Linda Lehman hails from Silver Spring, Maryland and retired from a career in finance many years ago. Since that time, she has focused on her love of crafts. She has had a successful shop on Etsy for 4 years where she sells not only the finished bracelets and necklaces but also patterns for crocheters to make their own jewelry. She is also the author of Bead Crochet Jewelry (Schiffer Publishing).
I am a member of her Ravelry group and was the lucky recipient of her annual drawing where I have won challenging patterns as well as jewelry and beads from her co-moderator, KnotChaCha. Linda also has a store on Ravelry. I am so inspired by her skills when it comes to designing that I wanted to get to know her better.
Crochetkween: What got you interested in crochet? Did you learn crochet or bead-crochet first? Do you do other beading techniques?
Linda: “I first learned to knit, and then crochet and later bead crochet. I’m a self taught bead crocheter. A student asked me to learn so that I would be able to teach her. I also do peyote, brick, Ndebele, African Helix, polygon weave, square stitch and RAW (right angle weave)."
Crochetkween: Where does your inspiration come from; fashion, the fashion runways?
Linda: “Having been a designer since 1987 I am inspired by the mathematics of it all.”
Crochetkween: Is there one design that you would not part with?
Linda: “I am not a fashionista, so I do not wear my creations. I enjoy the process of creating as well as having others wear my work.”
Crochetkween: What is your educational background? Your designs must require a very mathematical mind.
Linda: “My bachelors degree is actually in the field of philosophy which has had an enormous effect on the way I think, and ergo, my designing. When I approach a pattern idea, I tend to throw out all previous assumptions, and start from scratch each and every time I work on a new design.”
Crochetkween: Will you share some tips that have helped make your shop a hit?
Linda: “Self market, and don’t depend on Etsy to do your marketing for you. Since there are over 400,000 shops it would be impossible for Etsy to promote them all.”
Crochetkween: What is the most fun for you on your page?
Linda: “Interacting with the people who are learning and loving the technique for the first time.”
Crochetkween: Tell me about your partnership with Knot-Cha-Cha on The Bead Crochet Exchange? Linda: “We got to “know” each other as email friends from Etsy, and the relationship grew from there.”
Crochetkween: Do you teach classes or offer online classes?
Linda: “I used to teach nationally at almost all the major conventions and bead guilds, but stopped when I opened the Etsy shop as the traveling got tiresome. In addition, I was “gifted” a grandchild who ties up many of my weekends in a much more fun way!”
Crochetkween: Are you a member of any groups or associations?
Linda: I am a member of TNNA (The National Needlearts Association), and I enjoy attending their wholesale shows which is where I tend to find all the yarns that I like.”
Crochetkween: I don’t run into many people who do bead-crochet? I think it is an untapped niche that has so much potential, but maybe people are a bit intimidated by the small beads and thread. Do you find this to be the case in your area?
Linda: “No, I find that most beaders want to learn bead-crochet as well as many crocheters. The beaders want to expand what they can do with beads, and I think most crocheters want to be able to make jewelry, and bead crochet definitely fits that bill.”
Crochetkween: What do you do to promote/market the skills of bead crochet?
Linda: I regularly put out my newsletter, Tips and Tricks and I am the author of Bead Crochet Jewelry; and I’ve been published in many beading magazines such as Bead and Button Magazine, Beadwork Magazine.
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| Linda Lehaman, author of Bead Crochet |
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| "Dots & Spirals": I won this pattern and it is a delight to wear! |
Linda: “I first learned to knit, and then crochet and later bead crochet. I’m a self taught bead crocheter. A student asked me to learn so that I would be able to teach her. I also do peyote, brick, Ndebele, African Helix, polygon weave, square stitch and RAW (right angle weave)."
Crochetkween: Where does your inspiration come from; fashion, the fashion runways?
Linda: “Having been a designer since 1987 I am inspired by the mathematics of it all.”
.jpg) |
| "Color Block" |
Linda: “I am not a fashionista, so I do not wear my creations. I enjoy the process of creating as well as having others wear my work.”
Crochetkween: What is your educational background? Your designs must require a very mathematical mind.
Linda: “My bachelors degree is actually in the field of philosophy which has had an enormous effect on the way I think, and ergo, my designing. When I approach a pattern idea, I tend to throw out all previous assumptions, and start from scratch each and every time I work on a new design.”
.jpg) |
| "Silver Threads" |
Linda: “Self market, and don’t depend on Etsy to do your marketing for you. Since there are over 400,000 shops it would be impossible for Etsy to promote them all.”
Crochetkween: What is the most fun for you on your page?
Linda: “Interacting with the people who are learning and loving the technique for the first time.”
Crochetkween: Tell me about your partnership with Knot-Cha-Cha on The Bead Crochet Exchange? Linda: “We got to “know” each other as email friends from Etsy, and the relationship grew from there.”
Crochetkween: Do you teach classes or offer online classes?
Linda: “I used to teach nationally at almost all the major conventions and bead guilds, but stopped when I opened the Etsy shop as the traveling got tiresome. In addition, I was “gifted” a grandchild who ties up many of my weekends in a much more fun way!”
Crochetkween: Are you a member of any groups or associations?
Linda: I am a member of TNNA (The National Needlearts Association), and I enjoy attending their wholesale shows which is where I tend to find all the yarns that I like.”
Crochetkween: I don’t run into many people who do bead-crochet? I think it is an untapped niche that has so much potential, but maybe people are a bit intimidated by the small beads and thread. Do you find this to be the case in your area?
Linda: “No, I find that most beaders want to learn bead-crochet as well as many crocheters. The beaders want to expand what they can do with beads, and I think most crocheters want to be able to make jewelry, and bead crochet definitely fits that bill.”
Crochetkween: What do you do to promote/market the skills of bead crochet?
Linda: I regularly put out my newsletter, Tips and Tricks and I am the author of Bead Crochet Jewelry; and I’ve been published in many beading magazines such as Bead and Button Magazine, Beadwork Magazine.
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| "Tips, Tools, and 15 Beautiful Projects" |
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