Finding inspiration for designing jewelry can come from many places. It may come from seeing the jewelry and accessories pictured in magazines or catalogs. A visit to a local department store may inspire you to design with the clothing styles and colors shown for the current season. You may find a pattern or color combination in fabric that inspires you to create a certain design. There are a number of popular “bead” and craft magazines that may give you inspiration to create your own version of one of their projects.
Inspiration can come from anywhere you are. I find that my surroundings often influence my designs. The area where you live may dictate a larger, bolder design in color and size or the “splash” of color may be all that your design requires in your locale. Seasonal changes often influence what I design with spring and summer being one of my favorite times to design jewelry. I love the pastels and softer colors usually associated with spring and summer as well as the materials like shells, freshwater pearls, acrylics, and wood and seed beads.
I enjoy reading articles by other designers and where they say their influences come from. Different jewelry medium seems to have a favorite style and inspiration. I recently read about some metal artists who take their inspiration from nature and natural surroundings. The rustic theme stands out in their metal work and designs.
Sometimes when I look at beads I immediately see designs or theme ideas inspired by the beads themselves. I had this inspiration when I saw the silver fish beads and was looking to make a design with a clasp as the focal point of the design. Here is the result of this idea:
Silver Fish in the Stream
Silver Fish in a Stream 2
Silver Fish in a Stream 3
KC Bead Designs – Beaded Jewelry by Cheryl Skeens, located in the greater Kansas City, Missouri area, is owned and operated by Cheryl Skeens. In business since 2003 as a jewelry artist / designer of handcrafted beaded jewelry such as beaded earrings, bracelets, necklaces, eyeglass chains, beaded lanyards, zipper pulls, cell phone charms, mother’s bracelets, bridal and prom jewelry and more. Reflections. . .Beaded Jewelry. . .by Cheryl Skeens opened in July 2008 along with her new blog-site and is her second online store.
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