Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Thomas Ridley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Thomas, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

As a kid growing up on the reservation (Uintah & Ouray) I always took off to my grandma Ginger’s house. When I got there she was always beading on something. So as I sat there eating the food she had made for lunch I asked “how do you sit for a long time doing this?” (beadwork). She told me “it is really relaxing for me, but I bead for our family”
For as speeding up the process on what I know now from what I did not know then I would say…..the process does take as long as YOU want it, you can sit down for hours and hours and make a big difference in your projects. it is really up to you on how much you want to finish your beadwork.
then also the most essential supplies you need is needles, thread, and time and time is most important because it shows how much you love the craft of it.
then next for the obstacles that stood in my way was working, but I seem to find time when I get home and pick up the thread and needle and start again.

Thomas, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hello my name is Thomas Ridley I am a member of the Ute Mtn. Ute Tribe from southwest Colorado (four corners). I grew up in Whiterocks, Utah (Uintah & Ouray Reservation) that is apart of the Ute Indian Tribe (Northern Ute Tribe),
I started beadworking when I was 14 years old and I picked up this trade by watching my grandma and also the history of our people. What sets me apart from others is our style of beadwork and that is our identity (Ute style) of the rocky mountains of Utah and Colorado.
the thing I am most proudful about my beadwork is that when people buy my work I get to see it out there in different places (states and country’s) My work are in places such as the USA, France, Japan, Germany, and Guam.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

the most rewarding part of this beading journey is seeing my work out in the real world and getting to see that is and hold it’s own on staying together. when people dance with my work I do worry about something coming off or falling apart. over the years I had thought of if I was to wear this would it last? so I take each beadwork and shake it hard and test it.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

one of the highlights of doing this kinda work is that when people see it they do say “it must have taken you many hours to complete!” and I do say it does but most of the other time I get people that say “looks like you got if from somewhere else!” I do tell them that it is made from my own hands and I do put down each single bead down. you’ll get most of them to understand that but others will just believe what they think and that’s ok.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Thomas Von Monroe (Kamu)
• Facebook: Thomas Von Monroe

Image Credits

Pic 1 – My grandma Ginger (the person that got me into beadwork and our teachings)
Pic 2 – Me in my outfit dancing in Denver at the Pow-wow