Here at The Whimsical Bead, we don’t employ our Tutors based purely on their qualifications, they are chosen for their passion and their dedication to their students, art and The Whimsical Bead. Each of them are highly experienced, professional and are experts in their medium.

Meet the Team…

DANI RAPINETT
Boss Lady & Director of Creativity

Dani is the Founder & Director of Creativity at The Whimsical Bead.

For as long as she can remember she has loved to ‘create’. She began beading and creating jewellery in 2004 after attending a short 2 hour class during a particularly challenging period in her life.  She soon become obsessed with all things shiny (and in particular artisan beads, silver and gemstones) and not long after that her beads were over the house – they had become her ‘therapy’ – and she had enough to start a small shop……literally!
In 2006 The Whimsical Bead was born.
Somewhere during that time Dani discovered a wonderful medium that she had not heard much about – polymer clay.
It sparked a passion in her and for her it never ceases to amaze and never becomes boring – there is always something new to learn. Dani’s first love however, was metal, which started early in her teenage years, although she never had the opportunity to explore this passion until recently. She loves hammering, forming and playing with fire and shiny things.

Dani’s inspiration comes from the world around her. The majority of her pieces combine her love of colour and texture.

Dani loves to teach and pass on her knowledge and she feels very lucky that people want to learn from her.

Dani says, “There is nothing like empowering someone with knowledge and watching that knowledge grow as their enthusiasm does. Many of my students are amazed by what they have been able to achieve in class and leave with such a huge smile on their face and an eagerness to keep creating. It is a wonderful feeling to know that I’ve helped create that happiness and enthusiasm”.

Dani suffers from multiple chronic illnesses and so she understands each student has individual expectations and needs when attending workshops. She encourages students to contact her in regards to any queries or concerns they may have, as she is happy to work with you and any issues you may have when attending workshops – from food intolerances to anxiety disorders – whatever it may be, Dani hopes you can feel comfortable to attend the studio and explore your own creativity. She believes strongly in the power of art therapy.

Dani has won a number of awards for her jewellery work. She holds a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment and Certificate III in Retail Supervision .
She has a Diploma in Children’s Services and has previously worked in the Early Childhood Industry for almost 17 years.
She also has a current Working With Children Check, First Aid, Asthma and Anaphylaxis training.

You can read more about Dani and her journey on the ‘About Us’ page and you can view and shop her jewellery and artwork at Dani Art & Jewellery.

Dani looks forward to welcoming you to The Whimsical Bead Studio.

ALANA JONES
Wire Work

Alana has been creating and making since around 8 years of age and has always been delighted by pretty sparkly things, so of course designing jewellery was the perfect avenue for her!

Being surround by a rainbow of beads and an array of components makes her very happy. As a jewellery maker wire is one of her favourite mediums, as it can be bent and shaped into almost anything!

Alana lives in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne with her husband, 3 kids and their furbabies.

Alana holds a current First Aid certificate and Working with Children Check.

Alana trades under the name Sparkling Dragon Designs and you can find her on Instagram & Facebook.

LARA LE REVEUR
Metal Clay / Polymer Clay Sculpture

Lara has been involved with the Arts and Crafts movement at some level for most of her life.

She worked for 13 years in the family business, which taught porcelain doll making and other associated crafts. During that time she was lucky enough to have had exposure to several excellent sculpting teachers, which is her preferred method of expression. She also traveled to the US to study antique doll conservation and restoration.

In early 2014 she returned to the US and completed two Metal Clay accreditation programs and is one of only a few in Australia who has completed this training.
At present Lara divides her creative time between fabricating small run or one of a kind objects and jewellery using contemporary clays and teaching classes in base metal and precious metal clay.

SIOBHAN  VAN  BERGEIJK
Polymer Clay

Siobhan is a jewellery artist and designer who takes her inspiration from just about anywhere – nature, patterns, styles, fashion, eras, food and art. Siobhan has used many different mediums and is currently working with polymer clay and its limitless potential of shape, colour and pattern. She can translate and manipulate just about anything she sees into a wearable piece of polymer clay art!

