Ceramic bead artist Teresa Hulley from Bo Hulley Beads
Q: Were you always a bead artist?
A: No! I wasn't! I have done many many different things. My first job was as a hairdresser and manicurist. I won't bore you by listing all my different occupations except to say the BEST ones were managing a theatre bar for the summer rep season and managing a restaurant - best fun ever! About 3 years ago I opened a small bead shop in a Ceramic Cafe where I had access to clay, glazes, kilns….. the lovely owner Anne suggested I make a clay bead one day……
Q: Why did you choose the medium clay?
A: I love clay and always have, I adored Plasticine as a child, even when it went all muddy. I used to collect Art Deco china and have always loved ceramics. One of my ambitions was to throw a pot, which I did at last, last year, it's rather wonky and I haven't glazed it yet! I didn't really choose the medium - it just chose me I think. I have a lot to thank Anne for.
Q: There are several sorts of clay. Do you have a favourite to work with?
A: Up until very recently I have only used earthenware as my kiln really isn't suitable for stoneware and porcelain which need a much higher firing temperature, although it has been my intention for a couple of years to branch out. I have at last started using these clays and have a brand new shiny kiln arriving next month. I don't think I do have a favourite as I am
realising and learning that different textures and glazes show different results on each clay, so it is the design rather than the clay which becomes a favourite.
Q: Are you self-taught?
A: Yes - totally. I experiment constantly with various results which may not always see the light of day!
Q: Can you tell a bit about the early days of Bo Hulley Beads.
A: I can only say how totally totally thrilled I was by my first Etsy sale - thank you so much Lesley E! It really gave me the confidence to plod on and slowly but surely I became busier and busier. I realised I wanted to give up my bricks and mortar shop and concentrate on bead making from home. So I bought a kiln from ebay, closed my shop and off I went.