The Creative Process (very briefly)
 
I’ve been wanting to write about the creative process, especially
as it applies to jewelry design.
Our creative juices flow the same no matter whether
for cake decorating, costumery, fly tying, architecture,
writing a novel, or designing jewelry. An idea for
something you want to create blossoms in your mind.
Who knows where it comes from?
 
From a visit to a museum or a junkyard or even
your kitchen. Once the creative process starts, each person
finds a unique path to the realization of the final
product, which is an amalgam
of countless experiences, thoughts, skills, and fantasies.
 
If you want to explore further, there are many good books
and articles about creativity.

Consider, for example, the traditional bride seeking her special gown.
She has seen tens or even hundreds of wedding
dresses but wants to create her own look. Her creative impulse
might result in a specific fabric or color, the choice of flowers she carries,
the way she wears her hair. Her perfect appearance on the big day
should give her a feeling of accomplishment and joy.
Creativity does that. Even if you don’t finish.
 
I remember as a child wanting to make a necklace from
the “recipe” in a newspaper. The instructions required me to
collect canteloupe seeds, dry them, dye them, and
string them. (My mom did her best but we didn’t complete the
project. I think the seeds disintegrated when we tried to
pierce them with a needle to string them.)
I remember spreading
the seeds out on paper towels to dry them. I sat
there picking scraps of canteloupe off the edges of the
seeds. It was fun. And it was my idea. It was also messy.
 
Here, I plan to show as clearly as possible how I
designed a necklace and earrings set.
 
I wanted to make: a youthful, colorful and lighthearted
design with plenty of pizzazz. I read the fashion mags so something
I saw must have given me an idea.
 
What I wanted to use: pretty, handmade millefiore (thousand-flowers)
drop-shaped beads.The authentic ones from Murano.
(Beginning glass artisans are only allowed to make
beads, until they have skills good enough for the larger pieces,
sculpture, chandeliers etc. But millefiore takes a great deal of skill.)
 
Sterling hoops with loops, for a Gypsy-inspired
flavor and lots of movement to catch light.
Hoops are always in style.
 
Since the Venetian millefiores have an artistic,
can’t-be-ignored look, I wanted to soften that edginess. I could
have used small sterling beads or colored seed beads
but that seemed too blah.
 
I needed something with a bit more of its own presence.
I grabbed a handful of Swarovski crystals, and they had the
oomph I needed.
 
Where the millefiore beads had a somewhat matte,
flat finish but screaming color, the crystals sparkled with
light and life although colors are soft. Almost
any jewelry design can get better with the addition
of Swarovski, the world’s benchmark for crystal.
 
Here is the result. It was so easy to put together, once
I had the magic combination. The crystals are in topaz and aqua,
colors present in the Venetian beads. But there is no
attempt to match exactly.

 
Any woman who wears this set will feel glamorous,
be noticed and get compliments. It’s completely
unique.
 
Just in case you like it, the earrings and necklace
are for sale at $60.00. Call me at 800-572-7920
if you want to own them.
 
About matching: it’s important if you are purchasing an
expensive cultured pearl necklace. Each and every pearl must
match the rest on the strand perfectly. Otherwise,
I find combinations and mixes more exciting.