My Story
Patrice Geyen
The reference to sewing with a high needle is a Norwegian slang term for someone who is “hoity-toity”. Using a lot of thread means you have to bring your arm up high to take the next stitch – “a high needle”. But the thread length often tangles so the conservative sewer doesn’t take this risk. Me, I have always sewn with a “high-needle”. It started with learning to embroider at a young age and I was too lazy to continually add more floss – my mom had to constantly untangle knots for me. It has continued with my bead-weaving and wire-working – not because I think I’m that good, but because I don’t want to take the time to add more material!
I’ve always loved to create, whether in needlework, mosaic tile, or through nature’s palette in my gardens. I was brought up in a family with a strong Scandinavian heritage and learned many different crafts (if one didn’t have at least three simultaneous projects in different medias in my family, Uffda, you weren’t “an Utne”!). This Norwegian – and some Swedish – influence has evolved into Viking Knit, Sami designs, the Yggdrasil Tree of Life pendant from Norse mythology, pendants of various Nordic runes, and Bunad designs in loom weaving.
I was a History major, especially gravitating towards European history which is expressed in timeless classics and Renaissance period pieces where pearls and semi-precious gemstones are predominant.
My love of designing and creating jewelry began a little more than ten years ago when I received unused beads from family and found my “ah-hah” moment. I’m mostly self-taught and have discovered how therapeutic and satisfying it is to design, create, and finally hold a finished piece in my hands. Since I work from home, after a long day in my corporate job I merely need to walk a few feet to the other end of my office – my studio – and my fun job!
