ONLINE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Cathi Milligan: Bead Artist
by Noelle Backer

A dark amber bead is surrounded by assorted beads, including leopards and dichroic as a centerpiece focal point. Oxidized sterling chain and findings is what's used to assemble the choker. 16"

Cathi Milligan, of Beadbrains in Los Angeles, Calif., has been making jewelry since she was a child, and even sold a necklace to Randy Jackson (Michael Jackson's brother) as a teenager. Exploration into glass beadwork, leatherwork and silversmithing have taken her in new directions, including creating jewelry for pets. Her work was featured on the cover of InStyle magazine being worn by Bette Midler and her Jack Russell Terrier. It was also featured on "Hard Copy," as a hot holiday gift item among celebrities. And last year, Milligan was featured on a program on The Learning Channel called "Slice of Life," which profiled professional women.

TCR: When did your first interest in jewelry making occur?

CM: I started making jewelry, like rings and necklaces out of telephone wires, when I was 5 or 6. When I was 8 or 9, I started collecting beads. It was big thing with all the kids at school, and we'd all bring them in and compare them.

I also started hanging out in a store called Macramania, owned by a woman named Suzanne Miller. You couldn't pry me out of the place. I learned stringing there, and about stones and semi-precious stones.

I [continued] making jewelry, but wasn't into beads yet.

TCR: When did you first get into beadwork?

CM: I lost interest in jewelry making altogether in high school (when I discovered boys), and didn't get back into it until the mid '80s, when I was in my early 20s. It's really kind of sad, but now, looking back, it turned out OK.

I was born in Sweden, and I was there visiting my family when I bought some beads. It was the '80s, so everything was fancy and elaborate and glittery.

As time progressed, I got back into macramé and beads. Then I discovered a shop, which is now called Pasadena Bead Company, where I teach now. I guess that was almost seven years ago. I took classes and was totally bitten by the glass bead making bug, and really by glass in general. They brought in Leah Fairbanks and Kim Osibin, and for me that's what did it -- I made the investment in the equipment to do it on my own.

Assorted beads.

TCR: How did Randy Jackson end up with a piece of your jewelry?

CM: My father had done construction work for Jackie, the oldest brother. Randy was about 14. When my father finished the work, they invited us over for Christmas dinner. I gave Randy a necklace as a Christmas present. My dad [kind of pushed me into it]; at the time I [said], "Dad, I could sell this for $70!" Then one season during the Jackson's TV show, Randy came running out wearing my necklace!

TCR: After working with jewelry and beads for so long, do you ever experience burnout?

CM: I do all the time. I'm anticipating burnout on Monday! (I have a show this weekend.) At shows, I can't help saying, "I can have it for you tomorrow," and I'll go home Saturday after a show, make beads till midnight, then go back to the show on Sunday.

But burnout usually comes in small bursts. I think the key to surviving burnout is loving what you do and doing new things. [For example], I made five little fish last night that would cure any burnout!

Flat finished periwinkle beads are accented with freshwater pearls in this link style choker. 16"

TCR: Where do you sell your work?

CM: I sell mostly at stores and at a couple of shows. I already had some connections [I made] by going door-to-door as a pre-teen, and before I started doing glass beads, some retail jewelry and gift stores in L.A. were already selling my jewelry. I also rented space in a craft mall. After I started doing glass beads, I started doing shows.

TCR: How do you decide which stores to approach with your work?

CM: I always try to pick stores where I'd like to shop, and I only consign with two stores that I've had long relationships with.

Minis: the newest addition to the selection of fish. Some are based on nature and some come from Cathi's mind. Earrings: Turquois and purple bead with aqua and lavender geometric accents.

TCR: Since you make jewelry for both people and pets, do you have to sell to two different markets?

CM: Yes, I really have three markets -- one for my beads, one for my finished jewelry, and one for my dog products.

TCR: What inspired you to create your jewelry for pets?

CM: It was a direct result of the InStyle magazine cover [that pictured Bette Midler and her dog wearing my jewelry]. The cover was put together by a stylist; I had nothing to do with it. The stylist had gotten my work through a store; Jennifer Coffman [the owner] was very "in" with stylists and wardrobe people.

When the issue [was published] in March, they forgot to put in a credit for the jewelry. When someone called and asked about the jewelry, they published the credit, saying the work was from Jennifer Kaufman's. Jennifer started getting requests for dog jewelry, so I started making work for dogs. [The jewelry on Bette Midler's dog] was actually a charm bracelet, not a pet necklace!

TCR: How did your work get included on the "Hard Copy" feature on hot holiday gift items among celebrities?

CM: Jennifer was interviewed -- they asked her what all the celebrities were buying, and she talked about [and showed them] my dog collars.

DETAILS

TCR: Where do you get your materials? CM: Mail order: Arrow Spring in Northern California, Fran's Beads in Washington state, and Pacific ArtGlass (they do custom colors for me). TCR: What other resources have been helpful to your career? CM: The Los Angeles Bead Society [http://home.att.net/~beadsla].

TCR: When did you launch your Web site?

CM: After I started doing this full time, I realized I needed a Web site [to reach more people]. It took me about six months to get it set up; I couldn't afford to hire someone, but also, I felt like I had to know how to do it myself. It's been up for about two years now.

TCR: Has your site affected your business?

CM: I use it as a marketing tool, [and set it up] so people have to talk to me. I don't have a shopping cart available. ... I love the Internet, but it can isolate people; no one has to actually talk to each other anymore. When I signed on with Earthlink, I even made an appointment and went down [to their offices] to site with a human.

[On the other hand], I have gotten inquiries from all over the world -- from Australia, the Bahamas, Hong Kong, Malaysia, France -- from people who I never would have encountered anywhere else.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Beadbrains Cathi Milligan (323) 661-7880 E-mail: beadbrains@earthlink.net Web site: http://www.beadbrains.com

TCR: Do you see any challenges specific to bead artists?

CM: The fact that what we make is so small. It's hard to make a living because you have to sell so many beads. People will say, "Ten dollars for one bead -- what are you crazy?" and I say, "No, I make them by hand, and you can't get this color or this design anywhere else."

I tend to sell a lot of $2 and $3 items, tiny beads, although the smaller beads are harder to make. I deal with teenagers a lot at shows, and they come into your booth with $5 to spend, so they can buy the tiny beads. ... I'd be making tiny beads anyway to use in my jewelry. The fact that I get to sell them is a bonus.

RESOURCES

Society of Glass Beadmakers (SGB) www.sgb.org e-mail: beads@sgb.org International and New Chapters Contact: Cathy Finegan 120 E. 211th St. Euclid, OH 44123 Ph: (216) 363-2018 e-mail: cfbeads@aol.com Contact information for regional chapters is listed on the SGB Web site. The Society of Glass Beadmakers is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the art of making hand-crafted glass beads.

TCR: Have you encountered people who have bought your beads, put them on a necklace, and then resold them as their own handmade creations?

CM: Most people who buy beads are going to make jewelry with them. I give business cards to everyone to include if they combine my beads with other beads and resell them as necklaces, and I get them on my mailing list. I'm sure there are some people who will try to take credit for the beads, too, but they are the ones who have to live with [the guilt of] doing it. We work so hard to get where we are, I can't [worry] about whether or not someone is going take credit for my work or steal my designs. I say, let 'em try! By the time they've copied it, I'm doing something new; and if I'm not, there's something wrong!

Noelle Backer is senior editor of The Crafts Report.

AUGUST 2000: TABLE OF CONTENTS