Gail Frederickson

Gail Frederickson is a dedicated beadworker and an active member of the Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild, serving as the Recording Secretary and Programs Committee member. She has been beading since she was 4 years old, inspired by the beautiful beadwork she saw at powwows. Gail has had many teachers and friends who have been particularly helpful to her, and she has shared her knowledge and skills by teaching beading to others.

Gail joined the Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild in 1992 and has held several Board positions, including Recording Secretary, Workshops Chair, Programs Committee team member, and Bead Bonanza set-up committee member. She has been responsible for many of the make-and-take projects featured at the guild's general meetings. Her favorite part about being a member is attending meetings and workshops and meeting many talented beaders who have inspired her.

Through her involvement in the guild, Gail has had the opportunity to share her passion for beading with others, teaching classes at local guilds, the Creative Arts Center in Pontiac, the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, and the Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee. She has taught over 500 courses at Birmingham Community Education. Gail's beadwork has been featured in the "Your Work" section of Bead & Button Magazine, and her entry in the Toho Challenge was on display in Japan for an entire year.

Gail considers her signature piece to be her "Koi Pond Necklace," which she taught for several years at the Bead & Button Show and more than a dozen times locally. She is immensely gratified knowing that her Koi Pond Necklace class was taken by students from Thailand, Germany, and Japan as well as Alaska and many other states in addition to Michigan. Her favorite stitch is "freeform anything," and her favorite color is "tie-dye." Currently, she is working on projects utilizing freeform fiber and bead loomwork and broken china cabochons.

Being part of the Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild has impacted Gail's life in a positive way by providing her with a supportive community of fellow artists. She encourages current and future members to come to a meeting and meet the great group of artists in the guild. With her knowledge and experience, Gail is an asset to the organization and an inspiration to fellow beadworkers.