and friend, who created the most amazing XXL earrings 
Susan Gardner Broughton!
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 town called Sultan, in Washington state, with my husband Gary and two labrador retrievers, named Nyx and Nya. We are in the Cascade mountain foothills. My husband was a building contractor and I did the bookkeeping for him. The housing market crash in 2008, and then he decided to retire. So, then me, as a retiree, I taught yoga for a few years, learned meditation. I also used to raise wild Canada geese. This particular year I had 11 babies that I hatched and raised. I was even attempting to teach them to fly.
I also have been creating, drawing, painting, knitting, etc. off and on since I was a child. My sister tells me I was always drawing. I came late to beading, only a few years ago, in 2018. I took a class where I learned a few techniques, and when the lockdown came, YouTube tutorials became my lessons.
Is beadwork your hobby or profession? How does your average day look like? When do you have time to create?
Beadwork is just a hobby, although I have sold a few pairs of earrings.
My day starts early, up with the girls (Nyx & Nya), easy yoga and meditation, then when the sky is just starting to get light we go for our morning light, regardless of what the weather is doing. Since I am retired, I fit as much beading time in as I can.
Tell us about the piece of jewellery you are the most proud of!
I think the last two pendants, Marella and Coumarin. They were both challenging and fun to make.
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 had a space set up in what used to be our office (when my husband was a builder), but I moved it down to the kitchen table when we got the pups last year. (it’s always kind of messy).
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?
I don’t think I have a favorite stitch, but I do love square stitch bezels! I actually like most colors. I have a harder time with orange. I am learning to appreciate it more.
Do you follow instructions or do you like to develop your own designs? How would you define your style?
I do follow instructions for the most part because I still consider myself a novice beader. One of the things I love most about the Beadingschool, is that the motifs are so easily adaptable to each beader’s creativity. I love seeing the beautiful jewels everyone creates. My style? Eclectic elegance. 😀
How did it happen you focus on the statement earrings which we all love so much, was it always your style, vision for your jewels or it’s just the phase you’re going through?
I have always loved big, beautiful, bold earrings. I love making them, putting my own color combinations together, and adding that bling either in a drop or accent. I wear them with everything. Living more in the country I tend to dress more casual, so that means statement earrings with jeans!! Such a fun way to express myself.
Who are your favourite designers? Why?
I love our Beadingschool designers!! Erika, Zuzi, Veronka. Then Ruxandra Puscas, Vicky Roberts, Nitti Schackmann, Our Terry Stegeman from the Beadingschool Club. Also, Stephanie, from Bronzepony who taught me how to bezel, Gina, from Orchid and Opal, Sabine Lippert…I know there are others.
Do you have a favourite design by Erika? Tell us about it!
Right now, it’s Coumarin from Dangerous Liaisons Academy theme. Erika’s signature jewels for each theme are always favorites.
Which is the bead / component in your stash which you treasure the most? Do you already have plans on how to use it?
I don’t have a favorite at the moment.
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?
Just to keep beading for as long as possible. As long as my eyes and fingers hold up. I would love to learn CRAW.
Where can we see and buy your designs?
I share to the beading school club FB page, and sometimes in my stories on FB or IG.
Thank you for answering my questions, Susan!
We are happy you found your way to Beadingschool and let us into your own beading world of beautiful creations where we can enjoy beading with you. We wish you lots of creative ideas and energy 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 Susan.
Stay tuned for more interviews for Beadingschool.com by Erika Sándor!
Thank you Susan for sharing your life story. I know the area you located and from your pictures it must be heaven on earth. I admire how talented you are especially hearing your start was in 2018. I’m so happy our paths have crossed and developed a friendship. Can’t wait to see your future work using new items from the Beadingschool Treasury.
I love your earrings they are so unique. I would love to purchase some of them is your website safe to order.
Dear Susan
Thank you for sharing your beading adventure. Beside all the fantastic jewellery I love the picture of your cute dogs. I am always an admirer of your gorgeous statement earrings you are beading all the time.
hugs and love
Mirjam
Where go you get the big spools of fire line from?
Hi Annie, we usually have it here at Beadinschool, but it’s sold out at the moment.
I love your work. My experience with beading was making Anglican prayer beads. When I was finished I had our priest bless them, before I gave them as a gift to my patients for their health.
Hi Susan!
It’s so nice to read about you and to see your beautiful jewels. If I could wear earrings, I would definitely wear your creations! Your beadwork is very beautiful and quite elegant – I love your choice of colors and your shapes.
Your landscape picture is absolutely stunning, and your pups delightful! What a beautiful creative home! It is very lovely to be able to take a peek into your world through your pictures – and let me just say, my beading area has also overtaken the kitchen table, and so I get the mess. But I must say, your mess is a gorgeous one!!!
Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you so much! I was a little embarrassed to show my mess, but 🤷🏼♀️ it seems to help me create. I’m glad I’m not the only one! 🥰 We are fortunate to have a little property that allows me to walk those pups every morning rain or shine. Believe me, they let me know when it’s time to go!
Thank you again for your kind words.
Susan 😘
Dear Susan,
Thank you so much for your story. It is always nice to hear something more than just our jewels. You are a very good beader in just the few years of beading activity! My compliments ❤️
I hope I will see many more jewels from you in the future.
Many regards
Josien
Thank you so much Josien! I love our community and love seeing all of your beautiful creations.
I am so happy to see you featured on face to face Susan! I love to see all your beautiful long elegant earrings and I love when you model them so we can see them on! You live in one of my favorite states, Washington. I have spent time in other places in the world and I have to say the Pacific Northwest is my favorite. I love your puppies and I am sure they are not spoiled at all!!😊 Raising geese is an amazing thing! I love them too. I know you said you were a novice beader but your pieces don’t show that. They are gorgeous! It humbled me to know that I am one of your favorite designers. Thank you for all your encouragement to me! I am glad we are friends and I can’t wait to see lots more from you!❤️❤️❤️ Terry
Thank you so much, Terry! You are definitely one of my favorite designers! I am in awe of your gorgeous creations.
Thank you always for your support and encouragement. 🩷
Susan I have enjoyed following your morning walks through your beautiful photography and your labs which now have puppies. They must be a handful right now at their age. Your jewels are always beautiful and I look forward to seeing what you have completed. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Shelly! My girls are a handful for sure! They are almost two, with no signs of slowing down!
Thank you for all your kind words and support. ❤️
Susan –
Your work is so beautiful! I always love seeing what you post, your creativity is so inspiring. And your puppies! They are just the best!
Hugs and much love,
Lita
Thank you, Lita! I love to see your posts and beautiful creations, too. 🩷
You are so very welcome. And I meant to tell you, you live in one of my favorite vacation spots – the Cascades (although it’s been quite a while since I’ve been there).
Dear Susan,
Thanks for sharing about yourself! Your Nya & Nyx are adorable and you live in a beautiful place.
Love your posts with the amazing earrings and your very harmonious colour combos. You are a kind and supportive person and we in the club, are lucky to have you here and count you as a friend!
Hugs and love,
Neeti
Thank you, Neeti! I absolutely love my beading school peeps! You all are the best! ❤️