After many years working in a corporate environment, it was time to walk away from the procedural confines, set herself free of the shackles and let the right brain take over and realise its potential. Always a lover of pretty trinkets, adornments and sparkly things, with a soft spot for antique and boho styles, it was only natural that jewellery making became her thing!

Siobhan sells her pieces under her ‘Berjique’ brand.

MEG THOMPSON
Bead Work

PAULA GETHING
Bead Work

Paula loves to bead … it is how she relaxes, gets creative and learns. Paula has been beading for more than 15 years, and her great thrill is that her passion for beading is being shared with others – either through teaching, sharing her craft or seeing others wear her finished jewellery.

Beading away in her studio, with her current favourite TV show on the iPad, is one of the things Paula loves to do!
With a cup of peppermint tea and loads of lovely shiny things to play with, it’s how she likes to spend her time.

Paula creates under the business name ‘On a String’.

VISITING ARTISTS
Various Mediums

We often welcome a number of high profile, talented, local and international visiting artists to the studio. Some of these include the following….

LEANNE FERGEUS
Polymer Clay / Painting / Mixed Media

Leanne has had a passion for creating art since she was old enough to hold a pencil. Spanning several decades, she has found ways to express herself through several mediums, dabbling in watercolours, botanical illustration, pottery, mosaics patchwork and many other art forms. Leanne studied Colour and Design at the Melbourne Studio of Art and was a teacher of fine embroidery.

Leanne is inspired by the beauty of nature, colour and texture and is known for the vibrancy of colour found in her artwork. Her love of jewellery making led her to rediscover her passions for polymer clay.

“When I’m in my workroom creating I feel like everything including time, stands still. It is my therapy, meditation and happy place. It is a time for being fully in the moment and recharging my spirit.”

With a thirst for knowledge relating to her creative passions and a desire to impart her knowledge, Leanne believes there is nothing more satisfying than encouraging others on their own creative path.

Leanne creates under the business name Leanne Fergeus Art and you can find her over on Instagram and Facebook @leannefergeusart

AMANDA REISHI
Ceramic Clay

Amanda is the ceramic artist and creative visionary behind ‘Everyday Clay’ and a dog mum to Franklin Bean. She graduated with an Honours degree in psychology from The University of Melbourne, and spent the early years of her career working at Australia’s leading research centre, Centre for Wellbeing Science.

Alongside research, Amanda was also drawn to professional practice and worked in a therapeutic capacity. She trained with Lifeline Australia and Candella (NDIS Services), providing direct support to individuals experiencing a range of mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, suicide ideation and self-harm.

It was around this time that Amanda fell in love with pottery and began honing & perfecting her skills as a ceramic artist. Combining her passion for both therapy and art, she later pursued a Masters in Therapeutic Arts Practice and founded this studio.

At Everyday Clay, Amanda brings her wealth of experience and provides a fresh and unique approach to pottery; one that bridges the gap between therapy and fine arts practice. She embeds an integrated wellness perspective in everything she does, from producing ceramics and teaching studio classes, to hosting private bookings and private art sessions.

RENE HAHN
Graphic Arts

Rene is a Warrandyte artist and a Whimsical Bead alumni. She has worked in beading, polymer clay, alcohol inks, needlework and other crafty stuff. Drawing is currently her passion and keeps her sane. She is a former primary school teacher, so be prepared for step-by-step tuition!

SANDRA IRELAND
Polymer Clay Sculpture

Sandra has been making things for as long as she can remember. Art was her favourite subject in primary school and she loved playing with modelling clay and making miniature dioramas and animals to play with or for school projects. 

Sandra discovered polymer clay in her early teens and began sculpting little teddy bear figures to sell alongside making porcelain dolls and collectable Teddy Bears. Then she became distracted by all sorts of colourful and creative outlets like watercolour and pastel painting through her later teens/20’s.

