One Bead at a Time...

Beadworkz artisan jewellery is hand crafted in Dunedin, NZ by Hannah Bailly. She uses only the finest glass beads and semi-precious gemstones. With over 30 years experience, Hannah's designs have won awards and been featured in NZ fashion magazines. The object of the Beadworkz project is to share the ancient art-form of beadwork through teaching classes and turning the humble bead into an exquisitely sophisticated body adornment. Beadworkz is currently seeking stockists. Interested retailers please contact Hannah at beadworkz.dunedin@gmail.com

 

I'm Hannah. I personally design and create each piece of Beadworkz jewellery in my sunny Dunedin studio. I have over 30 years' experience as a beadwork artisan. Some of my designs have won awards and others have appeared in fashion magazines. 

The medium of beadwork, which involves techniques of intricately weaving seed beads into a tapestry-like effect, owes its legacy to African and Native American cultures where beaded adornments are valued for spiritual and social significance. I have chosen the label Beadworkz for my brand to highlight the significance of this age-old medium.

I spent my childhood in the mountains of Northern California where I found obsidian arrow-heads in the river banks, and stones of agate and jasper that I set to polishing and making into pendants. This was the beginning of a lifelong passion. Today, I weave natural gemstones and river pearls within webs of glass beads to create jewels with a mystic, old-world charm. Whilst honouring my early lessons in Native American beadwork, many of my designs are inspired also by historical eras, and my travels through India, Europe and parts of the Middle East.

I currently live in Dunedin, New Zealand, dividing my time between tutoring Anthropology students and running Beadworkz Studio, where I offer classes and endeavour to transform the humble bead into an exquisite body adornment.