Conjuring Inspiration

Sooz from “The Bead Shed” asked the forum members of “Bead Buddies” to show some of our beady-supplies from our stash that we have had for a while and not been inspired to do anything with as yet. There are many things that I have had for aaaages that fit into this category. From the reaction of the other forum members too, I am not the only one that hoards beads and supplies. Hehe!


A week or so later, once lots of people had shared 2 or 3 photos from their stash, a “Stash Challenge” was opened, and all people who showed pictures were automatically signed up to participate, and for a great generous prize!

The Rules:

• Take at least one of your pieces that you showed off in the "Show me your Stash" thread
• Make something extraordinary out of it, not just a design you have done many times before, but something completely different for you, something you will be ultra proud of.
• You can add anything you like to the piece and use whatever materials you need to, but it must include your stash.
• You have until the end of May to complete
• Winner will be judged by poll on the forum
• Prize £20 voucher for “The Bead Shed”

This is where I struggle now.

Not only do we have to use materials that we have never been able to use before, (the pieces I have shown have given me a creative mental block on how to use them since I bought them) But, we must also make something extraordinary and a completely new style if possible.

One thing for sure is that she does know how to challenge us. But I do see the logic in it. Afterall, if we haven’t been able to create something with the components in our typical style, then surely they belong in a creation that comes from a completely different angle.

Now, how do I conjure inspiration? [insert witches cackle here]

First, I chose one of my stash pictures. These are a set of 7, and are about 2 cms wide and they were a souvenir from Detroit. They have a lovely carving in them, and I was attracted to them because I thought that they were different and I knew when I bought them that they are not my typical style of bead.

Then, I had to brainstorm. I had to think of things that are not typically me/my style – keywords so I could start building up a picture.

Those in RED are the keywords that I believe goes against my style, or they are very hard for me to emulate.

Those in ORANGE are the keywords that I have a tendancy towards, but I do not use them a lot or I do not use them enough and would like to incorporate more of these features.

Those in GREEN are typically me, and were added at the end as a “filler/glue” to see if I could marry all the components together. Ideally anyway I don’t want to make a piece that completely loses my DNA ;)

My idea is, that using the beads that I have chosen, to make a piece that incorporates as many of these keywords as possible. I do think that making sure that I use all of them is going to be near impossible, but I will be trying!

Here is a mood board, that I created using an image search with the keywords.

The one thing I could not capture was Goth/Emo etc … so imagine the mood board with less pastels and pink and more black and bold – now, I think I am on the right track to get started on this!

Tune back soon to my blog to see what comes out of all of this!

Creative Spotlight - SilverGems Designs

Hey everyone, another creative spotlight from me this week, but this time for a wonderful Lampwork artist and jewellery designer called Gemma!

Gemma is well known for her scrumptious big hole beads ... gorgeous ones such as these spotty delights ...

and these, which I am completely in love with ... look at how gorgeous the colours are, and how precise the dots and bumps are.

If you are fascinated by the lampwork arts, Gemma's FLICKR ALBUM shows lots of pictures of testing frits, creating bubbles for shards, and other great creative journeys such as making "twisties" like these ...

and then how they look on the bead :)

Gemma doesn't just stick to the glassy side of life though, she also loves to create jewellery, and her chainmaille creations always impress me

So, let me tell you where YOU can find Gemma :)

I recommend liking her FACEBOOK PAGE
I recommend following her WORDPRESS BLOG
I recommend keeping an eye out on her ETSY STORE
and of course following her on FLICKR

Hope you have enjoyed the Easter Weekend :)

Seahorse on the coral - Sterling Silver pendant

Seahorse on the coral - Sterling Silver pendant, a photo by Nicola @ Smitten Kitten on Flickr.

Just a quick post - to show you the next Seahorse pendant cluster!

the turquoise and red coral really do give the effect that i had wanted, and mixed with the soft pearl and shell colours it has turned out not so far away from what i had been imagining.

I was lucky to have all beads in my bead stash, so there was no need for buying anything especially for it (which is always a bonus!)

Mmmmh! summer! So glad it is finally arriving, summer days and long weekends do really make me wanna make jewellery! (and go on holiday! *lol* :)

Seahorse & Shells - Summer Necklace

Seahorse & Shells - Sterling SIlver Cluster Pendant, a photo by Nicola @ Smitten Kitten on Flickr.

Well finally I have managed to chill out, and have the time to make something :)
Inspired by a beautiful seahorse pendant that i have, plus gorgeous seashells, a seaside dreamy cluster pendant was too irresistable to make.

I struggled at the beginning, when placing the beads together, found that it was all too neutral and i thought that it needed a splash of colour, so i mixed in 2 shades of swarovski crystals too (Pacific opal and Indicolite) and I am pleased with the result.

So, with coral, shells, freshwater pearls, crystals and silver ... I am already designing the next one in my head that will have red coral, pearls, shells and turquoise beads. I hope that it will come together in real life like I see it in my minds eye.

WIth the Easter Weekend ahead of me, I hope i'll have to time to try and put that one together too.

Enjoy the long weekend :)



Via Flickr:
Sterling Silver Seahorse pendant accompanied with a rich cluster of pearls, crystals and silver beads.

Comes with a 20" Sterling Silver chain, ready to wear for all occasions.

Creative Spotlight - Ruthie's Rambling :)

Hey everyone!

