Creative Block. Now What?

Anyone who creates, whether it be crafts, writing, dancing, songwriting, etc. has had many days when the creative juices don't flow. It goes with the territory.

When I am creatively blocked, I will start a piece of jewelry and find that I don't like the color combination or the pattern or style. I'll take it apart and start over, usually repeating the same frustration. After several attempts, I will stop what I'm doing and look through bracelets or necklaces that haven't sold or pieces that I really don't like and I'll take them apart, bead by bead. When I tell people that, they are often horrified but I have to say it is so relaxing to sort beads!

The important thing is to step away from the project, go do something else and come back on another day. Or, I can often go to a project that I've started (I have several of those) and work on that. The necklace featured here took months to make because it was one that I would pick up when my creativity was blocked.

I've decided to create another website dedicated to BLING only: http://mustlovebling.etsy.com I don't know what it is about sparkle, but I feel that I need to wear something with crystals every day. I just feel more happy, calm and pretty. A little bling never hurt anyone!

Newest creations:

My Animoto Video

My Animoto Video

Sharing the Excitement of Sparkle and Bling

The internet allows us to share ourselves with the world! "Word of mouth" takes on a whole new meaning. In a matter of hours, videos can go "viral." Although I am still a novice in the geek world, I am finding ways to get myself and my jewelery out there for people to see. I'd like to share some sites that everyone can enjoy as a buyer or a seller.

More and more people are aware of etsy as a premier site for crafty people. It is a very inexpensive way to get your products out there with an easy to use website. It is also a wonderful way to meet other creative people and support small business. For buyers - you will find unusual products that could never be found at a mall!

My page: www.gingerbeaddesigns.etsy.com

I have had a great deal of fun on flickr, a website for displaying your favorite photos ranging from your family, your pets, your jewelry, your passions, your favorite places, etc. It is endless what you can upload on your own site. The first 200 uploaded photos are free. I have also made contacts with people around the world by joining groups and having conversations with those who share similar passions.

My page: www.flickr.com/photos/gingerbeaddesigns



Recently, I've joined the fun on an auction site: www.Tophatter.com

I'm still learning the ropes, but I was able to sell a bracelet last week and I look forward to selling another one tonight. Fingers crossed. 
Let me just say, that this can be very addicting. Decide ahead of time what you are willing to spend or know how much money you have in your PayPal account.


These are just three sites that are easy to use, inexpensive and a simple way of getting known in the big, wide world of the web! Buyers - again, the sky is the limit as it relates to creativity. You will find the most amazing things.


Enjoy!!

Fun with Russian Spiral

The Russian Spiral stitch was the first beadweaving class that I took and I've been addicted ever since.  There are so many different materials and designs that can be created with this one pattern.

A few examples:

This is a Chakra bracelet using the 7 colors of the chakra system

A Russian Spiral using 3mm Swarovski crystals and size 15 seed beads

Russian Spiral with Hex beads and size 11 seed beads

Variation on the Russian Spiral

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun with Color

I love wearing colors, beading with colors and discovering new color combinations.  I also have wonderful, colorful friends!!!

This is a custom design for one of my friends who exudes fun, laughter and enjoying all that life has to offer.

 My daughter has always been a pink girl and even as a young adult, she has found a way to make pink classy.  I made this bracelet to match a dress that I bought her for her birthday.

And if color doesn't excite you, materials may be the secret.  Daggers intrigued me and I love the way this came out.

   

                                It's all about having fun!

Ginger Bead Designs

Ginger Bead Designs

Ginger Bead Designs

Flickr

I am having so much fun with Flickr. Belonging to groups allows me to meet creative people from all around the world.

I invite you to visit my web page and follow some of the contacts that I have.

www.flickr.com/photos/gingerbeaddesigns

Latest addition to flickr:

DNA Inspired Jewelry

Lately, I have made and sold necklaces that remind me of the RNA/DNA strands.

They are fun to make. It is a Russian Spiral stitch woven with bugle and seed beads. Once I get it started I can bead and watch "Dancing with the Stars" at the same time!

I know when I first started beading, I was so intrigued with the Russian Spiral stitch. I couldn't imagine how you got the beads to spiral. Once I learned the stitch, the next challenge was to find interesting ways to work with different materials and create new looks.

If you already know how to do the Russian Spiral, have fun with it and create new color options and designs. The sky's the limit!

Lightning Bolt Necklace

I am one of those beadweavers who loves a project that requires hours of beading. Why? Because I simply like the process of taking one bead at a time and creating a beautiful design.

My best friend, Mary, needed donations for a fundraiser for a family member who requires much support with medical bills, so it was the perfect opportunity to make something special that might also bring in some money for the great cause.

