Roseau Jewelry Artist and Winner of the NW Star Award Becky Rosenkrans talked about receiving the award, creating jewelry, her creative process, her shop, and more!

She received the award on Saturday, April 25 at Warroad RiverPlace in Warroad during the NW Art Exhibit Awards Reception and Program for her jewelry artistry.

Rebecca (or Becky) has been creating one-of-a-kind jewelry for over 30 years since 1994. . Becky handcrafts new pieces of jewelry or recreates old into new with Greek and Italian leather, beads, crafted chain maille, glass, stone, silver, crystal, and vintage goods.

Becky is the owner of Bead Gypsy, a shop in Roseau where handmade goods and original art from over 20 artists are sold. Located in a 1905 former bank building, the store is a haven for artists and arts lovers who live and visit the region. She readily shares her knowledge, creativity, and talents and is a tireless advocate for fellow artists. 

Rosenkrans grew up in a creative family , including her mother Frances Karlsson who was a well-known painter from the region. For over 14 years she worked with the court system as a Guardian ad Litem, which was an intense and sad job. She had always loved jewelry and found that creating it helped her relieve stress and worry from that position.

Becky especially enjoys creating the design and repurposing items. She’s made earrings from old, galvanized steel she collected from the old, torn down Roseau grain elevator and vintage cookie tins. She reshapes old silverware to magically transform into beautiful pendants and bracelets. Another example of this is when her husband discovered her mom’s copper boiler buried behind the garage. Becky and her siblings bathed in this boiler as toddlers and later used it to soak their clothes before washing as they grew up. After digging up and cleaning the vessel, Becky flattened it out and created hundreds of pieces of jewelry from it. One of the pieces was on display at Warroad RiverPlace. She admitted, “it was the most fun and creative things that I could do.”

Becky shared advice for aspiring artists. “Just start and let the creativity just flow. Find a mentor. Come and ask me and I’ll help you. Don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t work out. It makes you happy to create something with your own hands.”

The NW Star Award comes with $5,000. Artists can only receive it once as a lifetime achievement award. Funding for the Northwest Star comes from The McKnight Foundation. Three awards are given each year to recognize artists and arts advocates within our seven-county region who stand out in terms of artistry or volunteerism in the arts. Of the Year Award winners were nominated by area residents.

Congratulations, Becky! Listen to hear their entire conversation.