Thirteen years ago I returned to my roots in Western PA near Pittsburgh. I am a published seed bead artist who has been beading for over thirty years.  My first seed bead class, "Comanche Stitch Earrings" got me hooked for life using seed beads. I recall having to order a modest quantity of seed beads and crystals for the project and jokingly referred to it as my "small bead stash". At the time I wondered, "what am I ever going to do with all of those tiny jewels?" Well, over twenty years later, the words "bead stash" certainly have another meaning and a life of its own. For the most part, I am a self taught beader. I draw inspiration from memories of my travels around the U.S., Hawaii, Mexico and Canada. I also draw inspiration from the many colors that present themselves to me from the world around me. My private and intuitive world guides my "medicine work".  My philosophy embraces the idea that  "the sum is greater than all of the parts". Beading is a continuing journey of self discovery. I enjoy the process as much as the outcome. I believe that beading has something to offer to everyone. My preference right now is to do freeform pieces that take a long time. Each piece evolves as if it has a mind of its own. I can easily lose myself in one of these pieces for twenty to forty hours. My Beaded Art Dolls reflect my intuitive style and often reflect my interpersonal growth process. Each is a power piece that contains "medicine" within her. Fairly recently, I did a series of seven large beaded fabric art dolls, one for each chakra, that tells a unique story as a whole. I have sold many "spirit doll" pins (small hand made and hand beaded fabric art dolls) and I have  received back amazing stories from the recipients about how the art doll impacted the life of the wearer (they also contain "medicine" inside of them). My love for beading is reflected in my love for teaching beading. I draw on my background from thirty years of teaching various classes in nursing curricula across the U.S.  I attempt to break each project down into its simplest parts and provide written instructions for the students to use after they leave the class. I believe that "every student can bead to her/his level of competence". I will work individually with a student, if that is what is needed  for learning to occur. I jokingly say that I have NOT had a student flunk any of my classes yet and that is the truth. I go into each class expecting that each student will succeed. I tell my students that I am a slow beader and that I do not give prizes for being the fastest beader. Again, the process of beading is as important as the completed project. I do some commissioned pieces with the idea that no two pieces will ever be alike. My plan is to move into the selling arena when I retire from my day job. I also plan to enter some pieces in juried events in the near future. I enjoy doing some collaborative work and enjoy bead swaps. My personal goal is to continue producing works of art that  reflect  a spiritual level of being . I hope that my work touches something inside of you and maybe it even inspires you to do more beading, or to challenge yourself to stretch and do something that you may have previously  thought impossible. I strive to continue my personal evolution and continually challenge myself to keep on creating small beaded works of art. If you want to be challenged, come and take one of my classes. You won't be disappointed. Let me hear from you.  Peace, LOve and Light   Too much of a good thing is wonderful !!! Gerry Vojtilla

Website by Colette Garmer 

This site was last updated 08/14/08