HANDMADE GOODNESS QUARTERLY JUNE 2014
ISSUE 2
Be a Crow!
When it comes to gathering
beads and materials for my
pieces, I do not think too hard
about what I want to choose.
In fact, I try to do the opposite.
Here’s my suggestion for you:
Look at your materials with
“soft eyes”, and gaze over your
bead stash.
I like to call it “Being a Crow”.
What beads, materials . .
. do you notice first?
What catches your eye?
Choose those beads, and put them on your bead mat.
Repeat this gathering process for beads, spacers, clasps and any other necessary
components. The key is not to think too deeply about it. If you find yourself trying to
“decide” something, close your eyes for a moment. When you open them again, soften your
gaze and start gently scanning your materials again.
I don’t always use every bead I choose for a piece, but that’s ok. If I don’t use a bead, I
scratch it off my list for that particular design, and put it back for future use in another
project.
Approaching color and choosing materials this way lets your intuition and creativity lead
the way. This simple but effective process can help us jump over the hurdle of feeling stuck
when our mind can’t decide what to pick.
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