Sharon Wilcox

You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who’s lived more places or enjoyed more vocations than bead weaving artist Sharon Wilcox. Sharon’s life experiences have taken her from Ohio to Florida to Arizona to Tennessee and places in between. She’s made her home in houses, houseboats and motor homes. In her travels with her husband, who retired at the youthful age of 55, Sharon’s worked as an office assistant, a restaurant worker, a campground staffer, a school registrar, a bakery salesperson and more! 

Twenty years ago, while working at a campground, Sharon took an art class in bead weaving and, as she says, “I was hooked.”  Sharon’s beadwork is all handwork, made without the aid of a loom. She uses needle, thread and small seed beads to create handmade, one-of-a-kind earrings and necklaces. She draws inspiration from collected and self-created designs that reflect her own sense of style and fashion.

In addition to bead weaving, Sharon handcrafted and sold porcelain dolls for several years. She also enjoys crocheting and sewing. Her most recent craft endeavor outside of beading is creating Teddy Bears from discarded or thrift store fur coats. 

Recently, she and her husband came “off the road” and settled on Norris Lake in Andersonville, compelling Sharon to join the artist community at the Appalachian Arts Craft Center. She loves being surrounded by the beauty of the lake and the mountains and feels a true sense of comfort in her new home. 

In addition to creating beautiful jewelry, Sharon leads a group of local bead weavers who meet the first and third Wednesdays of every month from 10 am to 1 pm at AACC. If you’re interested in learning a new hobby with an art class near you or you’re a bead weaver who would enjoy the chance to practice your handmade craft with others, you can join the group by first registering on-line at Appalachianarts.net.

We are pleased to offer Sharon’s handmade beadwork jewelry at both our gift shop and on-line at our E-Store at Appalachianarts.net.