Quarantine Beading Queen: The Face Behind Mvskoke Meske Beadwork

Summer Lewis, a twenty-five-year-old Oklahoma Seminole and member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, creates beautiful and unique beadwork in the form of custom orders and commissions. Her instagram (@mvskokemeskebeadwork) is a rich portfolio of earrings, keychains, stickers, and pins.

Summer Lewis (below)

Learning from a cousin, Summer began beading when she was fifteen. She started honing her skills when quarantine started in the spring of 2020. When protests arose in May of the same year, Summer held raffles to raise funds for several Black/LGBTQ+ organizations. Her allyship sparked the public's interest in her work.

Although Summer never thought of herself as an artist or creative person, she has enjoyed the creative freedom which her customers give. She is learning constantly with the support of the online Indigenous beading community, but her practice is just as much about connecting as it is about her own growth. Summer is proudly following in the footsteps of her great-grandparents who also made and sold beadwork. Beadwork, which her great-grandparents loved so much, helps Summer feel connected with her loved ones.

Mvskoke Meske Beadwork instagram handle: @mvskokemeskebeadwork