B'fly was created at a Kitchen Table

Mea B'fly Designs began with heart to heart conversations with BFF/Creative Lefty Andrea (Drea) Preston of DreLynn Design over a kitchen table. Andrea and I met through a mutual friend and shortly figured out we had both dabbled in beadwork for our guys. We had collected beads over the years and did little projects here and there but wanted to learn more because we both loved it. All it took from there was a show and tell of our bead collections. I had this tackle organizer box thing from the fishing section of Walmart that held 48 little drawers full of beads. When I got married I had decided I was going to master beading so that I could do it for our son and my husband. I got early lessons on how to bead by watching my dad's little sister do it and then again from my sister in law when I moved to Nebraska to live with my husband's family. It wasn't until I really got to know my husband's brother's wife, Nikki, that I really got into the different kinds of beads- colors, finishes, sizes, threads, findings, etc- that I began sketching out my own designs to use. The first thing I ever beaded was this square 4" by 4" feather triangle design on canvas- the canvas had no support because I didn't know any better- just flabby and my beads looked it. I tacked down rows of 8-12 beads so they were all puffy, crooked lines but I loved it and was so proud to attach it to my 2 yr old son's belt as a little mock pocket. From then I met other people in Winnebago who were more knowledgable and they would come over to my house and share what they could with me. Beading became social and from that I gained confidence and a sort of self reassurance that I was being a good wife/mom which is huge to me. Fast forward to 2008 and I was at the kitchen table with Andrea beading over conversations and Vitamin Waters. I don't remember the actual conversations but I do remember how it felt to be so engaged in both- it's comfortable, quite, secure, and warm. Drea and I were sharing the most vulnerable pieces of our existence while creating with a technique aged over generations. I'd found my comfort and it was for life.

Around this time, Myspace was at its prime. Everyone was on Myspace, everyone felt the need to share everything on Myspace. Our lives and beadwork was no exception- it started out with showing our table full of our supplies because we though it was funny how our little organized spaces on each side of the table went everywhere over the minutes and hours leaving a mess of tea cups, leftover thread, stray beads, pizza boxes, magazines, nail polish, make up brushes, and the random bits from our purses.   Next, we began wearing our earrings everywhere- especially to the infamous Phx Blunt Club! I loved being able to match my earrings to my Air Force ones- bright pinks, purples, blues, oranges! I'd began making a new pair each week to wear to the Blunt. Like all 25 year olds, we'd be taking selfies, BFF pics, group pics and sharing them on Myspace. People would add us to see these things and comment on them, we'd engage with replies on what we were working on, what color polish was sitting next to that teacup and so on. Drea and I would sit side by side at my computer in the evenings giggling over our new friends' comments and our replies. It was fun!
Then the question came that started everything- "Can I buy these"?  I remember the first for me was an overnight comment on a pair I'd titled "Waves of Change" and by the time I'd gotten ready for work three other ladies asked where they could get a pair. We'd stumbled upon a market, a need for Native American women. I ran to Drea and showed her big eyed and starstruck... "someone wants to give me money for these"?!? LOL We were so young and goofy!

I remember coming up with Mea B'fly- I won't admit what my first suggestion to name my biz was because it's hella embarrassing but I will say it wasn't personalization but more an over-generalization- and the name just kind of fell out of the sky and out of my mouth to Dre. As its origin story goes, I am Mea B'fly because

•  1. Mea is short for Maria and a childhood nickname. If you call me Mea then consider yourself family- at the time only family called me Mea which is normally spelled Mia (phonetically thats My-ah) so I changed it to Mea in a sort of pun-intended spin on "Me A" B'fly.  These days everyone calls me Mea and I get such butterflies when I hear it because its a feeling of happiness to see family when I turn to see who called out my name. I don't mind being called Mea- these days I prefer it :)
• 2. B'fly is short for the ebonic phrase "Be Fly" and Butterfly. Butterflies have always been reminiscent of my Great Grandmother Lucy Dasheno- everytime I think of her seems to be in the Spring/Summer and I will always see a butterfly fluttering along. I like to think its her and in that aspect butterflies have always been a sign of being on the right path. They give me faith and iconically remind me that no matter how slow I feel I'm crawling along in life, I will soon soar. These examples could get cheesier and more majestic but I'm sure you can assume how much butterflies mean to me. :) If you prefer to hear me gush more about it- email me. LOL

