Meet Maria Rypan

Maria Rypan

A beadwork designer, artist, researcher, teacher, and publisher, Maria Rypan’s work has been featured in many beadwork publications. Since 1995 she has taught beadwork classes internationally at bead shops, societies, shows, retreats, and at museum bead exhibits

Maria’s beading specialty hails from her Ukrainian roots. From that tradition she shares her expertise in netting beaded collars, as well as unique beadweaving and loomwork techniques. On her website you will find free resources as well as patterns to purchase.

The necklaces below are advanced and popular netted collar designs. Colourways and choice of bead types give these projects endless customization possibilities.

On the left, above, is Maria’s Multi-Twig Chip Cascade. And on the right is Maria’s Sedona Kilim, a one-of-a-kind piece created for the Toronto Bead Society’s Bag of Beads Challenge in 2000.

Maria also teaches Ukrainian loomwork, which shares a kindred spirit with North American Indigenous beadwork. The similarities and differences were featured in a joint exhibit hosted by Toronto’s Ukrainian Museum of Canada  in 2020, and co-presented with the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto. Check out the virtual presentation at The Spirit of Beads: Sharing Our Stories

Her kit instructions and books are so clearly written and illustrated that it’s not hard to learn how to make one’s own piece of wearable art.

“Beadwork is a miniature work of wearable art,” says Maria, and she shares that her greatest joy comes from simplifying complex patterns for new students and witnessing their “aha” moment

The bead goes on… Cathy

(Originally published March 6, 2022)

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