Chris Ann Philips
by Sigrid Wynne-Evans     © November 2006

1. Tell us about your background: Where were you born? Where did you grow up? Did you go to school beyond High School? Where do you live now? What does your immediate family consist of?

I was born in New Castle, PA. I grew up with my grandparents and we moved to the little town of Edinburg, PA when I was in 7th grade. By little, I mean that it was 108 people when I was growing up there. More cows than folks.

My grandparents didn't believe in educating girls beyond what their taxes pay for - you are supposed to grow up to be a wife and mother, not work outside the home. It was the way things were in their era. Because that's how they felt, I didn't get to go to college out of high school and have been too busy living my life since I became an adult to get around to it.

My husband and I married in 1974. We lived in Pittsburgh for our first year then moved to the Chicago area. We live in a nice little blue collar suburb just about 12 miles from the Chicago city limits.

Rodger, my wonderful husband. He's funny, smart, and very supportive. Our son, Mark, recently graduated from medical school and is in training to be an emergency physician. We adore his wife, Jessica, who is a computer programmer. They recently had their first child, Ava Grace. She is such a little cutie. The immediate family also consists of two German Shorthaired Pointers, Lilly (the grumpy princess) and Rose Bud (the perpetual motion machine). The extended furry family has two Bengal cats, Rafael and Apollo.

2. Do you have a 'day job'? If so, what is it? How did you come to choose this type of job? If not, how do you support yourself?

I've worked in the medical industry for nearly 30 years in a lot of different settings - University/medical school, community hospital, nursing service, manager of a doctor's office, and a medical association. I am Director of Member Services for a national medical society for neurosurgeons. I've worked there for 18 years. I started long ago as the secretary for the Director, became the special projects manager, and have been in charge of member services for the past 6 years. Neurosurgeons are an interesting breed of doctor and I truly enjoy working with them. I will never have the opportunity to change the world, but they save people who do. By working with them on matters to serve their specialty on a national level, I have a small part in helping their patients.

3. How did you begin beading? For how long have you been a beader? What beaders influence you most? Have you taken bead classes? Art classes? What is (are) your masterpiece(s) or pieces that you are most proud of?

Walking back to the office one day after lunch with a co-worker, I noticed a new bead shop with a sign for classes. That was in 1992 and my life has never been the same. I am influenced by every bead artist's work I see - other artists' techniques and color choices intrigue me.

The most influential teacher I've had is Dona Anderson when I took her Diva class. Dona has a way of nicely forcing you to step out of your comfort zone. Before that class, I designed and beaded amulet bags. After that class I was comfortable exploring sculptural themes, incorporating texture in my work, and developed a higher comfort level with my own color choices. I also had the honor of being part of the 2001 Maze Project (Master Class) with NanC Meinhardt. It was an invitational year-long exploration of my own beading personality and art perception. I am grateful to NanC for giving me that opportunity.

I'm probably most proud of the pieces and article I've been fortunate enough to publish. I've had a couple of pieces in "Beadwork" (mine is one of the kaleidoscopes in the cover collage about Dona Anderson's article plus one of my Diva's in the WORD section). I also got to publish a how-to article in "Beadwork" on making a goddess out of an air-dry clay and doing the beadwork around it. B-P has my expanded version of that article with instructions for beading the goddess in brick, peyote, and RAW.

My work was the centerfold (July) for the Beadwork calendar published in 2003 and was a collection of things I made during the Master Class. And, I have two pieces in "The Art of Beadwork" - my "Ancestral Reflections" State Fair awardee (one of a handful of amulet bags in the book) and a sculptural piece entitled "God Bless the King". And, of course, the opportunity to be part of the B-P.com family.

4. How did you start designing? What prompted you to take the step from following others projects/patterns to doing your own? How did you come to join Bead-Patterns?? What has been your biggest joy concerning designing? Biggest challenge or disappointment?

I was part of the old Prodigy beading bulletin board and several of the participants had Bead Pattern Designer software. At that time I was new to computers, but liked the idea of combining my love of color and geometry with a process that allowed me work on the screen rather than using markers and paper. I had a high confidence in my ability to design something that "I" like and was nice to find out that some others like my designs as well.

There's such a wonderful feeling that comes from seeing another person's interpretation of your idea. I purposefully provide only the framework of a pattern that I put on Bead-Patterns.com to allow the person who purchases the pattern to explore his/her own creativity by personalizing it with the fringe, strap, or other embellishment. I don't think I have ever done a pattern (including my own) or taken a class where I've made something to the exact specifications or colors provided by the originator. I'd like to think that the people who are drawn to my patterns appreciate that same permission from me.

