Member Spotlight June 2021: Lisa Yerby

Lisa Yerby is a talented artist who makes beaded sculptures using tiny seed beads, allowing her a range of color and texture throughout her collections.  Her work is inspired by the Huichol people in Mexico who use seed beads in their pieces, and she hopes to one day visit the area to see their work in person.  

Lisa taught kindergarten, first grade, second grade, gifted and talented and dyslexic students in Texas for 29 years. She notes that she never married or had children, so her students and friends were her world and she loved every minute of her time teaching. When she retired in 2017, Lisa moved to south Raleigh where her parents have lived for about 15 years.  Since retiring to Raleigh, she has time to concentrate on her beading work and can collaborate with her dad, which has been such a blessing. He is a wonderfully talented artist who hand carves the wooden fish, santas, and snowmen that Lisa then beads.  Her father is also a sounding board for ideas and handles the photography of her pieces. 

Lisa’s work has been included in several shows, including the 2021 Small Treasures show at the Cary Gallery of Artists.  Photos of some of her pieces are included below.  To purchase a piece from one of Lisa’s collections, go to lisayerbydesigns.com.  You can also find her on Facebook at Lisa Yerby Designs.  

Lisa joined CMMAG in January 2019 when she was invited to attend a meeting by her neighbor, Katherine Stein. She has always had a love of crafts including scrapbooking, stained glass, counted cross-stitch, clay, beading and, like many CMMAG members, enjoys trying new things. Lisa enjoys her time in CMMAG getting to know all the amazing artists, going to the art museum, and taking classes, like book-making.  She also loves the challenges; they really stretch her imagination. Lisa is currently serving on the CMMAG board as a Member at Large. 

Lisa has one of the best stories as a CMMAG volunteer with the Chavis after-school program:  It was a gorgeous day, so Lisa planned to do an activity outside. As she asked the students to line up, there was a crash, and the room filled with a thick fog. Everyone and everything were COVERED in a white foam.  One of the kids had knocked a fire extinguisher off the wall causing it to burst.  Everyone was safe despite the huge mess, and Lisa took home a funny memory.