Well, it's been a fair few weeks since I last blogged, this is down to the amount of travelling that i have been doing with work (4 out of 5 weeks away from home ... boo!) so there's not really been much information about what i have been making - because i have not had the time to make anything!

Even at the weekends, I have just been happy to be at home and relax. I have been out in Stuttgart trying on wedding dresses, drinking beer in sunny beer gardens, and hooked to reading books on my kindle (Since the end of January, I am now on my 8th book!) and with the weather being so sunny, Joe and I have been out and about - so really not much chance to do anything creative at home.

I have even been neglecting reading lots of the blogs that I follow, and also have been visiting my favorite forums less than normal.
But, I have been able to do more of surfing the web than anything else, so Craft Pimp gave me a fabulous idea to blog about other great members that you can find on the WWW and of course on the CP forum.

Ruthie - you can find her blog HERE
She is a queen with the seedbeads ... I am going to show you a few of my favourite pieces from her. Her pieces are always very well received and admired across all beading/craft forums. They understandably make people go "ooooooh!" and "ahhhhh" and "how on earth did she make that?!" *lol*

Ruth has a very wide range of styles from this wonderfully cute bookmark with the Cheshire Cat (i absoloutely LOVE THIS! I love my kindle, but creations like this makes me miss real books!)

and there's this amazing urchin bag charm ...



and then there's this scarab pendant she made. Simply outstanding beadwork.

So, as you can see - she definitely deserves this week creative spotlight :)

I don't know how people have the patience to create such wonderful pieces of art.

So, I'd recommend following her BLOG and/or her FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM to keep up to date with what she has been making, as her projects are very rarely "small projects" and if you are lucky - you will always get a sneak peak of a creation whilst she is working on it ... just look at this spiky critter that's being created in her studio at the moment ...

I sOoOoOo can't wait to see how he turns out :D

First Impressions ... Packaging

You don't need me to tell you that first impressions count ... and that they count a lot. Especially when you are selling handmade things and you want to appeal to a wide audience. There are many elements where a little goes a long way.

With the jewellery that I made, I scrutinise every piece whilst it's in WIP and re-analyse it just before it's destined for it's new home. Once something is sold, then it gets another thorough inspection again.
I have been known to remake pieces at this point, because if i think that it's not good enough - then I am not scared of pulling it apart and dedicating time to remaking it before it's posted.

One thing though i need to give better time to is packaging.
It really hits home when i buy/receive other things that are handmade. The love and adoration that comes with the little packages really makes me go wow! Sometimes I get sweets, chocolate, and have been known also to get a shower of glitter. (yes thanks Tan!) and each of these little touches really make me smile, it makes me want to go back for more, and I always, always, always enjoy that little pack of gummy-bears that I get sent from a certain lampworker... thanks!

I believe that I am still lacking those finishing touches. I had contemplated gummy-bears and chocolate but they're guaranteed not to last ... I WILL eat them all, and my customers will not get any ... *I have such a sweet tooth!* So until I get more self control, this will have to wait!

So - keeping to basics, I need to improve the presentation of the packaging I use for my jewellery
I want my customers to open the package and go "Ooooh pretty!"

So, over the next few months, there's going to be an array of packaging bags and boxes and tissue paper, ribbons and god only knows what else ... and I will play with lots ... I imagine with practice, that each package will become more pleasant to the eye. (well, that's what i am hoping anyway!)

First little packaging project was for a friend off of a craft forum (check out her blog BIG BLUE BED) who like me is getting married this year. On the forum there has been talking about dresses, flowers, jewellery and of course budgeting and I wanted to make her something for her wedding day. Once I showed her a sweet, sparkly and simple swarovski crystal bracelet ... she loved it, so I made one especially for her.

Next, came the packaging... Knowing the backstory of who it's going to and what it's going to be for of course makes it a million times easier. Wedding ... there I had a colour theme! WHITE of course ...

So, i found some white crepe paper, white ribbons and a white oragnze bag - which luckily was all in my stash

and with double sidey sticky tape ... I packaged up the bracelet like so ... (I like the fact that you can't see the tape :) )

Then came paying with the ribbon ... ummm, well here for sure i need to improve, i need to find some nice/very elegant ways to make bows and swirls and stuff ... I have seen some tutorials for chinese knots, so i think that I might teach myself one or two of those - as they will be a lot better than this spaghetti mess.

I wish i had taken some beads with me to work that day - as i also think some white/pearly beads from my beadsoup collection would have also given it a cute touch.

So - finally into the organza bag, with a little "thankyou" note and a smitten kitten contact card.

So - what do you think?

Pointers anyone?

I am wanting to improve on the ribbons, with either chinese knots and/or paper roses, or even master a nice but simple and fail safe ribbon bow (easier said than done) Would love to know what you think. Constructive critism very welcome!

Lotsoluvvies

Nicola

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Angels & Blue Skies

You may remember my mumblings about my next cluster pendant, well finally without any further delay - here it comes :)

I had a very specific design in my imagineation before I started this. The first one came out so well, i had high expectations of myself and was adamant that this needed to hit the mark as well. So much so, it's taken me ages to complete. I have tons of blue beads, but they are such a variaiton of blues, and I had initially started matching aqua colours, and even though it was a gorgeous combo with the pearls, it reminded me of tropical seas rather than the "blue skies" that i was aiming for. But, i got there in the end ... :)


Not much else to report this end, don't want to bog you down with all the work stuff ... wanna keep this log as pretty as possible!


Lotsoluvvies
Nic
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