RYPAN DESIGNS is a great source for learning how to beadweave your very own creations following clearly illustrated instructions in contemporary beadwork kits, patterns and books.

Maria Rypan is a designer, artist and publisher of beadwork instruction books and a recognized expert on ‘gerdany’, the Ukrainian-style of beading. She enjoys transforming everything from seed beads to CRYSTALLIZED Swarovski Elements into designs. Her work is featured in many beadwork publications.

Best of all, Maria teaches beadwork classes internationally since 1995 at various shows, retreats, museums, shops and bead societies. Check out the USA and Canadian events for learning opportunities.

Upcoming events!

My RYPAN DESIGNS Catalogue of kits, patterns and books has been extensively updated. My SPECIAL “Buy 4, get ONE* FREE.” (*lowest price item, books excepted) applies at shows and on-line.

Road trips fly as you bead along the way. The 10-day 4300 km Halifax Bead Oasis trip to the Maritimes was very scenic and yielded loads of restrung Czech crystals from my collection. So many amazing colors! Nuances were easy to pick out as I was stringing along in daylight, nature’s best lighting source. See my blog for more.

Next road trip will be to the Ukrainian Museum-Archives in Cleveland on the way to Bead Fest. I will present my “Contemporary Beadwork in Ukraine” on Friday evening, Aug 13, along with a Trunk Show. Reception will follow. There will be two workshops on Saturday where participants will get an excellent intro to ‘gerdany’-making.

Then we continue on to Philadelphia for the Bead Fest from Aug. 20 to 22nd at the Valley Forge Convention Center. I’ll have spare time to visit and bead. Visit me and my latest RYPAN DESIGNS kits and patterns in the same location on the Lower Level at Booth #1234.

Looking forward to a quick trip to Ukraine in early September for more research and family visits. Can’t wait!!

I’ll be back in time for Toronto’s Fall Bead Oasis Show on Sep. 17 to 19th. It’s back in its usual location in the North building of Metro Convention Centre. Come see what’s new.

Creativ Festival in Toronto starts earlier with conferences. Mark Oct. 22 to 24th on your calendar. I’ll be teaching several classes ranging from “Let’s Start Beading: Picot Basics”; four beadweaving classes including my exclusive 3-D Fan Wheel Snowflake; three “Make & Takes”. Come be inspired by my NEW seminar on “Embellishing your World: Beading and Surface Designs”. Full program booklets are available in print and on-line so you can start signing up for workshops and events. Visit RYPAN DESIGNS for new kits and patterns in an all-new show in Hall D, booth #717.

My classic “Netted Diamonds” was reprinted in The best of STEP BY STEP beads. (Interweave Press, 2010), pgs. 82-90. Leslie Rogalski, editor of Beading Daily, (May 17, 2010) picked it as one of her “faves” from her magazine days.

Visit the Gallery and be inspired! See Student's work, Wedding stories complete with photos and references to kit inspiration and Maria's own Gallery. Enjoy the creations, inspirations and stories. I’m working on a new Student’s gallery now. If you have something original based on my patterns, send it to me.

Check out my Portfolio with published beadwork Articles, In the Press and descriptions of Presentations which can be booked anytime.

Visit www.buythekit.com for kits.

Learn about therapeutic beading and how beadweaving “saved” Ellen Long's life four years ago. Then read Dorothy’s story about beading’s positive results from South Africa.

Read what inspired my Trypillian Spirit Project for the ROM Gift Shop and see how it was transformed into contemporary beadwork. click for more

A new Powerpoint presentation. Photo Album of the “White Aster of Love” Book Project (1989 to 1992 and beyond)” is a available for booking. It is a tribute to former political prisoner “Iryna Senyk and participants of the UCWLC St. Demetrius Branch.

Looking forward to bookings for my “Contemporary Beadwork in Ukraine” Powerpoint presentation, as well as my historic slide show, for your shop, bead society or community. I come ready to teach beadweaving or loomwork. Click on Presentations for more details.

See Events/USA or Canada for full details of all my shows for 2010:

USA shows: Bead & Button in Milwaukee, Bead Fest in Philadelphia, GLBG Bead Bonanzas in Michigan

Canadian shows: Fall & Spring Bead Oasis Shows, Fall & Spring Creativ Festival in Toronto, Toronto Bead Society Bead and Jewellery Fairs.

Come, enjoy the galleries. Attend a beadwork workshop or show in your community. Check out the Catalogue for beadwork books, all-inclusive kits or patterns.



Melinda Barta, Editor of BEADWORK and Maria.
Bead Fest 2009, Philadelphia, PA

Happy beading!
Maria