The next few days and months we sat with our thoughts on the how's, why's, and want's and then excitedly giggled them to each other over the kitchen table never loosing eye contact. It was so adventurous but scary for me so I left it to Drea to figure out a majority of the logistics because I was also a Supervising Director at the time which took up 12 hrs a day. She'd be sending me links through out the day, suggestions, and proposals. After work, we'd meet at the table and discuss our hang ups with it or agree on moving forward. She gave me little assignments on which things to read or she'd prepare little packets for me to look at. On the weekends when I didn't have to work we'd be at our sides of the table,  I always sat on the East and Drea on the West, reading little suggestions people would give us and recalling how our past experiences could help us. We were on to something and by this time it was almost Christmas- our first selling gig was going to Phoenix Indian Hospital Christmas Art Market.
YIKES! How do we do this?! Drea is a very gorgeously detailed person- her vision is amazing. We had to figure out how to stage our product and the purchasing experience. We scoured every craft store we could for baggies, earring findings like hooks, and possible earring racks for display. We spent late night hours googling and researching online sights for product displays and I ran across a project on HGTV.com where a lady had taken chicken wire and a frame to wind her vines through in her garden. Viola!! I ran to tell Drea all about it and there's where our Earring Screens emerged. I had just gotten into thrifting and remember seeing cheap art frames that we could buy and spray paint. It took Drea though to make it aesthetically beautiful like I knew she could- she took my idea and we executed this huge gorgeous frame to use. We found the hooks we wanted to be known for and we found packaging-we were set.
The night before we were up ALL night- we had no sleep. We finished up earrings, packaged, and perfected our Earring Screen. We stopped for coffee and walked over to the IHS lawn where the market was held. Next thing we knew we were being scolded by this rude security officer that we can't just "walk up" and get a table, we must get in line like everyone else. The line was a 2 miles stream of cars being herded into the IHS compound one by one and given a numbered table area to set up at. It took us an hour and half after we arrived to set up. We felt defeated already but then we had to take this huge screen- almost the size of white Costco table - out to and hang earrings on it. The stares and looks we got when we flung that bright purple screen up on the table were Epic! I don't think anyone knew what was coming. As always, Drea took all our earrings and hung them nicely and evenly one by one. I prep the area- make sure we have enough bags, business cards, all the earrings have hooks, all our paper work is in order, and we look on point! LOL Check, Check, Check! We were selling- Mea B'fly and DreLynn Design were in the game!! Swarms of ladies came to our table and it was really overwhelming but so awesome. We took our spots on our sides of the table like always and shared our art. We were so uneducated on our art's worth- we stumbled over asking $10 a pair. As the customer left our table we'd shake with big eyes and giggle with glee at each other repeating the same thing- "they gave me $10 for those"! It was surreal and I was in love with accessorizing Native women- better yet I get to do this with my best friend and my family.

Fast forward to now, 2013, I have 30+ Graph-ery earring designs and I've sold at major Native American powwows like Gathering of Nations and Manito Ahbee in Canada. I've appeared in Native Peoples magazine and been mentioned in 5 publications through out Native America. I was apart of the beginning of Beyond Buckskin Boutique and their first Look-book which continues still. I have had the opportunity to share my heart through my art- I've reached more people without saying a single word than I could screaming at the top of my lungs. I'm so grateful for this opportunity and am excited for what still lies ahead through the surname Mea B'fly.

Mea B'fly is more than an earring company- it is a lifestyle. I want to more than Inspire but to Empower people to take what I've, We've done and go farther. I want each B'fly lady to take their earrings with them on this life journey and find their own path to a strong, happy, healthy and balanced life.

B'fly Tulips.

I've become that girl that makes those tulips... "you know with the dentalium shells"... oh yeah! her. 

LOL To say the least about this splendid design.. I love making them. Each pair is so delicate yet so strong. I've learned just the right amount of each type of bead it takes to achieve them. I know what kind of mood I have to be in and how much slack I must give each stitch. It's like recreating from a place in my soul where the good things live in a little box of lace and sweet grass. My mind, hands, eyes and even breathing harmoniously come together to create- the feeling is humbling and overwhelmingly a blessing. 

39th Annual University of South Dakota Wacipi

Mea B'fly Designs First Powwow of 2011

To say the least- Yes! South Dakota is far from the lil Ndn lady sweat shop (my home) aka Mea B'fly factory BUT it was definately worth it because not only was it an opportunity to Sell my Hearts content but visit the reason my heart beats- Family <3 As many of you know I've got me a left hand Winnebago/HoChunk/Omaha Baby Daddy and his roots are from right down the road of Vermillion, SD.

We pulled up to USD Powwow- Fashionably Late ;)- but it was fine because I actually got put in a nice location!! This year's Wacipi had a full and packed house!! They held the powwow upstairs in a common's type area- a little reception area and hallway greeted you full of vendors- otter tails, quillwork, teeshirts, beadwork, and finally us.The halls were full and steady of beautiful faces coming and going from entrance to entrance trying to find a place to sit and watch the powwow but that space was non existent after Grand Entry! The powwow area was small- it was seriously the size of a little church gym and trying to pack 20 drums in, dancers who've been waiting for their first 2011 chance to JAM their families, and the anxiously awaiting spectators that little area packed! Every little space an NDN could be put LOL I'm not kidding was taken and not going to be given up! Thru the heat that enveloped that space- you could just see COLORFUL outfits, hear mad Jingles and Bells, Feel Feathers and Shawl fringe brush across you, and smell the NDN taco stand. A Wacipi had definitely taken over the USD Campus.

