Mel Paradise is a pop multimedia and bead artist working predominantly with perler beads – or fuse beads, a tedious medium requiring much patience and skill with an iron to achieve consistency in production. Since 2010, Mel has been transforming these simple beads into intricate, eye-catching designs that captivate audiences and collectors alike. Mostly catering to the retro gaming and raver scenes, but Mel can make anything you want out of these beads.

Sewing long before that, Mel has been a professional seamstress since they were in their teens, and while costume design was the focus of their work while honing their skills, they’ve moved on to sewing plushies and accessories. Their most well known plush to date is the Mel’s Sushi Shack line of plush toys which feature sushi stuffies in various sizes and expressions.

For the past decade, Mel has become a fixture at conventions and trade shows, where their perler bead creations have delighted fans and customers. Their presence at these events has not only showcased their artistic prowess but also allowed them to connect with a diverse audience passionate about cute geeky handmade items as well as build a robust network of talented makers and creators.  

In addition to their convention circuit, Mel has been a beloved vendor at Portland Saturday Market since 2018. Here, they have built a dedicated following, offering a range of perler bead art and assorted handmade crafts. In 2024, they started offering Decoden style accessories, and Kandi, adding more texture and color to their already established candy-shop-like aesthetic. 

Our show list has moved! if you want to see where we’ve been or where we’re at next, click here.