Meet the Designer behind the magic: Eden Derickson of Woolly Bear
A conversation over coffee with jewellery designer Eden Derickson about beading, statement earring inspiration, and of course, Disney
“Introducing my new Conversations Over Coffee series!
Chats over cappuccinos with talented designers, creatives + muses about jewellery, the stories behind the designs, and in my first subject’s case; one that delightfully descended into a shared love of Disney chatter because…well, read on to find out.
I’m so very honoured she agreed to be my first guest interview on Pixie Dust + Wanderlust! Forever grateful, Eden.”
The vibe going in is thrilled, awed, and just a little bit of caffeine-on-no-breakfast jitters.
I’ve never interviewed someone when it wasn’t first editor-approved.
Eden’s never been interviewed before.
Don’t worry: We both survived and have a text thread to prove we enjoyed the process.
When she walks in, I know instantly I’m going to like this woman even more than I already do from her friendly Instagram presence and incredible talent: Which is why we’ve met for coffee, in the first place. Eden is the Creative Director, Designer, and main jeweller behind Canadian|Filipino|Indigenous Syilx brand Woolly Bear. Exclusively handmade in the Okanagan, British Columbia, her coveted creations are limited quantity, made of ethically sourced materials, and honestly, incredibly special. They’re so unique, an intrinsic by-product of the process by which they’re made—a self-taught skill thanks to a quick pivot in 2020.
“I love traditional Indigenous beadwork. I’m not Indigenous, but my family is Syilx,” Eden stares off, choosing her words carefully; she’s like her pieces—conscientious, gorgeous inside and out, and intentional as she tells the tale of learning how to bead with her husband, Michael.
“I was first introduced to vintage pieces created by Michael’s late Grandma Margaret. She had a box filled with old pieces she created over the years, from belts to necklaces and flat stitch pieces. Michael’s Aunt Suki and late Uncle Noll also have a home that always had me in awe, filled with displays of beautiful beaded artworks from all over Canada and the U.S. It’s like a museum, walking in there!” Eden exclaims. “But besides the beaded gifts given to me, I had only ever “wished” I could make such intricate and beautiful pieces.”
“Traditional beadwork involves use of certain colours, schemes, and materials. I only do that for family,” Eden says. Woolly Bear, back in its earliest form known as HawkMoth Bead Co., is about honouring that tradition, culture, and family heritage through their own style. The rebrand to Woolly Bear is based on Eden’s love of the cute little eponymous caterpillar, which when Michael found one hibernating on their property, they took as a sign it was the right name.
“I chose the Woolly Bear caterpillar because its journey mirrors my own: Always evolving, quietly resilient, and deeply personal. Some days, it takes everything just to keep going! But like the caterpillar, I trust the process.”
“Creating something beautiful,” Eden explains, “Like a pair of beaded earrings, can feel daunting. But it’s in that transformation where the magic lives. Each piece I made is a reflection of growth; both mine and the person who eventually wears it.”
Eden is also a mum, and beading is one way she’s ensured her two boys stay connected to their roots through the artistic process, instilling the value of art and traditional culture.
When they first started beading, “We spent hours and hours making Christmas presents!” Then, “after many, many mistakes…it took a year before I felt comfortable selling. Kelly Derrickson, a First Nations singer, was a huge supporter. She and her dad, Mike’s Uncle Ron, who was also the Grand Chief of Westbank First Nations, did a wholesale order of twenty-two earrings when I first started.”
Then came Jillian Harris. “She was one of the first people to buy my earrings. She shared me on her Stories, and suddenly, my following jumped from 500 to 1,500. There were so many orders; I wasn’t prepared for the wave!” Eden chuckles.
When one of Canada’s biggest reality stars and lifestyle influencers shows interest and puts you in the public’s zeitgeist, it’s a rush of everything: excitement, and maybe a little bit of fear, topping the list.
The gratitude is evident in how Eden talks about her supporters from Woolly Bear’s beginnings. Family means everything. Honouring her roots is essential. And in her serene, open presence, you know this mama is the real deal. She’s the kind of person—the powerhouse behind the brand—you want to support. Her jewellery designs are simply a manifestation of her subtle boldness. A little piece of her inner sparkle.
“Keeping up with demand is definitely an unexpected part of the job,” Eden admits. But it’s a necessary hurdle at the moment, as she navigates scaling her business and staying true to its bespoke core.
“I want to keep the pieces special,” she explains. That means making small batches and using the highest-quality materials. When an injury took Eden offline for a year in 2022, she brought in her mum and her friend Salina, “who’s basically family. I’ve known her since I moved here.” Salina is now married to Eden’s husband’s best friend. “She was one of the first people I ever talked to about making luxury beaded earrings, when it was just an idea before I’d even obtained any skills. Little did I know she would become an integral part of keeping this brand alive!”