I got to set up in the reception area just outside the side entrance to the powwow which was nice because the walkway/hallway where some vendors were was so packed continously with people walking back and forth it gave very little room for people to stop and look. The powwow committee kindly gave everyone tables to use and chairs- this is always a STAR 5 Event when committees do this LOL! I put out my fancy schmancy table cloth- a piece of white material with neon pink flowers on it down and laid my little earrings out and business cards. BIG UPS to G JEWELERY too- I gave out all your sticker cards ;) Jason set up my Frame and we hung all our Big "Coaster" earrings LOL This random Navajo guy from Page- clans were Zuni and Todichiini- came over and bought a "home is where the heart is" magnet and  says "DANG- you could wear these and take 'em off at your friends house and use them for your drink" uh- no dude! LOL  Immediately people started to come over to I think just see what we had- right away this Lakota lady who was helping with a Grass special asked to take all the little "Confidence- Sitting bull ones" I had. Just like that they were all gone and I was in Sioux Country LOL People flipped and touched all the earrings they could- asking the obvious questions- "How do you make these?" "Did you paint all these??!??" "Are you Lakota too?" "What kind of wood is this?" "Are they heavy?" "How'd you come up with this idea??" Then came the awesome ones!! "Are you Mea B'fly" "Do you sell online?" "Do you know B. Drapeau?" "Do you know Tish" Then the most humble "I'll take these" "Can I get these" "Do you have any more of these like hers?" LOL Its so funny to hear the comments and just questions people have about my designs.

 

As Native people- any for that matter- there is a overall respect and just camaraderie that you feel when they comment let alone purchase from you- them saying anything at all is the greatest feeling because you know what you've laid out for them to buy, yes!, but see has made them THINK and FEEL something that want to SHARE with you. These are my favorite stories from this wkend....





::Beauty::


1. My FAVE Customer Story this Wknd- this ole bandana wearing Lakota man came over to see my earrings- he had full head of white long hair braided and held back with a white bandana- and he leaned over to see all the earrings I had laid out on my table. Glancing back and forth then asking me how I had come up with my designs. He told me a story about how he was a descendant of Chief Sitting Bull and how the Lakota people honor him thru various prayers and dances still to this day even if they do not know it themselves. He stopped to ask how I had gotten certain pictures- I explained and he said Oh well that's kinda cheating huh? LOL I said yeah I guess but the honor and respect I have for every picture I take I ensure I know what I'm talking about if someone should ask. He smiled at me and said- "I'm going to bring my Love over but it might take a while she has Parkinson's but we'll be back" then left. Later than eve he came back alone and said he told his wife about my earrings and all the designs he saw and she asked him to pick out a pair that he loved so she could wear his love <3 He picked a small pair of ::Beauty::, shook my hand, and held them up and said "Yeah she'll like these". While I was packing up at the end of the nite I noticed him by the door and he gave me a thumbs up!! haha Now boys thats a MAN!! ;)
2. The little Jingle dress dance who could- This teenage Jingle dress dancer came over with her mom. She didn't say anything but just stood back looking at my earring frame turning her head from each design to the next. Finally asking to turn them over- she noticed the designed stained backs. She flipped them ALL over standing stoic then smiling. Her mom asked me how I'd made 'em, where I was from, if I was enjoying the powwow, and we passed more time talking about how crowded the powwow was. Finally they left but the girl just kept looking as she walked away to go get ready to dance. About 3 hours later I notice the girl kinda jogging over- she stands back again looking and then says "you had some pinky purple ones with Sitting Bull on 'em- do you have any more?" I had just taken the pair down to talk about them with another customer and I handed them to her- she had the hugest SMILE! She turns to this man I hadn't noticed standing there and says I want these ones, Daddy! LOL  He asks me how they are and I tell him adding I'm doing a "2 for" special too- he looks at his daughter and says "Might as well get another one of the ones you were crying for" LOL!! She does and he hands me the money and I bag up her earrings. She snatches them from me and runs off opening the bag to put a pair on ;) He takes his changes and says "DAUGHTERS! gotta love 'em" LOL He tells me his daughter and his wife told him about the earrings, so they had to get a pair and he shook my hand and Thank'd me :)
3. This couple and their kids we walking thru just looking at the stands and their stuff- this little boy runs over and tiptoes up to see what I've got. He finally rummages his little fingers thru my magnets box and grabs one as his mom pulls his hand back. He cluthes a ~Humma Bird~ magnet and yells "MINE"!!! His mom puts the magnet back and smiles and walks back towards her husband and daughter into the powwow. Not a minute later the little boy got away and ran back to my table, grabs the same ~humma bird~ magnet and stands to look at it. His Dad comes running over laughing- the lil guy clutches that thing again and cries "MINE" LOL I gave it to him ;) Such a cutie.

Selling is definitely worth while if you set your profit on making people happy with what you create. Every place I sell I have a story and so do the people who stop to just look. My favorite and never heard comment this weekend was- "These earrings are BAD ASS"!! haha This earring thing has definitely taken me places and I've met some amazing people- 2011 is definitely going to be so much more considering USD was my first Slangin' set up this year and it was just an unbelievably heart warming weekend!!