Sandra is definitely a serial crafter who is happy to try almost any art or craft. She has also been a scrapbooker for over 20 years.
When Sandra found The Whimsical Bead many years ago, she became hooked on polymer clay again. Over the many years of attending various classes at The Whimsical Bead, Sandra always found herself coming back to sculpting in clay. She loves being surrounded by creative people and sharing ideas and inspiration with others.

Outside of art and crafting, spending time with animals is Sandra’s inspiration and happy place and she loves to visit zoos and sanctuaries often both here and while travelling.

Whilst Sandra is a new tutor here at The Whimsical Bead, she has previously taught scrapbooking and needle felting, as well as sharing various skills on a one to one basis.

CHRISTI FRIESEN
Polymer Clay/Mixed Media

Christi is a US Polymer Clay/Mixed Media artist who visits The Whimsical Bead studio whenever she is in Australia.

Christi is an award-winning artist and her work has been showcased in numerous books, magazines and exhibits. She is the author of over a dozen ‘how-to’ books on creating with polymer clay.

Christi teaches throughout the world, using humour and positive energy to encourage students to stretch their creativity, technical skills and artistic confidence.

Christi is also one of our ‘Workshop in a Box’ Tutors so you can experience a ‘workshop’ with her from the comfort of your own home!

EDA TEVRIZCI
Ebru Art

Eda started to work on traditional Ebru art early in 2015 and has been practicing it since then. She creates tangible ebru designed products especially for stationery and home decoration, all of which reflect her vision of life. She continues her work in her studio which is located in Adelaide.

MEL MAHONEY
Terrariums / Sculpture / Mixed Media

Mel Mahoney creates earthly, whimsical unique creations from many different mediums, including sculpture with clay or creating something from unusual objects found on her travels.

Mel is inspired by her lush surroundings, by mother nature and is driven by her need to create.

Mel lives and creates in the beautiful Yarra Valley under the business name Moss & Whimsy. You can find her on Facebook and Instagram.

DEBBIE CROTHERS
Polymer Clay

Debbie is a polymer artist from Western Australia who has a passion for teaching. She loves imparting her knowledge onto enthusiastic students and teaches regular workshops in Geraldton WA and in Outback Australia. She also teaches online.
Debbie is internationally known for her polymer work and is a great supporter of Dani & The Whimsical Bead.

CLARE DAVIDSON
Saw Piercing

Clare Davidson graduated from Curtin University of Technology with a Bachelor of Arts – Jewellery Design in 2008 where she discovered she loved making jewellery even more than she loved wearing it. In her final year at University Skadi Jewellery Design was born. Using silver, brass and leather Clare loves to create works of art which appear as delicate as lace with the strength of metal.
Almost every day from her first day of university until now, Clare has been hand piercing intricate designs and takes great joy in passing on her thousands of hours of experience to help inspire other people. Very few people realise that when done correctly, saw piercing can be a form of meditation and Clare believes that’s a message worth spreading!

MELANIE MUIR
Polymer Clay

Melanie has an Honours Degree in Design from Glasgow School of Art.
Melanie’s designs have been featured in numerous internet blogs/articles and in Crafts magazine UK, Craft & Design magazine UK, The Scotsman newspaper, Art Jewellery magazine and Making Jewellery magazine. Her work is published in “500 necklaces” (Lark Books), “Polymer Clay Global Perspectives” and “Polymer Clay Jewellery Workshop”.
She has created her own range of tools which sell to makers and crafters all over the world. Melanie also coaches, lectures and mentors in the fields of entrepreneurship, creative business operations and marketing.
She has three children and lives in Nairn, near Inverness in Scotland, from where she travels widely to exhibit, lecture and teach her techniques.
Melanie has visited The Whimsical Bead several times to teach advanced polymer clay and is a wonderful supporter of Dani and The Whimsical Bead.

WENDY JORRE DE ST JORRE
Polymer Clay

MAGGIE MAGGIO
Polymer Clay

KAREN DONALD