Transforming from a “do it all – everything - you name it, office person” into the artist we see here, Vonna Maslanka has taken the leap few have the talent to duplicate.  She decided after thirty some odd years to walk away from her day job, and never look back.  Calling it her “mid-life career change,” Vonna now believes she will “live the rest of [her] life happy” in Deerfield , IL with her husband and three children.  

Carribean Waters

Bead Artist: Anne Ricketts

Odds & Ends 

Bead Artist: Biaggi Beads

When Vonna’s eldest son took her to the Nelson Akins Museum in Kansas City, the “Impressionists” room struck a cord.  With the likes of Monet, Chagall, and Renoir hanging next to each other, Vonna states, “I started to weep at such beauty, but Jackson Pollock intrigued me the most."  Not being able to stop staring, she adds, “it just made sense to me” it was then that she realized that she needed to start creating.   

Her journey began a little over a year ago.  Having a difficult time accepting compliments, Vonna is finally starting to believe the fact that she is exceptional at her craft.  We asked her what gives her the most satisfaction from her work, to which Vonna replied “holding the finished piece in my hands, knowing that it will make someone happy or even laugh.”     

Monet - Pollock Twist

Bead Artist: Candy Wham

Topaz Swirley Pearls

Bead Artist: Cheryl Biggs

Inspiration has been abundant for Vonna since childhood.  From her home comprised of Italian oil paintings brought by her father direct from Italy, and her mother’s “perfectly symmetrical” arrangement of the house to the daily serenade of classical music and the “tales” her father told as he tucked her into bed, Vonna “watched, learned and absorbed” the world around her.  Known for asymmetry, she says that this “just might be a clue” to her design.  Kindness is also top on her list, especially when it comes from the words of other designers.  

When she first started to design with glass beads, Vonna desired to learn about the medium, which took her to a lampworking class.  She needed to learn all the mechanics in order to know exactly what she was doing with her pieces.  Although Vonna likes to torch once in a while "for kicks,” she says, "I leave the hard stuff to the bead artists."  She proclaims, “my passion is for beading and beading is my passion.”  Her bead purchasing “addiction” paved the way to many friendships.  Linda James, Tamara Drake, Sue Harmon King,  Vicki August, Celine Pederson, Amber Ballard, Debbie Isaacs, Marilyn Peraza, Mary Poineal, Mari Johnson, Andrea Land, Joanna Mueller and Ellen Black are just a few names of whose work she credits.   

Raku Rebel

Bead Artist: Glass Turtle

Heart & Soul

Bead Artist: Tamara Drake

“Big and chunky” is the name of her game and bracelets are Vonna’s forte.  She loves to make double and multi strands with mixed materials.  “I just cannot make a simple bracelet,” she says, adding, “it's just too hard for me to design simplistically.”   On her design philosophy Vonna states,  “I never plan anything, I take life as it comes which I honestly believe effects my design work.” 

Vonna likes to use quality, handmade lampwork beads, Swarovski Austrian Crystals, Bali sterling silver, semi- precious gemstones, freshwater pearls and sterling silver beads and findings in her pieces.  If her materials aren’t of a high quality, Vonna feels her “creations turn out empty.”  Her greatest inspiration for creation is the color of the bead set, consulting at times with a clothing CEO friend to find out the latest colors for the coming season.  Her favorite piece is a triple strand, “totally mixed media” bracelet which she donated to a silent auction for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Wendy’s Three-T Tour. 

Pillow Perfection

Bead Artist: Jay Chantell Studios

Grapeful Bear 

Bead Artist: Linda James

Vonna’s creations are for sale on her website and various auction sites.  Although, her favorite marketing strategy is to have some bracelets on her arm when she goes to the grocery store to see what people like.  Vonna says her pieces are easier to sell “person to person and up close since asymmetry is so misinterpreted.  It is a proven fact that symmetry is a much more desired form.”  You can purchase one of Vonna’s exquisite pieces for $65 to $200.

Vonna, with the help of Tamara Drake, built a website to raise awareness for lesser recognized non-profit organizations.  She has designed a line of awareness bracelets for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.  Vonna hopes to have all monies collected through the “Bead My World” section donated to the non-profits she is working with in the future.    

Mother's Garden

Bead Artist: Marilyn Peraza

Exotic Tigress

Bead Artist: J. Savino

As for the future of her design, Vonna hopes to incorporate fiber into her designs as seen in Karen Ovington’s work.  Her son is a fiber artist (yes, the same one that caused her creative juices to flow with a trip to the museum) and, as any artistic mom would do, she encourages him to go commercial.    Perhaps we will see collaboration between mother and son in the future.  

Tea at the Ritz

Bead Artist: Marilyn Peraza

Bead Blitz

Bead Artist:  Vicki August

Geometric Class

Bead Artist: Tamara Drake

"Dave Thomas Foundation Bracelet"