Do Your Creations Have A Story?

Most everything I have ever created comes about because of an event, or a series of events in my life.  Many times through dreams (hense the online name of DreamBeadr), but sometimes just because I saw something and it struck me in such a way that I felt compelled to "recreate" it.  Usually in beads. 

Sitting one day in my livingroom when the light started to filter through our back patio sliding door, it hit just right on this candle holder I have.

A week or so later, while sitting in the passenger seat of the truck returning home from a show, I started beading this bracelet....inspired by the candle holder.

I ended up naming it Julz after an online friend admired it.  I've also made it in other colorways.  It is a very popular kit for me.

Another recent creation is my Enchanted Necklace (which I am beyond thrilled will be included in Lark's 500 Beaded Jewelry Book due out later this year).  Part of the inspiration came from the Dragonfly button I beaded around where I had an idea in a dream that I wanted the button to look like it was nestled into a comfy pillow of beads.  The other part of the inspiration came from the ornamental plum trees outside my shop.  In the spring time they are full of gorgeous blossoms. 

And here is Enchanted

For my Ancient Seas necklace I was mostly inspired by the Ammonites.  I was trying to replicate the colors, while adding a touch of another brighter color that is often found in nature, Turquoise, but without having it be too distracting.  I had to dream about the design of Ancient Seas for several months before it came to life.  Because it is out of my normal "style" of design, I have needed to learn to love this necklace.  I certainly enjoyed the process while I was creating it, because so much of the design was new to me, which is always a fun place to be in my mind - exploring something new, but when it was completed I did not embrace it as quickly as everyone else around me seemed to.

I remain, however, very proud of this piece of jewelry.  Last year my first time teaching Ancient Seas at the Bead & Button show the class sold out within minutes of going live.  That was certainly a wonderful, and much needed ego boost for me.

And recently I've been playing around with Cubic Right Angle Weave (CRAW).  I've also been totally enraptured by the series of books by R.R. Martin and recent HBO series Game of Thrones.  Shawn and I have watched it twice now, and I am ready to watch it again!  And we've also listened to the second book, A Song of Ice & Fire on CD while we traveled to our show in Tucson.

As I played a bit with altering bead sizes and making the CRAW turn corners, this necklace began to emerge.  It reminded me a lot of Aria, one of the young female characters in the book who many times would much rather have been a boy.  She is beautiful and slight of build, depicting her feminity, but also rough and fierce showing her masculine side. 

So I named this necklace after her....Aria



So what inspires you when you create?  Nature, books, music, dreams, something sitting on the table in your livingroom?