I love to create. I love to play with patterns and textures so unique that I will make others oh and ah and get excited to try on something I made.
However, sometimes I have to listen to the beads.
This is where my sister would say something along the lines of ”Rachel, if you can hear the beads, why don’t you carefully put down the pliers and step away from the desk”.
To which I may reply, “What? You don’t hear them? Have some more wine.”
Other Beaders will understand.
Every once in a while a bead just begs to be paired with another color or shape. It clearly declares that it would be best used in a certain pattern. At least my beads do.
Sometimes a bead is best left alone. String the piece as simply as possible so that the wearer or the ones viewing it can truly appreciate the shape or color or texture of that bead.
When I bought this string of Black triangular shaped beads, I figured I would have a hard time deciding what to do with them. I had no problem at all. I simply strung them with simple silver spacers and viola. The beads are the art themselves, not what I might hope to do with them.
A necklace that long ago went to another home.
If I come across a lovely string of pearls, I have been known to string them just as they are. No accenting beads or pendants, just that that straightforward simple beauty.
Raisin color pearls – not edible.
At last week’s Flea Market, I purchased a fun string of glass beads that reminded me of swirly pasta. Except that it was blue and curvy. I am sure someone has made pasta that looks like this. The only thing I changed when I strung them was to save two for earrings. I spaced them apart using the same disk shaped beads as the black stone necklace above.
Blue pasta collar length necklace.
There is a moral to this post. If something is beautiful and exceptional all by itself, sometimes you only need to determine how best to show those characteristics to the world as they are. Sometimes you only need to string the bead.
So I challenge each of you fellow Artists and Beaders to look at the supplies you have. The pieces you have pondered over how to use. Take at least one and use it as it is. Make it art just by itself. Feel free to send me pictures and I will add them to the post and my Facebook page.
I know that you aren’t talking about me in the fourth paragraph: I would have already had that “more wine”. I would simply tell you to ask the beads for winning lottery numbers.
You are right about simplicity: sometimes the object shines brightest when it is in the spotlight alone and unadorned.
Perfectly stated!
I couldn’t agree more, some beads don’t require a supporting act – they can hold their own and shine alone. I often string gemstones very simply, they are beautiful just as they are. And of course beads talk….we all know that (even without the wine!).
You are so right Tracy! Thanks for stopping by:)