Emma VanSchulz
Hi there! I’m Emma, the designer & artist of Woven Wyld. After studying Art Education at The Ohio State University, I volunteered for AmeriCorps and hauled what little I had and a hottie of a boyfriend out West to Utah, where I lived for 10 years; I recently made a move to Oregon. I’m an outdoor enthusiast & a HUGE fan of plants. Shout out to botanicals! When I’m not bead weaving, you can probably find me looking for wildflowers, taking an art class, sailing with my sweetie, dancing to some groovy tunes, laughing at old reruns of 3rd Rock From The Sun or goofing off with friends.
I currently live amongst the flower fields in the greater Portland area with that hottie of a boyfriend, now my beloved Husband Austen & one fast growing baby bump.
WOVEN WYLD
If you can believe it, WOVEN WYLD started with flowers. A few years ago, I had a small business making flower crowns and Bridal bouquets. This slowly evolved & I started making wedding accessories along with custom jewelry for Brides. While researching new techniques, I stumbled upon bead weaving & I was HOOKED.
While I was learning how to make the perfect stitch, I found a relationship with bead weaving that I had never had with any other art process. Something woke up inside me & honestly, it gave me the courage to begin identifying as an artist. It took quite a few years of TEDIOUS practice & a million mistakes to master the skill of bead weaving. I still enjoy working with flowers, but I have affectionately replaced florals with beads as an art medium. Just as my technique & designs are continuously evolving, so am I as an artist.
The Earrings
I’ve always enjoyed the creative process, finding it connects me to my own company and allows me to explore things I am fascinated by on a deeper level. In my artwork, I explore the patterns of the past that captivate my curiosity; often finding more connection with past design than modern work. I consider wonders of the natural world, noticing patterns and color schemes found in nature. I have long admired aesthetics of the West Coast for their ability to create a free spirit of us all. Lastly, much of work comes from a deep love for botanicals, celebrating the simplicities and complexities of botany that I adore.
Each earring is woven together, one bead at a time. It can take up to 8 hours, from start to finish, to weave together the 1,400+ beads that make a pair of WYLDs.