I met Rita Sova at a private annual bead gathering and she invited me to join the B-P family. I was over-committed the first time she asked, but I'm thankful she asked me again when my life was a bit less complicated!

Early in my beading career the biggest joy was to have an idea, design it, bead it, wear it, get a compliment. Now, it's getting the idea, design it, put it on B-P, someone buys it and makes it then sends me an image of what they are so proud of. It's sort of like having grandchildren! The biggest thrill I have had with designing was walking down the street during lunch hour in Chicago and seeing a woman wearing an amulet bag I designed. I stopped her and asked about it and found out that she had received it as a gift from a friend. Wow, what an ego booster.

My biggest challenge is to actually bead the things I design. I usually have a lot more ideas for patterns than time to bead each one, so I have to be selective. My second biggest challenge is compelling myself to put things away. I like to joke that I see thing put together differently when they are jumbled on my desk - and it has actually happened that way a couple of times - but in reality, my bead room is a disaster. Once Ava Grace gets a little bigger, Grandma is either going to have to stay more organized or keep the door closed. Hum, wonder which one it will be?

5. What are your influences as you design? In other words, where do you get your ideas? What styles, subjects do you like to do most and why? What is your favorite design (of your own) to date?

Influences? I'm at a conference and like the pattern in the carpet of the meeting room, so I sketch it in the little notebook I always have in my purse. Or, I go to an art show and see a color combination that is unique to me and I write down the colors in my notebook. Or, I wake up early on a Saturday morning and have an inspiration that won't let me go back to sleep and the weekend is spent in pursuit. I also love to look through the art of other disciplines. Doll making, quilting, polymer clay, paper making - I almost always see something to inspire me or to give me reason to experiment. It's probably why I have such a large box of UFOs, but there have been a lot of beloved items that have come from the experimentation as well.

I don't think I have a favorite design. "Grapevine" was the first pattern I charted - it is elegant and simple. "Ancestral Reflections" is wonderful, again I like its elegance, plus I won a 3rd Place Ribbon at the Illinois State Fair with it. I really like my "Girlfriendz" series - so cute, so quick, so much potential. "Mardi Gras" has importance to me because it started as one thing and just sort of happened without my conscious involvement. "Emilie" is such a gorgeous piece and has a special place in my heart because it was made in memory of a young friend who was killed in a motorcycle accident and the blue reminds me of his eyes. I guess I like cute, but love elegance.

6. Describe your workspace? Do you have a studio? Dedicated room? Kitchen table? What programs do you use to work your designs?

I bead anywhere but my usual location is in the Lazy Boy in the living room. I can't bead in the kitchen, because that table is usually covered with the paraphernalia for doing polymer clay (I make a lot of my own cabochons). The porch is another favorite location for me and my beady friends. We get together whenever there is a 5th Friday of the month to bead, munch, and catch up with each others' lives. And, everyone goes home with a packet of beads as the "challenge" to come up with something for the next 5th Friday get-together. It's great fun. The group ranges in age from 14 to 50+. I like it because it's sort of like an old-fashioned quilting bee where information is shared and women can bond through their chosen art differently than in most any other setting (work, family, etc.). It's an incredibly strong bond.

7. Do you have any goals related to beadwork/designing that you would like to see become a reality within the next 5 years? How are you working toward that end?

If I have any goal, it's to start putting away beads at the end of each project. I'd also like to participate in some competitions. I do well at publishing, but I've never been very successful at getting in to exhibits (only 2 out of probably 12 I've applied to). It's hard on the ego to get rejected, but it's about time for me to start trying again.

8. What have been your biggest personal (not necessarily bead related) challenges, and accomplishments.

What a tough question and I'm not going to share what I consider "biggest" (one must have some secrets). I guess my personal challenge has to do with how I am perceived. I'm not a little person and large women receive a lot of condescension in our society. I guess my biggest challenge is to maintain my appearance and presentation so that people who stereotype me realize they are wrong, at least about me. I try to dress in a professional manner for the office and like a middle-aged suburban housewife when I'm out and about. I try to not draw attention to me and my clothes - I allow my jewelry to distinguish me and I'm proud to tell people when it is my own creation (if I'm asked).

I have three major personal accomplishments so far in my life. To marry my best friend at the age of 20 and still be happily married 32 years later. Our son - we are so fortunate to have raised such a great young man who is making a wonderful life for himself and his family. And, to have a lovely life with family and friends who are precious to me.

9. Anything else you wish to share that might be of interest, or inspiration for beaders?

If you make something you are not happy with, allow yourself to mourn the failure or time loss, then rip it apart and make something else with the beads. You'll be happier and so will the beads.

If you make something and you are happy with it, wear or display it proudly. Don't show people every little flaw or mistake you made. Graciously accept compliments.