Beading Challenges – Bird Challenge

I have so many beads that have been sitting, waiting for inspiration that I am working on a monthly challenge for myself. I am going to select a focal bead or some seed beads that have been waiting and create a design and project just for them. 

 

My first challenge is to work with the bird beads my aunt brought me. A pair of them would make simple earrings but I wanted something more complex for them. I thought the bird would look nice framed in a circle and I have been enjoying making peyote circle beads lately. I selected some complementary colors in 15/0, delica and 11/0 beads and got started. 

 

Here is the final pendent. I need to find or make a necklace to string it on. I am pretty pleased with how it turned out.

Travel and Inspiration

Travel always brings on inspiration for me. I’m not sure if it is the new surrounding or the lack of craft supplies at my fingertips, but I always generate new ideas while I am away. On a recent trip to Ohio, I was inspired by some quilts and wall hangings to make a few peyote bracelets. This lines up very well with the new odd count peyote turn I just learned. I came home with a list of about 10 new projects, to add to my current working list and a wishlist of materials to get me started.

The most frustrating thing about travel is the difficult combination of free time and lack of ability to start on any of my ideas. I have the desire to work and to create, I have family to keep an eye on the kids but I have no supplies with me to get started.  Part of the idea generation seems to be that I can’t get started and focus on any one idea, so I keep thinking up variations and new ways to do things that lead to project after project. I make lots of plans and lists but when I get home, I have to select which I want to begin first and I can’t start on any of it until I get back into my crazy daily routine.

I did manage to find my way to a local Ohio bead shop to stock up on things for some new ideas. I am interested in beading some gemstones and working more free-form, so I picked up a few things to work with. Now I just need to go unpack them and get started!

Ohio Purchase