Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Hebert.
Stephanie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Well, beading was a hobby I started back in 2006 with a borrowed loom and a handful of beads. I sat down to it and immediately took a love to the art, and was admittedly disappointed when I had to give the remaining beads and the loom back to their original owner. Amazingly, it was shortly after this experience that my Mom Laurie found that I have a heritage with the First Nation Mi’k maq tribe of Nova Scotia, Canada and I was recognized by the New Hampshire Native American Intertribal Council as a member in 2008.
I then went out and bought my own seed beads, and began working on other types of beadwork. The real catalyst that got me off the ground was sustaining injuries to my feet while dancing at the pow wow, and being unable to work. Beadwork turned into my income source, and it was at that moment that I realized I could really do something with this hobby of mine. I continued to bead through college, working on a number of pieces for dancers across the United States and Canada before formally establishing The Talon Beading Company in 2016. When choosing a name, I knew that “Talon” would be a central part. While serving in the military, my now husband’s call sign was Talon, and in this way, I pay homage to his ten years of service and sacrifice for our country. Beadwork is my focus, and so The Talon Beading Company was born.
Once underway, I began expanding to everyday items, and for the first time, grew to a full size set up at local pow wow’s in the central Texas area. I look forward to continuing to grow and expand what Talon Beading Company can offer to those within and outside the Native American community.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has been a ride full of twists, turns and challenges. When I started doing beadwork, it was mostly on a word of mouth basis within a small community of Native Americans who danced at pow wows. That community is a very tight knit and specialized community. Thankfully, over time with the help of social media, Talon Beading Company and the work that I do has become a bit of a brand name. With that visibility, we began to offer mainstream work, allowing for the expansion that was elusive for Talon Beading Company in its early years.
The Talon Beading Company specializes in Native American made beaded items; however, I also often use eastern-woodland materials such as wampum and porcupine quills in my pieces. The blend of these materials has really put Talon Beading on the map, as well as the workmanship and quality of the pieces delivered to customers. Also, Talon Beading Company offers special edition pieces, called the Sacred Ecology Series. These items are rooted in my degree in Wildlife Biology and Natural Resources Conservation, specializing in wildlife and the outdoors. At present, there are only ten pieces in this series, and all but one is at their forever home as heirloom pieces to be handed down in families. It is this consistent level of quality that really sets Talon Beading Company apart from the others, as well as the personal touch that every piece has. The part of my business that makes me most proud is where I give back to my community and preserve the culture that could otherwise be lost over time. Native American culture is unique and dynamic, and it is for those reasons, it has persisted over time and through many trials and tribulations as the United States and Canada were established as nations. The ability to preserve not only the patterns, technique and materials but also how these items are used into sacred spaces really brings magnitude and solidifies the importance that beadwork has. Talon Beading Company also has an annual raffle where an item is raffled off, and proceeds are given to charitable groups to help Veterans across a variety of causes across the country. Last year we were able to give over $225 and hope to set the bar higher next year!
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
In the future, I am working more towards creating high quality daily wear, as well as expanding my specialized, custom work into the ever-exciting world of custom wedding wear and special occasion wear. I never want to lose my Native American roots and will always be passionate about making regalia for all styles of dancers. However, I feel that there are many avenues where custom, heirloom pieces would be valued and many dreams that can be brought to life through the handcrafted beadwork.
Also, I am expanding to offer beads, beading supplies and mentorship to those who may wish to learn! In the future, I would love to set up beading classes to teach small groups the lessons and teachings of beadwork, so that individuals may inspire their communities and the generations that come after them.
Contact Info:
- Email: talonbeadingcompany@gmail.com
- Instagram: @thetalonbeadingcompany
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/talonbeadingcompany
Image Credit:
Justin Hebert
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