Works in Progress

 Well I have actually been doing some beading lately. Sometimes I get so stuck on design elements that I can't do anything until I mentally work my way through the issue. This project at left is a case in point. I originally planned to combine the pendant with some lampwork beads in similar colours. They are very chunky beads, and the plan was to have one hanging off the bottom of the pendant, and the others on the necklace, in an asymmetrical design. Well, I tried several different ways to achieve this. I fussed about this project for a few weeks - trying to work out how to achieve the effect I wanted to achieve. Eventually I had to admit something: the polymer clay cabochon (from http://helenbreil.com/) simply will not work with the lampwork beads! Wrong scale, wrong design, wrong look - the only right thing is the colours. Funnily enough, once I admitted that, and put the lampwork beads away, the ideas started flowing ... the beading is now going strong. The current concept isn't as elaborate as the initial design, but then, if I am to be honest, I wouldn't wear a really elaborate design anyway. If my current concept works like I hope it will, then this will be wearable to work and social events, which is always my standard for a successful necklace. I think that means I spend too much time at work! I really hope it works - I love the cabochon which is a vivid mixture of my favourite blues, greens and gold.

The ideas have also started flowing on my steampunk piece again, and I include a photo to show that work is actually progressing. Once again, I had to abandon the initial concept because it just wasn't working. Then the new concept required items which weren't readily available (the watch faces), so I have slowly been collecting these through the magic of ebay. I have enough to get started now. There has been some truly tedious work with felt, to make the watch faces into larger cabochons (layers of progressively larger felt circles). I finished the first sample over the weekend and I'm happy with the way it turned out, so I will keep going now.

I rather wish that I was better at drawing. It would be easier to design my beadwork if I could draw out my ideas and see if they work. I think I might have to hunt up a drawing text book! At the moment all I can achieve is very simple sketches, which are enough to 'save' an idea, but not enough to really work through the construction issues of a design concept, which is what I need.

Of course, there will be another hiatus in these projects shortly as I am off to the Bead and Button Show. Only 20 days to go now! I was extremely fortunate to win a place in one of the master classes with Sherry Serafini (http://www.beadandbuttonshowstore.com/b12b2.html). I am taking the gorgeous grey and yellow cabochons I purchased from Stone Femme (http://www.etsy.com/shop/StoneFemme) to use in the class. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find grey beads (not silver)?! Pale yellow is even harder. Anyway, I have found enough beads to get started, and hopefully will come across more at the Show. I'm getting very excited about the Show and the rest of the trip (Chicago and Hawaii). I can't wait to get in amongst all those beads!

I may actually ask some of the teachers whether they draw their designs first and how they do it.