“Salina was already a seasoned beader before agreeing to work with us. We probably started beading around the same time, our talks manifested and now we’re a team! We bounce back and forth the skill sets we’ve each learned over the years, as she did a lot of flat-stitch beadwork, where I do more brick stitch. We’re a perfect fit for fine-tuning an artisanal and luxurious beaded brand!”
Eden fondly recalls the story of when her mother lived in the Philippines as a little girl, and how bringing her into Woolly Bear is a beautiful full-circle moment. “As a little girl, [my mom] would skip school in her early years to collect sea shells by the ocean. They were probably puka shells with natural holes in them, and she would bead them onto little purses and sell them so that she could buy candy! That all came to a stop when her mom was told, ‘Lynn has not been present at school.’”
“I guess my entrepreneurial spirit and love for pretty little beads came from my mom. So when I began teaching her to make brick stitch fringed earrings, it was easy for her and she loves it. I love it.”
Having these two women in the Woolly Bear family also gives Eden time for one of her favourite parts of the job.
“I get really excited to design. My mind is always all over the place, so when I get to sit down at the desk and design, I can zone in. My inspiration is drawn from our home and the landscapes that surround us here in the Okanagan, Canadian Artists, or it comes from my love for the 90s, and of course, Disney!” Eden smiles. “I still can’t believe this has turned from a hobby into a career.”
Proud mama moment
Her proudest moment on the job?
There’s four of them, thank you very much.
“Having this connection with my mom and Salina. Being able to let go and give that control to them, because as a Creator, you’re doing everything. Being able to delegate,” Eden exhales on a laugh. Delegation is huge for an entrepreneur.
“The fulfillment of having this meaningful brand and business. Michael’s family is rooted here [in the Okanagan],” she explains, and, “Connecting with my son. He actually used to start the bases of the earrings. He’d help me make flowers. His willingness to do it!” Eden reminisces affectionately over the connection with her oldest son.
“Being recognized by Jillian! By someone huge in the community. She’s one of the reasons my business took off,” and simply by her tone every time she brings up the name, you can hear how awed and grateful Eden is for that connection. Someone’s belief in you, your vision, and art; that’s monumental in the life of any artist.
The connective language of jewellery
Connection. It’s the reason to create, it’s the reason those creations are seen and appreciated. Inversely, it’s also the connection to the story, the Artist, and the moments those creations are appreciated by the wearer that make it more than a piece of jewellery.
Take my connection, for example. I own two very special pairs of Woolly Bear earrings. The first, Kalamalka Lake - Winter Chill, was a gift from my best friend for my fortieth birthday. The shimmering colours evoking my favourite palette and favourite lake in our Okanagan Valley. The closest to a living Atlantis I’ll get. The other pair, deserves a story of its own.
Beauty and the Beast
Eden’s stunning statement earrings found their way into my feed back in 2023, when I first glimpsed her Beauty and the Beast-inspired creations, “The Spell”. Fast-forward two years, and my oldest Kidlet was cast as Beast in his middle school production of my favourite story—and I knew exactly what I had to wear to opening night. And all the nights. Turns out, Beauty and the Beast is Eden’s favourite Disney movie, as well.
The gorgeous art direction giving infinite inspiration. That Enchanted Rose. The Beast who’d do everything for Her and that library!
What made this custom couture even more special, is Eden’s attention to detail. She incorporated new touches into her old design: Bronze to represent the Beast’s fur, and beautiful blue “Charlotte beads, faceted on three sides to give dimension and shimmer.” As if these stunners weren’t already luxurious enough, and Charlotte just so happens to be the name of my niece. Could I possibly fall even more in love with these earrings?!
The care, time, and exquisite detail intricately beaded together, weaving in the memories of this insane six months of rehearsal schedules and prep and nerves and bravery my Kidlet and his amazing friends portrayed on stage. They gave all the dimension and shimmer to that staging of my favourite story. That’s my proud mama moment, captured in a beautiful piece of jewellery by another mama and her family.
The future is looking sparkling for Eden Pearl
“My vision is to expand globally; be mainstream but not manufactured. I’m in the process of that dream, and I still have a lot to learn.”
Eden’s currently learning all about the hardness of gemstones and cuts and sourcing new high-quality findings and solid gold. “I want to step it up, combining beads with solid gold…the world is my oyster!” Eden’s energized laugh is contagious. Her drive palpable. And her jewellery designs? Pure stunning statements. I’ve no doubt this particular Pearl is going to achieve sparkling heights.
Love this so much 😌💗 Thank you to Beauty and The Beast.