This is a flame stitch which is a 2 drop peyote stitch with 4 different turns. It's more difficult to watch "Dancing with the Stars" while making this! If I look up, I lose my place, so I work on it little bits at a time. But, I love the end result.

Fuchsia ... a Neutral?

Lately, I have been trying to convince people (ok, first my daughter) that fuchsia is a neutral. I got an eye roll from my daughter and blank stares from others.

My thinking is this. Fuchsia looks great on everyone regardless of eye, hair or skin color. It is also the color crystal that I use the most for the pieces of jewelry that sell the most! It was also the color of my mother-of-the-bride dress and I think I looked hot!

Next time you are shopping, take a minute and try on something that had fuchsia in it and see if you don't look fabulous!

New Web Site

I am happy to announce that I have created a new web site for my jewelry design:


www.GingerBeadDesigns.com.


I am still featured on etsy.com with a web site: http://www.gingerbeaddesigns.etsy.com/ and also on art fire: http://www.gingerbeaddesign.artfire.com/.



I appreciate any feedback, as I do not claim to be a web designer. However, I do feel an inner geek presenting herself!



Here is a new piece of jewelry, originally designed for my daughter's wedding. We decided to use different color combinations for the bridesmaids, so I now have a beautiful Russian Spiral bracelet looking for a good home!

Wedding Jewelry

My daughter has chosen navy dresses with pink sashes for her bridesmaids in her upcoming wedding. I have had the great fortune to make the jewelry for the maid of honor, 3 bridesmaids, 2 junior bridesmaids and 2 flower girls. We chose the single spiral stitch for each necklace, but each one has a different variation.

Here is a sampling. Can't wait to see them on all the girls!:

Christmas Jewelry

Even though Christmas is a short period of time, we all seem to like wearing holiday sweaters , red and green outfits and of course, jewelry that reflects the season. So, here are just a few bracelets that would look great for any holiday party or to simply brighten up the day!

Find these and more on my etsy web site: http://GingerBeadDesigns.etsy.com

Color Combinations - the sky's the limit!

One of the best part of teaching a beadweaving class is seeing the color combinations that each person puts together. There are usually a lot of ooh's and aah's before we get started with the new stitch. Some people bring an outfit that they want to match, some want to be creative and try a new combination of colors and some simply have to copy something that they have seen that they like. It's fun, no matter what technique you use.

My most recent color combination is orange and cobalt blue. It's dramatic, spectacular and invigorating. Of course, I may have to get an outfit to match!

Wedding Jewelry

I seem to have weddings on the mind since finishing jewelry for a bridal party and now getting ready to make jewelry for my daughter's wedding. The pieces that the bride and her maid or matron of honor and bridesmaids wear are as important as the color scheme, centerpieces, invitations, etc. I never realized how much thought goes into all the details of a wedding until recently. I got married 31 years ago and things were a little different!

I love this piece that I made for the bride. Her gown is white with silver accents. So, using white Swarovski pearls and sterling silver seed beads seemed the perfect combination. The necklace is made with a tubular netting stitch. I put about 20 hours into this, but the result is well worth it. And....I had a happy bride!

Etsy Update

Etsy.com members are very supportive of each other. I am just finding that out and it is refreshing. As a result, I am happy to share a new piece of jewelry that I have made with a fun scrabble tile pendant from the shop: http://jessejanes.etsy.com/. I encourage you to visit the shop and if you find a tile that you love and want a matching necklace.....well, contact me and we'll make something fun together.

To see my latest jewelry pieces, go to http://gingerbeaddesigns.etsy.com/.

Happy shopping!

Etsty shop

I have finally gotten my act together and opened a jewelry shop at etsy.com. This is a wonderful web site that allows creative and crafty people to sell their designs without the expense of setting up an individual web site. For people, like myself, who are still a little technologically challenged, the web site makes it easy to do what you love and let someone else handle the pixels, pay pal accounts and whatever goes on behind the scenes.

To see my shop, go to http://www.gingerbeaddesigns.etsy.com/. I will continue to update with pictures of new creations. If you see something that you like, but would love it in another color, contact me and I'll see what I can do. Many of the pieces, though, are one of a kind. Some I couldn't duplicate if I tried, simply because of the design or materials used. Others, can be made to order, especially if you would like matching jewelry for a wedding party.

I'll sign off for now with my favorite bracelet. I love the 3 blue crystals that were used and most of all, I love the bling!

It's a wonder I'm not spinning out of control with all of the spiral bracelets and necklaces that I've been making. I love beadweaving with the single spiral, tubular peyote, russian spiral, cellini spiral stitch, just to name a few. The ones that take the longest are often the most fun because it allows for more hours of beading. It is really my evening meditation. I can't wait to sit down at my table and decide what to work on each night. Of course, I have several pieces going at once. Sometimes just changing to a different piece with different colors can keep the excitement going. Here are a few pictures of some of the recent designs: