Welcoming Pat Tulip, NW seed pearl jewelry designer, and textile artist.

Fairweather House and Gallery

1 year ago

Handmade quilted hearts filled with fragrant lavender using vintage fabric with a unique pocket-sized addition for an individual love note, poem, or a surprise!

Since the textile heart pouf is made by Pat Tulip, a unique Made by NW Hands ™ textile artist, sizes may vary between 6″ to 8″. On display now at Fairweather’s.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, February 14. $30 each.

Signature Pat Tulip jewelry bracelets and pins featuring seed pearls, authentic shells, and specialized gemstones craftsmanship.

Each shell is backed with ultra suede, which allows the jewelry artist to sew each seed bead onto the suede. “Pat Tulip selects pearls and gemstones to encrust each shell, making a truly unique and one-of-a-kind piece.”

Designing with shimmering, translucent, tiny seed pearls requires precision and a careful eye, mainly if the pearl is to be individually drilled, sewn, and strung to selected shells.

Highlighting an individual shell found in a heart pattern and accented as only Pat Tulip, a vintage beaded jewelry designer, can do in a bracelet.

Q: What are seed pearls, you ask?

A: Seed pearls are very small; less than a one-quarter grain in weight, smaller than 2mm in size, and off-round in shape. Historically they occurred naturally and were used as a decorative border, as tiny accents in small patterns, or in larger clusters woven together to make up an entire piece of jewelry.

A seed pearl is a small natural pearl, formed in either a saltwater oyster or freshwater mussel.

**Pat Tulip, NW vintage beaded jewelry designer, textile artist**, **and grower of David Austin heirloom tree roses.**

About the artist:

Pat Tulip started her path to jewelry making and design while recovering from breast cancer some 22 years ago. She started making her garden bracelets with vintage flower beads and leaves, hand sewing each bead on a cotton cord and using a vintage button for her clasp. She did this for a period of five years during which time she displayed her works in several galleries in the Seattle area and also did a trunk show in Charleston, SC.

Throughout the years Pat immersed herself in jewelry making, taking many classes offered by local bead shops. She learned to work with sterling silver wire as well as many other jewelry making techniques.

In her early years of jewelry making Pat was called upon to teach her designs at a local bead shop in the Seattle area.

Pat has done one-of-a-kind commission pieces recreating vintage pieces such as cameos for many of her clients.

Pat retired from Government service in 2020 after 53 years and moved to Cannon Beach with her husband where they built their cottage by the sea and just recently completed her “She Shed” where she can have a place to create.

Since moving to the coast Pat has continued her journey in jewelry making by incorporating shells, with seed beads and gemstones into her designs. She has taken her love of the ocean and it’s bounty to the next level by creating her shell embellished bracelets and pins.