How often did you go through some of your old beaded pieces and wonder: what was I thinking creating this design?
What happens when you no longer excited about your idea of a beaded piece you’ve started awhile ago? Is it more likely to end up in UFO pile or covered with new bead purchases and hidden in the unlabeled box?
Envisioning a design process is not easy when each design step consists of adding one bead at a time. It is quite challenging to keep track of the beadwork piece as a whole when simultaneously paying close attention to details.
Nevertheless, this is what beadwork design is all about: tending to details while seeing a bigger picture.
Here is how I overcame one of my design challenges.
One Beaded Necklace: The Story Of Design Evolution
When the moon phase is wrong, or when it turns its face with an unhappy grimace, I don’t like to waste my time working on any new ideas. Instead, I like to dig into my “unwanted” box of beaded pieces and see what I can improve, or finish if it needs a final touch.
On one of those days, I asked myself, why don’t I like to take my Rivers And Bridges necklace to art shows and festivals anymore? And the answer was very simple: I didn’t like it as much, and I was not proud of the design I created. In other words, I evolved as a designer, and my necklace didn’t.
Not Ready To Say Goodbye?
I wanted this necklace to remain in my collection, and there were several reasons for it:
- I liked the initial idea and some elements of the design
- It collected some compliments from viewers at the first show
- I loved how pearls organically fit into the picture
- Frankly, I hate the idea of wasted hours spent on weaving a rope of tiny flowers!
The Flower Rope
The flower rope, as I called it, was made using simple chenille stitch. I just decided to add some complications to the process (typical me): I beaded the rope using several different white tones and finishes of the beads. Silver lined yellow was used to accent the flowers.
From a distance, it all looked light, but a closer look would reveal details – a beaded flower mosaic pattern of the rope.
I just wanted to save the necklace because of it, it seemed.
The Evolution Process
What could I have done to change it?
To answer that question I could only de-construct the necklace and experiment with its elements.
Luckily, I didn’t have to go far undoing my work. When I removed caps covering the ends of the beaded rope, I discovered that I had secured beaded tips very well. It meant that I could play with them till I reach a new decision regarding necklace’s design.
The idea didn’t make me wait. I clearly saw that I could preserve the twists and turns of the “river,” or the chenille beaded rope. I just created more of them by continuing the pattern already existing in the center of the necklace.
To finish the necklace, I used woven wire ribbon and a regular clasp.
The ugly duckling was evolving into a beautiful swan in front of my eyes. I felt that I would be happy to wear this necklace, and, to me, it is crucial when making a decision about a new design.
Giving It A New Life
When I packed Rivers And Bridges necklace for my next festival, I felt that I almost didn’t do anything to add another piece to my inventory. Retrospectively, I knew, I’ve spent more time working on it than I expected when the idea of this necklace just popped up into my mind. Does it sound familiar to you? Is there any beadwork piece that demanded more love and labor from you, than any other? Have you heard its voice calling on you?
