Wild Lupine Folkcraft : Bead Weaving

I’m so excited you guys. I recently made the decision to expand Field Guide Designs to include other makers that compliment my brand. In addition to my own creations, Field Guide Designs is now a curated lifestyle shop that offers a broad range of adventure inspired art and accessories.

One of the first brands that I have brought into the land of Field Guide is Wild Lupine Folkcraft.

The owner, Margosia, lives in Whitefish, Montana. She does the most beautiful bead weaving, and it was love at first sight. Her beaded earrings have a strong color and design aesthetic that looks like it was MADE FOR ME - and is also inspired by the environment. How cool is that?

She has such an incredible story, and I hope you enjoy reading more about her and her craft.

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Tell me a little about yourself:

Hello! I'm Margosia Jadkowski and I'm the maker behind Wild Lupine Folkcraft.  I live in beautiful Whitefish, Montana, though I'm originally from Maine.  When I'm not hand crafting jewelry and other goods I work for a conservation nonprofit, managing our local trail system and protecting open spaces! I have a degree in Geology but quickly realized that as much I love rocks, I love working on projects that strengthen communities more, so I got a masters degree in Sustainability and Environmental Management. Beading is a great complement to this kind of work, allowing me to use my creative side.  I love exploring the mountains of Northwest Montana with my fiance and our dog, hiking, biking, trail running, fly fishing, and skiing, though I require at least one trip to the ocean a year to keep my heart full. 

How long have you been bead weaving, and where did you learn it?

I first learned to bead from my Babcia, my Polish grandmother. I'm first generation Polish-American, and growing up my Babcia was my main link to my polish heritage. She taught me traditional Polish beading and embroidery (along with how to make a mean pierogi), and gave me my first bead loom, which I'm pretty sure was pink plastic. Since then I've learned techniques for bead weaving from all over the world.

You have such beautiful designs and color schemes. What are your inspirations for those?

I LOVE color and it drives most of my design aesthetic. Many of my color inspirations come from nature and the landscapes that I love to explore, from the Rocky Mountains to the desert southwest to the New England coastline. 

What’s your favorite part about bead weaving?

One of my favorite things about bead weaving is that it simultaneously requires focus while also letting your mind wander. It's a bit meditative in that way. I also love how I can take it anywhere with me, from sitting out on my porch in the morning sun with a cup of coffee to backcountry trips. I even have a little kit that I carry with me backpacking. 

Where did you come up with the name Wild Lupine Folkcraft?

Lupines are my most favorite wildflower.  They grow in most of my favorite places on earth, from Maine to Montana. My favorite children's book is Miss Rumphius, which is about the lupine lady. To sum it up, Miss Rumphius lives her life with three goals: to travel to faraway places, to come home to live by the sea, and to do something to make the world more beautiful. As an old lady, after accomplishing the first two, she walks all around her island spreading lupine seeds. Everyone thinks she's crazy, till the next summer when lupines start blooming everywhere. So for me lupines serve as a reminder that we should all find our own way to leave the world a more beautiful place. 

Other than earrings, what other creative things do you do?

While earrings have been my main focus with Wild Lupine, I do lots of different kinds of folkcraft. I also weave beaded hat bands and bracelets, do hand embroidery, quilting, leather work, fiber weaving, and wood carving. In the future I plan to offer goods featuring more of those techniques from Wild Lupine.

What’s one thing that you’d like to learn?

I've been teaching myself metalsmithing and I'm so eager to learn more of it!

What’s one thing you’d like to share or teach?

The thing I'd most like to share is encouraging others to not be afraid to teach themselves and figure things out as they go along. I've had so many people say to me "I'd love to learn to make _____, but I don't have anyone to teach me".  There's so many amazing resources out there on the internet to get you started, but at the end of the day with most creative pursuits you just learn from doing it. 

Tell me about your dreams and goals for Wild Lupine.

That's a great question, and one I'm not totally sure of the answer to! Right now it's been wonderful having this as a creative outlet and a side hustle to my full time job. Maybe that will change in the future, but who knows! My main goal is just to have it continue to feel fulfilling.

What inspires you?

I'm inspired by traditions of folkcraft in general, artisanship carried on by the common people, for how it brings beauty and identity to everyday objects.

If you could describe yourself as an animal or a movie character, what would it be and why?

I've always identified strongly with ducks :)  I can't really explain it other than to say I feel like we have similar outlooks on life and I love their waddle. 

Tell us about Pete!

Pete is my dog! I got him when I was in college-- he was an 8 month old stray and had never lived with people. He was totally feral and terrified of everything, but I fell in love with him and somehow managed to illegally keep him in my dorm room for my last semester. He's 11 now and has been my constant companion the last decade through so many adventures.

Do you listen to music while you create? If so, what’s your jam?

I do listen to music while I create, though more often it's podcasts or audiobooks. I love listening to non-fiction books about science while I'm working. I also just finished re-listening to the lord of the rings trilogy, so really I'm all over the place. 

Follow Margosia, Pete and Wild Lupine Folkcraft on Instagram.