I don't think I'm like most jewelry designers that start with a finished product in mind. I start with the bead. For me it is a much more creative process and personal. I "let the beads speak to me" and I design from there. It also makes my process longer and more difficult. It's longer because I can't just go to my stash, pull out the beads and findings I need, and start. It's also more difficult because of that and because I don't order based on projects I want to make — so I'm limited by the beads and findings I have on hand. But to me it's about the joy I am creating.
Today, I went to my large beads box and found my amethyst stone. It's unique with its size and shape — which is always attractive to me. It's telling me it wants to be a bracelet — not my usual memory wire bracelet but with wire. Do I want "matching" beads or something to contrast the rich purple color?
I start to lay out my beads. I started with matching beads — cobalt blue Pompeii glass tube beads. I also pulled out these silver wire balls thinking it might complement the roundness of the amethyst but contrast the rich color. I also pulled out some purple mica stone beads to use as spacers. Of course Jack Jack was supervising the progress.
Jack was also integral on the QA-QC process — checking my wire to make sure it is up to the project standards.
The final product didn't end up as I originally started — but that's part of the process. I decided to add some pearly glass beads for contrast that play off the specks in the tube beads, and small silver spacers. I found some magnetic closures, so I decided to use that for this one. I decided to make matching earrings, minus the amethyst focal.
Take a look at the final product!