By Myra Chen
Time seems to stand still when her nimble fingers begin bringing life to her diverse array of beads. To her, there is no greater pleasure than getting lost in the rhythm of her craft.
Since she was 8 years old, senior Maya Bodla has found solace in the art of bead weaving: a meticulous activity that involves the precision of needle and thread to create intricate patterns. And, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the young artisan began sharing her art through the Instagram handle @soduskcrafter — an account that eventually bloomed into a small custom jewelry business.
“I followed a bunch of jewelry accounts on Instagram and … I really wanted to be like them,” Bodla said. “I just decided to start advertising and selling my jewelry. It’s a fun process for me because I make pieces that I really like and would wear myself. ”
For Bodla, jewelry isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s a testament to her Indian heritage. Raised in the world of Kathak, a classical Indian dance style, she grew fond of embellishing her outfits with jewelry. The cultural attire and graceful movements contribute to the storytelling nature of Kathak, serving as a focal point of Bodla’s inspiration, who now infuses this narrative essence into her creations.
“Those experiences definitely inspired me to get really deep into fashion and jewelry design because of the sheer beauty and opportunity that came from that,” Bodla said. “There are so many options for jewelry, so I never feel limited.”
Her pricing reflects the dedication invested into each piece, which ranges from modest to high-end. She caters to a wide spectrum of preferences and budgets with a lot of pieces under $20, but also options reaching up to $300, depending on complexity.
Of her many artworks, her favorite to make is a design called “Treasure.”
“This specific design is really elegant and allows me to experiment with colors to match the mood I’m going for in the piece. It’s also the cheapest piece in my bead woven collection, and will range in price from about $140-$180,” Bodla said. “It’s also one of the pieces I recommend the most for fancy events like prom or other such formal occasions.”
Bodla is opening her business for all Fountain Valley High School students, accepting orders in anticipation of the upcoming prom dance. With an eye toward the future, she envisions expanding her audience and exploring fresh creative avenues.
“Accessorizing to me is the most important part of making or breaking an outfit, and so … I have the opportunity to really be myself and show off my style,” Bodla said. “Additionally, it’s a really therapeutic process and it’s really satisfying to make something by hand and then be able to say to yourself, yeah, I made that.”
Beyond jewelry making, Bodla finds great pleasure in her other crafting endeavors, including knitting and appliqué work. Through her artistry, she weaves together threads of tradition, innovation and personal flair one bead at a time.
